Description:
This pub usually hosts Surrey Swans once a month. Surrey Swans provides a place where trans people and their partners, friends and families can meet socially under the guidance of our lovely Andrea.We normally meet on the last Sunday of each month but please just check "Upcoming Events". See also https://surreyswans.blogspot.com/p/intro ducing-surrey-swans.html for more detailed information and https://surreyswans.blogspot.com/p/meet ings-in-2023.html for the most up-to-date information of our meetings. If you copy and paste the addresses, be sure to remove the space. I had to put it there for technical reasons.
The meetings are in a separate room that has its own entrance (marked by a red arrow on the right of the picture; the map location also points at that entrance) so it's well suited to anyone that feels a bit nervous about taking those first steps.
It is possible to get changed and put on make-up in privacy at the pub.
There are many people whose first venture into the outside world as their true self has been to pay a visit to Surrey Swans and newcomers are always welcome.
Pre-COVID there were typically between 12 and 20 people there, though numbers have been smaller in the aftermath of COVID-related lockdowns. People begin arriving at around about 7:30 pm and generally stay until somewhere between 10:00 pm and 11:00 pm.
There's an attendance fee of £3 per person. The aim of this is to cover the costs of using the room and also subsidise the cost of events that are organised from time to time.
Often times there is nothing in particular organised. People sit and chat about anything and everything. Near the end we usually have a quiz.
Occasionally there is a theme evening. We've also had demonstrations on how best to apply eye makeup, wig styling, an Anne Summers evening, a visit from Surrey Police and a visit from a film crew.
Although Surrey Swans isn't specifically organised as a help group ... just talking with other people that are in similar circumstances can be of great help. There are always people around that are happy to listen and offer help where they can.
If you're interested in knowing more about Surrey Swans or transgender issues in general — or maybe would like to come along sometime — then visit https://surreyswans.blogspot.com for more information and contact details.
UPDATE:
For the past several years we've avoided having meetings on bank holiday weekends.
At the most recent meeting (30th April) we had a chat about this.
It turns out that no one that attended the meeting found this to offer any consistent or regular benefits. Once in a while it meant that they could attend a meeting that otherwise they wouldn't have been able to, but just as often it had the opposite effect.
So, to simplify the timetabling (and the remembering of dates) we decided to switch back to simply scheduling meetings for the last Sunday of each month, with the only exception being December when the meeting is scheduled for the second Sunday of the month.
The meetings for 2023 have now been updated here. The full schedule is also on the Surrey Swans’ website.
For 2023 this affects just two dates. It means that there are now meetings scheduled on:
• Sunday 28th May (instead of Sunday 4th June)
• Sunday 27th August (instead of Sunday 3rd September)
Other meeting dates in 2023 aren't affected.
Upcoming Events at The Lion Brewery
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A relaxed social meeting of transgender folk and their partners, friends and families in The Lion Brewery, 104 Guildford Road, Ash, Surrey, GU12 6BT. We eat, drink and chat about anything and everything. We usually also have a quiz. Although I'll try my best to keep the information up to date, PLEASE, DO NOT RELY SOLELY ON THIS INFORMATION. For the most up-to-date information check https://surreyswans.blogspot.com/p/meetings-in-2025.html Tia runs the show and maintains its website .We are a friendly bunch, cheeky at times, but always welcoming, and hopefully you won't feel out of place. The meeting is in a separate room that has its own entrance (marked by a red arrow on the right of the picture) so it's well suited to anyone that feels a bit nervous about taking those first steps. Food and drinks are available without having to go to the main area of the pub. People generally start coming at about 7:30 pm. It is possible to get changed and put on make-up in privacy at the pub, but please allow time if you'd like to change back as the pub closes at 11 pm. There's an attendance fee of £3 per person. The aim of this is to cover the costs of using the room and also subsidise the cost of events that are organised from time to time. NO ADMIRERS, PLEASE. This is our safe space. Parking at the Lion Brewery If you park at the Lion Brewery, please make sure that you register your car with the parking system. The easiest way to do this is by using your phone to scan the QR code that’s displayed on the sign in the function room where we meet. This connects to the parking web site where you can enter your car registration number. As an alternative, you can register your car using the machine in the main bar of the pub. If you need any help doing this, just ask anyone that's at the meeting on the night. |
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Open from
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A relaxed social meeting of transgender folk and their partners, friends and families in The Lion Brewery, 104 Guildford Road, Ash, Surrey, GU12 6BT. We eat, drink and chat about anything and everything. We usually also have a quiz. Meeting times are actually 7:30pm - 10:30 pm (Chix only allows me to show event starting at 7pm) Although I'll try my best to keep the information up to date, PLEASE, DO NOT RELY SOLELY ON THIS INFORMATION. For the most up-to-date information check https://surreyswans.blogspot.com/p/meetings-in-2025.html Tia runs the show and maintains its website .We are a friendly bunch, cheeky at times, but always welcoming, and hopefully you won't feel out of place. The meeting is in a separate room that has its own entrance (marked by a red arrow on the right of the picture) so it's well suited to anyone that feels a bit nervous about taking those first steps. Food and drinks are available without having to go to the main area of the pub. People generally start coming at about 7:30 pm. It is possible to get changed and put on make-up in privacy at the pub, but please allow time if you'd like to change back as the pub closes at 11 pm. There's an attendance fee of £3 per person. The aim of this is to cover the costs of using the room and also subsidise the cost of events that are organised from time to time. NO ADMIRERS, PLEASE. This is our safe space. Parking at the Lion Brewery If you park at the Lion Brewery, please make sure that you register your car with the parking system. The easiest way to do this is by using your phone to scan the QR code that’s displayed on the sign in the function room where we meet. This connects to the parking web site where you can enter your car registration number. As an alternative, you can register your car using the machine in the main bar of the pub. If you need any help doing this, just ask anyone that's at the meeting on the night. |
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Recent Reviews for events held at The Lion Brewery
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Surrey Swans (Sunday, March 29, 2026)
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I’m a regular visitor to Swans & I find numbers attending vary quite a lot with attendances down in winter. That surprises me as I always think it’s easier leaving your house dressed in winter when fewer neighbours are around to see you ! Anyway, it was good to see numbers were back up this month and a few faces new to me were also in attendance. Usual attendance is in range 10-20, with all welcome with the exclusion of admirers as this is purely a social evening for chat etc. Dressing is not compulsory and there are 2 ladies loos if you wish to change on site.Swans is held at the Lion Brewery in Ash which is a slightly scruffy pub which has a private room for our use. You don’t have to go to the main bar for drinks as staff do come & take drinks orders. As is normal, there was a quiz but for the first time this month we had a quiz with the “helping hand” of AI after Tia our organiser used ChatGPT to generate the quiz. Not sure it will catch on, but thanks to Tia for trying this. Sophie |
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Surrey Swans (Sunday, August 31, 2025)
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As I've managed to get along to the last 3 Surrey Swans meetings, it seems only right that I write some words. what you get at this meeting is a welcoming, friendly and safe space for a few hours. the back room of the pub is used, but due to the hot weather we had been using the outside space. the bar is accessible, but service can be requested if you are unsure about going to the bar. the numbers have varied from about 10 to 15 people, and what tends to happen is small groups naturally form and can be found to be chatting about anything. a quiz happens (difficulty levels vary dependant on who has prepared the questions!) which again generates different groups, giving you different people to talk to. All in all it is a lovely way to spend a Sunday evening. |
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Surrey Swans (Sunday, November 26, 2023)
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A very quiet Sunday night at Surrey Swans this month. A few of the regulars were away and the torrential rain probably didn't help . There were still a total of 8 girls and it was good to see that a few had driven a considerable distance to be there including Sandy from Banbury & Amanda from Rickmansworth. Well done both of you ! As usual at Swans nights, there was a quiz. This time it was kindly set by 'Chelle. If you're new to the group, this is a good opportunity to chat with others. As always, we had a large back room available for our exclusive use and there's also separate access from the car park for anyone who might be worried about mingling with the regulars. The bar staff Rebecca & Mike do come in to check for drinks & food orders and there's also a bell to call them if needed. If you haven't been to Swans before and you're local (within 25 miles) it's definitely worth a look. Apart from the quiz there's no entertainment and it's a great chance to get dressed up a little or a lot. You don't even have to dress , but no male admirers please. |
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Surrey Swans (Sunday, September 24, 2023)
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My first visit to Surrey Swans, and any nerves I had disappeared almost immediately as I went though the door. When I arrived there were half a dozen present but this had doubled by the end of the night. All chatting and generally getting to know folks..and then there was a quiz to contend with.! As a newbie, I can say it was welcoming, friendly, non judgemental, safe and basically a pleasant way to spend a Sunday evening. If I can, I will be going again. |
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Surrey Swans (Sunday, August 27, 2023)
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I’ve been attending Swans meetings since October 2022 and have always had a good time. There’s usually 8-10 people there and everyone’s welcome apart from male admirers as this is just a social event to chat, have a drink and join in the monthly quiz. First-timers and female partners are made welcome as are parents of trans children. The venue is in the private back room of a quiet pub and you rarely see any of the customers and I’ve never had any comments of any kind when arriving or leaving dressed. If you’ve never been out dressed before, don’t feel you have to pass perfectly at Swans and if you want advice on anything from wigs, makeover services then you will always find someone with suggestions. As numbers vary month to month , there’s no typical age range but I’ve met people from 16 to 82 . There’s normally a quiz, which is a great ice-breaker and an opportunity to make new friends. Pub prices are normal, but there can be a limited range. There is also a small food menu, but I’ve not tried that myself . I always look forward to Swans meetings as it’s a chance to dress , go out and be Sophie for 3-4 hours. |
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Recent Images for events held at The Lion Brewery
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