Pub of the Month St Albans Pub Review Pub of the Month
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Bar 62
62 Catherine St
Bar 62 Popular with well off thirtysomethings. No real ale when reviewed (22nd Feb 2007) but sixteen different champagnes!
Expensive. Acoustics make pub noisy. Nice small garden
5 / 10
Barneys
28-30 London Rd
Barney's Popular Irish Bar, very busy at weekends.
Age group mainly mid twenties to mid thirties.
No real ale. Noisy
4 / 10
Baton
Marshalswick
Baton Large pub in the Marshalswick area.
Good for watching sports - three plasma screens.
Two pool tables and dartboard. Two real ales.
4.5 / 10
Beehive
London Rd
Beehive Traditional pub with disappointing selection of beers.
Age group mainly early twenties. TV screen showing sport at rear of pub. Patio at back with table tennis table
6 / 10
Bell
22 Chequer St
The Bell Currently closed and looks as though it may never re-open as a pub. Taken over by owners of the Maltings shops so may turn into a retail outlet 4.5 / 10
Black LionRecommended
196 Fishpool St
Black Lion Just re-opened following refurb (Nov 2007). To be re-reviewed.
Now converted to Savanna fine dining and cocktail bar.
Not a traditional pub anymore so little chance of real ale
? / 10
Blackberry Jack
Jersey Farm
Blackberry Jack Large pub serving the Jersey Farm estate.
Conservatory with dining tables. Good value steaks.
One real ale - London Pride
5 / 10
Blacksmiths Arms
56 St Peters St
Blacksmiths Arms Large traditional pub with modern interior. Large patio.
No real ale. Good for sport with three large screens.
Food all day. Lacks atmosphere. Karaoke nights
4.5 / 10
Blue Anchor
145 Fishpool St
Blue Anchor Traditional pub with a smart modern interior.
Seperate drinking and dining rooms.
Two real ales, both McMullans.
5 / 10
BootHighly Recommended
4 Market Place
Boot Great traditional character pub. Good mix of drinkers.
Friendly bar staff and great atmosphere.
Up to 7 unusual real ales that change regularly.
Beware the low ceilings. Outside drinking currently banned.
8 / 10
Camp
149 Camp Rd
Camp Large McMullans estate pub for locals.
Standard McMullan ales. Pool table and dartboard.
5 / 10
CockHighly Recommended
50 St Peters St
Cock Small traditional pub with good unusual real ales.
Restaurant at back. Drinking area at front can get crowded. Sport on plasma tv. Good bar staff.
Drinkers mainly in their mid-twenties to early forties
7 / 10
CrosskeysRecommended
7 Chequer St
Crosskeys Wetherspoons pub with reasonable selection of good value ales and food. Mainly young drinkers in evenings but also popular with all ages. Food all day 'til 10pm. Dark interior. 6 / 10
Crown
144 Hatfield Rd
Crown Large pub on Hatfield Road, close to station. Two pool tables. Looking and feeling tired, needs a refurb or new ownership. 4 / 10
Duke of Marlborough
110 Holywell Hill
Duke of Marlborough Two room pub that is a little better inside than might be expected. New decking area to side.
Two real ales. Rugby Memorobilia.
4.5 / 10
Farmers BoyHighly Recommended
134 London Rd
Farmers Boy Great traditional pub with friendly atmosphere.
Fine selection of beers and good mix of drinkers.
7.5 / 10
Farriers Arms
32 Lower Dagnall St
Farriers Arms Traditional back street locals pub.
Fairly small inside. Outdoor toilets.
McMullans pub serving AK, Cask Ale and Country.
4 / 10
Fighting CocksHighly Recommended
16 Abbey Mill Lane
Fighting Cocks Lovely old pub with great character, the current building dates back to 15th century. Fairly large pub with good size garden.
Fair selection of real ales. 5-10 mins walk from city centre
7 / 10
Fleur de LysRecommended
1 French Row
Fleur de Lys Old traditional pub re-opened in May 2007 after refurb.
Smart new interior. Patio at back. Up to three unusual real ales available. Food and drink a little expensive.
6.5 / 10
Garibaldi
61 Albert St
Garibaldi Quiet pub frequented mainly by middle-aged men and a large dog! Full range of four well kept Fullers ales. 5 / 10
Glass House
82 Victoria St
Glass House Tapas bar/pub for trendy drinkers in their late twenties to early forties. Friendly place. 5 / 10
GoatHighly Recommended
37 Sopwell Lane
Goat Popular back street pub with reasonable selection of real ale.
Wide range of ages. Quiz nights on Sundays are popular
7.5 / 10
Great Northern
172 London Rd
Great Northern Old fashioned pub at bottom of London Road. In need of redecoration. Mainly middle-aged drinkers and mostly men. 3 / 10
Hare and HoundsRecommended
104 Sopwell Lane
Hare and Hounds Popular traditional back street pub with character features and fair choice of real ale. Games room area at rear with table football, darts and juke box 6 / 10
Harry Smiths
1B Verulam Rd
Harry Smiths Small narrow pub/bar. No real ales and poor selection of wine. Can get noisy. Unfriendly bar staff and unpleasant toilets when reviewed. One plasma tv showing sport. 3.5 / 10
Harvesters
(Ancient Briton)
46 Harpenden Rd
Harvesters AKA Ancient Briton now run as a Harvesters restaurant with a separate bar area. No real ale.
Re-opened in Nov 2007 following refurb.
4 / 10
Horn Reborn
Victoria St
Horn Reborn Closest pub to main train station. Single real ale
Smarter inside than one would expect.
Bands play on many evenings.
4 / 10
Ice
6 Adelaide St
Ice Bar beneath Adelaide nightclub.
No real ale. No character. Poor atmosphere.
One to avoid
2.5 / 10
Jolly Sailor
3 Stonecross
Jolly Sailor Charles Wells two bar pub five mins walk from city centre.
Larger bar area good for watching sport.
Service and bar meals good. Seperate quiet bar.
6 / 10
King HarryRecommended
2 King Harry Lane
King Harry Large pub about a mile from city centre.
Smarter inside than outside. Good food.
Nice outside drinking area. Good selection of cider.
6.5 / 10
King Offa
Abbotts Avenue West
King Offa Large two bar pub serving the local estate.
Pool table, dartboard, jukebox in public bar.
Only one real ale but cheap.
3 / 10
King WilliamHighly Recommended
185 Sandridge Rd
King William Large corner pub on Sandridge Road. Good mix of drinkers. Three or more real ales. Popular for food. 7 / 10
Lower Red LionHighly Recommended
36 Fishpool St
Lower Red Lion Popular traditional pub with character features renowned for its selection of real ales, often around six available.
Great atmosphere with good mix of drinkers.
7.5 / 10
MermaidRecommended
98 Hatfield Rd
The Mermaid Traditional locals pub on Hatfield Road. Great selection of real ales; Everards Tiger plus five guest ales. 6.5 / 10
Mokoko
26 Verulam Rd
Mokoko Cocktail bar. No real ale. Smart and comfortable.
Good place for quiet relaxing drink.
5 / 10
O'NeilsRecommended
11-13 Victoria St
O'Neils Large pub formally a Firkin and before that the main library. Popular with students. Two real ales, London Pride & Landlord.
Large projector screens showing football
6.5 / 10
O'Neils's Bar
13 Hatfield Rd
Peacock Re-opened in April 2007 following refurb. Formally the Peacock. Smart new interior with wooden floor.
Not part of O'Neils chain. One real ale. Four plasma screens
5 / 10
PeahenHighly Recommended
6 London Rd
Peahen McMullans pub with good selection of wine and lager but poor ales. Smart interior. Food served all day. Over 21's only.
Drinkers are smartly dressed and mainly in their twenties and thirties. Large patio popular in summer
7 / 10
Portland ArmsHighly Recommended
63 Portland St
Portland Arms Back street locals pub with good Fullers ales and a great atmosphere. Food served until 9:30pm. Drinkers of all ages.
Friendy relaxing place. Occasional live jazz music
7 / 10
Rats Castle
246 Hatfield Rd
Rats Castle Smart new modern interior following refurbishment in 2007. Two real ales, Gales HSB and Breakspear plus guest ale. 5.5 / 10
Robin HoodRecommended
126 Victoria St
Robin Hood Pleasant traditional pub with reasonable selection of beers.
Mainly middle-aged drinkers. Good pub for a chat if juke box not too loud
6 / 10
Rose and CrownRecommended
10 St Michaels St
Rose and Crown Traditional pub with beams, low ceilings and real fire.
Up to four real ales and home cooked food.
Two separate rooms. Regular live music
6.5 / 10
Six BellsHighly Recommended
16-18 St Michaels St
Six Bells Lovely old fashioned pub with low ceiling, beams and real fire.
Five real ales and good home cooked food. Seperate dining room.
7.5 / 10
Slug and Lettuce
13-15 Victoria St
Slug and Lettuce Large modern style bar with reasonable selection of lager but no real ale. Drinkers are mainly in their twenties to early thirties. Loud music on Fridays and Saturdays 4.5 / 10
Speckled HenRecommended
Hatfield Rd
Speckled Hen Smart new modern interior following major refurbishment in 2006. Formally Bunch of Cherries. Three real ales: McMullans Cask, AK and of course Speckled Hen! Large patio 6.5 / 10
Spotted Bull
43-43 Verulum Rd
Spotted Bull Fairly large traditional pub along Verulam Road. Two real ales, London Pride and GK IPA. Plenty of seats available as this pub doesn't seem to get busy - useful place for a quiet chat. 5 / 10
Tudor Tavern
27 George St
Tudor Tavern Currently closed
Now owned by Thai Square who are currently recruiting staff for new Thai restaurant. Probably opening in Nov/Dec 2007.
? / 10
Verulam ArmsHighly Recommended
41 Lower Dagnell St
Verulam Arms Recently refurbished back street locals pub. Now more upmarket with four ever-changing guest ales and quality food served lunchtime and evenings. 7 / 10
VintryHighly Recommended
3 High St
Vintry Re-opened following major refit (Aug 2007).
Amazing transformation. Very smart, slightly oriental style. Traditional tables and chairs including sofas. Up to 3 real ales.
7 / 10
Waterend BarnHighly Recommended
St Peters St
Waterend Barn Very large pub and restaurant converted to Lloyds bar in 2005. Patio area at front. Comfortable seating. Great old barn.
Good selection of real ales, wines and foreign beers.
Very popular at weekends after 9pm - disco and open 'til 1am.
7 / 10
White Hart Hotel
Holywell Hill
White Hart Hotel Cosy pub with two rooms. Very old building with good character
Availability of real ales could be improved
Lease is for sale
5 / 10
White Hart TapRecommended
4 Keyfield
White Hart Tap Popular back street pub with good selection of real ale.
Mainly middle-aged drinkers and mostly men. Occasional live music on Saturday evenings. Four or five real ales
6.5 / 10
White LionHighly Recommended
91 Sopwell Lane
White Lion Popular back street pub with a great selection of five or six real ales. Mainly middle-aged drinkers and mostly men. 7 / 10
White SwanRecommended
Upper Dagnell St
White Swan Good traditional pub frequented by regulars with friendly atmosphere. Three real ales but small selection of wine.
Bar billiards, juke box. Food at lunchtime
6.5 / 10