please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The BEST pub in Hertford. Attentative bar staff with excellent customer service skills. There is a discount for CAMRA members too. Beers are well kept and constantly changing.
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This was the first of 6 Hertford pubs sampled on a Thursday evening and was just about the best. You can do a fairly decent crawl in this town. This particular pub is separated from the main part of the town centre by the town's main road, the A414 and is in aresidential street. It has a couple of small rooms. The larger is the main bar area and there is a smaller area with a dartboard. I didn't notice a TV. So maybe they have taken heed of the last review. Staff and the locals were friendly. There are 6 handpulls. But on this visit, only 4 ales were on - Buntingford 50 Summers & Highwayman, Greene King St Edmunds Ale & Red Squirrel Conservation Ale. Ciders are fetched from the cellar and there were 3 - Gwynt y Ddraig Happy Daze, Lilleys Merry Monkey & Abrahalls Slack Alice. A couple of people were on the Merry Monkey. So I joined in, having not had that one before. Discounts for CAMRA members on ales and ciders are actively offered. I believe this was 10p per pint. But it may have been 20p.
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By far the best pub in Hertford, and I travel up from Hoddesdon to visit. Off the beaten track on the way to the often flooded football ground. But a quiet street and a great looking pub. A two room pub with an upstairs garden area which is great in the summer. I think it was five bitter types on tap with English lager and proper cider as well. Plus the usual corporal stuff and the black stuff which according to my cousin is really good as the owner is Irish and looks after it well. Anyway a good traditional pub look from the outside and in. Not large but plenty of seating, fairly good loos, and the best asset of all the staff. A real friendly bunch. The food is a bit on the game side, but the venison lasagne was brilliant. All the food is made here. Discount for CAMRA people. The only draw back is the TV is on all the time. Fine for the footy and rugby (when the place gets packed) but please switch it off when there is no sport worth showing.
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Terrific back street local with 6 real ales and its own rugby team. It also sells interesting pasties, such as pheasant pie.
I wish I could remember which ale (something like Full Tilt) I was mostly drinking, but it was extremely palatable. I tried the Morlands bitter which was a bit off. But the bar girl changed it without hesitation. Side Pocket for a Toad from the Tring brewery was also available and an Old Ale from a small brewery in Sussex. Excellent pub, my only complaint being that the music was a bit too loud.
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Surprised that there hasn't been more commentary on this remarkably turned around little pub. The guys that have bought it have performed a minor miracle. Wide range of constantly changing beers , some from the pump, some on stillage from the cellar. Personally find the selection a bit too hoppy for me but that's taste. Good basic pub grub - the mini burgers are a good mid-afternoon snack. Now the place to go for football on TV without the tiresome need to slap some little wannabe that you can get in other pubs in town. Overall fine pub, good service, great atmosphere. CAMRA members get a discount on some beers.
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Great news the Black Horse has re-opened as a Freehouse after Greene King sold it on the Market.
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Like an earlier comment, I have been wanting to try this pub for some years now. Managed to call in on Saturday lunchtime. Thankfully there were only about 6 or 7 Spurs fans in watching the football on a big screen. I didn't let them know I am a Gooner.
Some say it is dirty inside, others not. There were dead flies and dust on various selves and the room looked tired and worn out. But hey - this is a proper old-fashioned public house.
The staff are very friendly. The menu had all the basic meals at very good prices. My Sausage (3), egg and chips were very enjoyable. The sausages had an excellent taste and really good quality.
I won't do my usual moaning of Greene King's lack of beer choice, because they did have their Olde Trip, which you do not see often around here.
Not sure if the pub made much money from the Yid fans. One pint lasted them the entire match - tight so - and - so's.
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In relation to the last few reviews I thought that I�d start by first mentioning that when I walked in the governor was polishing the pumps on the bar and who I think is his wife made me feel very welcome even though I was the only person in the pub at 22:00. It is Greene King, but there was a guest and I don�t really care as I was drinking Guinness and I was glad to find a pub in Hertford that didn�t have the McMullen mark stamped on it.
I spotted a plasma screen that was off due to no worthwhile sport being shown on Sky and there is also a dartboard which I gleaned must be used regularly after spotting all of the events advertised on the A-board outside.
I think that the management of this pub are hospitable and are making an effort, so if the blinkered few out there that can�t see past the Greene King badge were to open their eyes they may just enjoy this pub.
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Visited Sunday evening. A friendly welcome but on the whole a disappointment. IPA, Abbot and Old Trip on. Only tried the Old Trip which was acceptable. About a dozen locals in including a group playing poker in one corner. Overall impression is a pub which has seen better times.
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I am a very frequent visitor to this pub and i am so shocked that people are saying some untrue stuff. I know that this pub isnt dirty as i know and have witnessed them cleaning it every morning without fail and then i see them cleaning the kitchen after every shift and the toilets are not smelly what so ever, they are a little cold but thats about it. I cant believe people are still saying bad things about this pub as it has picked up 1000% since the old tenants left you actually feel welcome when you walk in the put as the new tenants customer service is excellent. I recently went to a birthday party there and the buffet was amazing along with the beer and i was told by another customer that they clean the pipes on a regular basis not like the old tenants! Also the pubn has had a much needed lick of paint and the difference in the pub now they have also sorted out the garden which i am told dtill needs work done to it but to me it looks perfect. All i can say to the people writting the false stuff on here is you probably havent even been to this pub because if you had you wouldnt be writing this stuff unless its the old tenants doing it to try and be childish and stop people going in there and what a childish thing to do. Finally to all those that say you have to fight you way through the smokers standing out side the pub, you only have to say excuse me and we will all move! Also to those who say that the pub is always dead, well have you not noticed that we are going through a resession and people are saving and it cant be that dead all the time as they wouldnt be able to stay open as they wouldnt be able to pay the bills!
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This pub deserves to be better supported by the good people of Hertford.On a recent visit thankfully Batemans XXXB was on ,so much better than the bland Greene King IPA and Abbott.XXXB was well kept ,but no complaints from those drinking the GK beers.Pub very quiet but clean and tidy.Definately worth using either before or after a match at Hertford Town FC,as the club bar only has gassed up fizz / pasturised stout for sale.
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Shame this pub has gone downhill since previous tenants left in July.
Is extremely dirty inside and smells to match, especially the toilets.
Beer now only average so only had the one pint instead of the usual four or five. Had to fight my way through the crowd of smokers outside the front door to leave. Won't be back in a hurry. Pleased to see the other Horse is reopening so will be drinking there me thinks.
Korky - 17 Oct 2008 22:32 |
Nice old building with timber ceiling beams, three connecting rooms from the main bar area. Split from the town by the terribly planned through road. Unfortunately a GK house serving IPA and Abbot, Old Trip, plus Bury St Edmunds Westgate Brewery advertised "Bonkers Conkers".....I know not this brewery or its beers....on research it seems the brewery shares GK's address. Just a feeling the way it was presented as purporting to be a guest is typical GK shennanigans. More punters outside smoking than in, including possibly the landlord, as the "Thanks Lads" doesn't usually come from the pavement outside.
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10 years ago was the best pub for miles and now look at it...empty.
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Not a great pub due to GK beers and not well kept .
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Had driven by this pub for ten years or and finally visited it on a glorious May Saturday (10/05/08) and I'm kicking myself for not having visited before. Knowledgeable and friendly staff, good atmosphere and fantastic garden. Good range of well-kept beers. Only managed to try the pork pies, which were excellent, but will return soon for a meal. Now my favourite pub in the area.
OHFTB - 12 May 2008 11:29 |
Lovely little pub, away from the bustle of the town centre. Friendly landlord and well kept beers, with a revolving door on guest ales. If you dont like one, there'll be a different one the next week.
Never tried the food, but the beers great.
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greene king says a lot which is a shame since pub is decent as are staff,,guset beer not what i'd like when i visited but others may well, but will visit again in expectation
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Have just been back after nearly a year. This pub entertained a birthday bash I attended. Packed to the rafters and nothing was a problem for the pleasant staff. Good buffet too.
To me, the Black Horse is getting better.
Korky - 15 Dec 2006 18:32 |
Superb community pub in old part of Hertford. Just gained entry in 2006 Good Beer Guide. Good home made food. Excellent Sunday lunches - plenty of meat on our plates. Would visit again.
Korky - 23 Nov 2005 20:55 |
Lovely pub garden! Good beer, friendly staff.
Good value Sunday lunch, a little short on meat but good selection of veg.
Access to rear garden difficult for the elderly, but great in the summer.
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A friendly community local with the largest pub garden in Hertford. Real Ales from Greene King and guests.
I won't rate it - I'm the landlord. But see us in next year's GBG
Tony Dawes - 25 Mar 2005 20:09 |
