THIS week Pub Spy paid a visit to the Swan Inn in Barbourne Road, Worcester.

Your favourite sleuth popped in for a cheeky pint after a hard day’s work, affording him (or her) a welcome break from the top secret missions he (or she) undertakes when not infiltrating Worcester’s best boozers under cover of daylight.

This particular pub is nicely situated near Gheluvelt Park and the Sainsbury’s Local - Pub Spy knows only too well how you mere mortals struggle with the complexities of Google. It is a duty (and indeed, a pleasure) to assist you on your adventures. I would hate you to get lost.

One could almost stumble by accident into the pub and fall headfirst onto a pint or five while on the way to the shop to buy some milk. But please don’t feel I’m trying to plan your day. There’s even a dentist nearby in case you chip a tooth when you stagger home again later.

When I arrived I initially thought I was hallucinating. You’ve heard of Elf on the Shelf? Here were Elves on the Bar, a veritable army of them. Some were playing pool. At least one was singing. Most appeared to be engrossed in drinking games.

Surely Santa would not approve! But no, there was the big man himself, larger than life, matching his elves drink for drink.

Further investigation revealed that I had in fact happened upon the Swan Swifts Christmas party, a team now second in the McDonald’s Worcester and District Football League. No wonder the elves were in such high spirits! On a serious note, I had visited the pub before under deep cover and found it to be one the most hospitable in Worcester.

Run by the charming Chris and Claire Bull, the pub was open during the Rugby World Cup where Pub Spy was swiftly won over by Claire’s delicious sausage and bacon butties and big Chris’s down-to-earth warmth.

When the butties ran out Claire hurried at once to the kitchen to prepare more. The food was offered free to customers in a display of kindness that is, in my experience, rare and welcome in the pub trade.

But the kindness does not stop there. The big-hearted couple, who have run the pub for five years, say the community pub has helped raise £4,000 for St Richard’s Hospice, £2,074 for Ronald McDonald House, £300 for Cancer Research, £1,535 for Leukaemia Care and £500 towards assisting people with autism and multiple sclerosis.

The pub is known as the home of the Swan Vespas and prides itself on being scooter and bike friendly. I’m also reliably informed it’s the only pub in the area open Christmas Day night. It cost me £5.50 for a pint of Blue Moon Belgian White and a ham roll - tasty and a bargain.

The pub offers a wide variety of beers, lagers, ciders, wines and spirits including HPA, Carling, Stella, Strongbow, Guinness, Magners, Thatchers, Fosters as well as a choice of peanuts and crisps. There were also some ‘Grotto’ festive specials on offer, including a jug of Cheeky Vimto for £10.

The Swan is a lively and friendly community pub with a big heart.

There's lots of live music on in the run up to Christmas. Give it a try.