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-2024.html Andrea runs the show and maintains its website while Talia is in charge of our presence on tvChix. 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. |
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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. 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-2024.html Andrea runs the show and maintains its website while Talia is in charge of our presence on tvChix. 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. |
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Open from
8pm to
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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-2024.html Andrea runs the show and maintains its website while Talia is in charge of our presence on tvChix. 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. |
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Open from
8pm to
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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-2024.html Andrea runs the show and maintains its website while Talia is in charge of our presence on tvChix. 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. |
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Recent Reviews for events held at The Lion Brewery
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Surrey Swans (Sunday, November 26, 2023)
Value for Money: Atmosphere: Staff Friendliness: Security: |
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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)
Value for Money: Venue: Atmosphere: Staff Friendliness: Security: |
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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)
Value for Money: Venue: Atmosphere: Staff Friendliness: Security: |
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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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Surrey Swans (Sunday, March 26, 2023)
Value for Money: Venue: Atmosphere: Staff Friendliness: Security: |
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Great evening with a record, since covid, attendance of 15 girls. All very friendly and recommend to any new tgirls. |
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Surrey Swans (Sunday, March 26, 2023)
Value for Money: Venue: Atmosphere: Staff Friendliness: Security: |
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Fantastic evening, loved it, all friendly girls, very welcoming. 15 of us there this time.
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Recent Images for events held at The Lion Brewery
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