HOW can Pub Spy have missed the Swan With Two Nicks for so long?

Situated in one of Worcester's most historic thoroughfares - New Street leading into Friar Street - the Swan brushes shoulders with the King Charles, which is famous for its pies, among other things, with quite a few hostelries and other establishments nearby.

From the outside, its grey-washed facade distinguishes it from its neighbours, but inside it presents a pleasingly antique aspect, with exposed wooden beams framing either rough-plastered walls or bare brick.

There is also a terrace out the back - not very appealing in January, but probably a big draw on warmer weather - and part of the premises doubles up as Drummonds, a live music venue and night spot.

On the day Pub Spy visited, the three hand pumps on the bar were all offering locally-made beers, including one from the Malvern Hills Brewery and Butty Bach, a firm favourite from the Stoke Lacy-based Wye Valley Brewery.

On the back wall of the bar is a ceramic panel containing ten further taps, which dispense an array of ales, lagers, wheat beers and ciders.

There is also a stock of various craft gins - very much the 'in' drink of the moment, and rums, a drink that might also soon have its moment in the sun.

So, no problem here with a lack of choice drinks-wise.

The food menu is also intriguing, presenting a very Caribbean-influenced line-up of dishes, starting with Cubanos toasted sandwiches, which, it is said, originate amongst the cigar factories of Havana.

These are far from being the standard British toasties - more like baguettes, complete with fillings such as Courvoisier-glazed ham, grilled paprika and lemon chicken breast or chilli and basil marinated courgette, and much else besides.

Main dishes include mac'n'cheese, vegetarian curry, chilli cod bun and mojo pork barbecue, and there is also the Caribbean Explosion burger, featuring two 4oz beef patties, rum and pineapple mojo pork, treacle smoked bacon and cherry Cola barbecue sauce.

The menu promises: "If we can produce it ourselves, we do, from the pulled pork to the mouth-watering spicy sauces."

In the end, I settled for the chicken, orange and chorizo salad (£8.50), which included (to quote the menu again) "warm lemon and paprika grilled chicken breast, crumbed sautéed chorizo, fresh orange, grated carrot, avocado, feta, mixed lettuce, and a mango and pineapple dressing".

The combination of fruit and savoury, which might seem a trifle exotic to British tastes, actually works very well, with the combined sweetness and slight acidity of the orange more than holding its own against the char-grilled chicken meat and piquant chorizo.

The meal came served in a deceptively small-looking bowl, but proved to be a hearty and filling lunch, its tropical zing providing a cheerful antidote to a rather grey and damp English afternoon.

Altogether, the Swan With Two Nicks is well worth a visit, with its eclectic selection of drinks and off-beat menu making it a venue of some uniqueness in the city.