BITE user comments - GaryB007
Comments by GaryB007
CLOSED - Turned into the Brickyard and now even that has closed.
11 Jun 2017 16:19
The new landlords have now been in for three years and the place is as good as it's ever been. Great music on Wednesdays too.
8 Dec 2016 16:40
The Hare and Hounds, St Albans
Elaine, the new landlady, has really turned this place around. Good beers, regular music and great food. If you haven't been in recently, give it a try.
8 Dec 2016 16:36
Reopened last year with new management who also run another local pub. Has had a refurb and now has a very welcoming ambience with well kept beers. Serves some very good food according to friends who have tried it (I aim to try it soon).
31 Mar 2016 23:25
You'll see from my previous review that this opened under new management a couple of years ago. I'm please to see that the new landlords have just celebrated their second anniversary here and I went along to see the superb "The Way Back" band at their birthday bash.
Well done chaps. Keep up the good work.
18 Sep 2015 19:31
Had had several new tenants recently and seem to have given up on the music. Usually empty when I drive past and only a matter of time before it becomes flats.
27 Aug 2015 20:46
Went here during St Albans Festival. Gave up waiting to be served and went across to The Blacksmiths Arms over the road instead.
27 Aug 2015 20:44
The Crown, Winterborne Stickland
Tried this place out whilst staying at the excellent Hedges Farm Cottages down the road. Small two-bar pub with the front bar mainly for food. Friendly locals and and three very friendly pub dogs which they let out into the back bar late in the evening. Decent beer, and the one meal we had there was good. Worth a visit if you're in the area.
31 Jul 2015 17:26
The Duke of Marlborough, St Albans
Now completely a house. Should be removed from here.
14 Apr 2015 21:30
A welcome relief from the pretentious pubs frequented by pretentious idiots in the area. Good beers, decent food and regular music.
3 Apr 2015 16:45
Seems to be open again as of end of Jan 2015. They're booking bands too, which is a good sign.
29 Jan 2015 22:46
The Fox and Hounds, Bricket Wood
Long since converted to a house. Time to zap it from here.
17 Jan 2015 12:26
Seems to be thriving after the refurb a year or two ago, though it's more restaurant than pub now. It is overpriced as mentioned above, but it's a very well-to-do area, and the locals seem to be able to afford it. They do need some better bar staff. Some of the ones they have seem more interested in chatting among themselves than serving the punters.
28 Dec 2014 23:13
Unusually these days, the recent refurb has actually improved the place. Now well decorated and still smelling of paint when I was there. Drinks are relatively cheap (at least for Mill Hill) and bar staff are pleasant and attentive. Does get very busy at peak times, but definitely worth a visit.
28 Dec 2014 23:08
Went there at the weekend to see local band The Ska Faces, who were excellent. Locals seem friendly, apart from a couple who had a minor skirmish outside.
22 Dec 2014 16:44
According to someone on streetlife.com, it will re-open soon with new licensees.
21 Dec 2014 21:09
Looks very old, but is actually quite modern. Good choice of craft beers and knowledgeable staff.
22 Jul 2014 20:01
Lovely little traditional local, and some excellent live music on Tuesdays.
22 Jul 2014 19:59
It's now over 6 months since the refurb, and not much has changed - except the customers - there don't seem to be many of them left. Despite the fact that there was a decent band on when I visited (on a Saturday night), there were only about a dozen people in. The place used to be rammed on a Saturday night. I wonder how long it can survive if this is typical. Cynics might even suspect that they want to run it down so it can be sold for development.
6 Jul 2014 21:25
Green Gate Inn, Caister on Sea
Reopened a few months ago with new owners who seem to be making a real effort. They've done the place up and have regular live music. Hope they succeed, but it can be pretty quiet in Caister in the winter.
5 Jul 2014 11:56
Popped in here completely at random for lunch on the way up to Doncaster. Excellent food and very friendly staff.
29 Mar 2014 14:16
Recently reopened under new management. Thankfully they haven't ripped the guts out of it and it's still a traditional local. They have a good range of beers and particularly ciders, and the best music you'll find in St Albans on a Wednesday.
They're certainly making an effort and I hope they succeed.
27 Feb 2014 19:37
The recent refurb and "improvements" seem to have ruined what was a nice local. I've just got back from a Sunday evening there and what was once a busy Sunday Open Mic/Jam night has been replaced by a Jazz Duo that was playing to about half a dozen people. As DarkLordOfBarnet says below "If it ain't broke"... If anyone knows where the jam night has moved to, let me know and I'll be there.
3 Feb 2014 00:07
Lovely olde worlde pub hidden down an alleyway. Great atmosphere, decent beer, and friendly locals.
12 Jul 2013 23:48
Popped in here for lunch whilst working in the area. Very good food, a decent pint and friendly staff.
18 Jun 2013 19:28
The Blacksmiths Arms, St Albans
I've been there a few times recently to see some of the local bands (Co Jones being the best). Nice crowd and atmosphere and a decent selection of beers. Also popped in on the odd Sunday afternoon to watch the football. Haven't tried the food, but it looks and smells good.
14 Apr 2013 20:59
Definitely open again. The new landlord is making a good effort with regular music at the weekends, but there's a LOT of local competition, so only time will tell if they can survive.
1 Apr 2013 13:11
Had a great St Patrick's Day (night) here. Great crowd, decent music, but it was hot in there. Don't know what the comments on the staff are about. They're a great, and very hard-working bunch.
21 Mar 2013 20:33
The George and Dragon, Northchurch
Don't give up on it BeerEnthusiast. It is worth another try.
20 Nov 2012 23:24
Castle Free House, Caister on Sea
Went here back in the summer. Very good, if busy carvery and a large play area for the kids which they loved.
20 Nov 2012 23:22
Following a recent relaunch under a new manager, we thought we'd give this place another try. The manager may have changed, but the awful slow service and average food haven't. Won't be giving it another chance.
20 Nov 2012 23:19
Popped in for lunch with a couple of workmates last week. Very good food, a decent pint and friendly staff. Would certainly go back.
18 Nov 2012 11:15
As others have said, this is more restaurant than pub, but the food is very good, with generous portions. The lasagne is a particular favourite. The beers are also well kept. The only downsides are the lack of spaces in the car park and the fact that it can be difficult to bag a table at peak times - but these are both reflections on how busy it gets because of the good food.
2 Oct 2012 19:33
The Pear and Partridge, London Colney
Now renamed back to The White Horse - its original name. A couple of locals have bought it and done it up. Time will tell if they've got it right. There are a lot of pubs in LC for the size of the village.
12 Sep 2012 18:45
Went there on Sunday for the weekly show tunes singalong. Very friendly locals (including Porkpie from the old Desmond's TV series) and decent beer. Well worth a visit.
3 Dec 2011 10:08
Savanna @ The Black Lion Inn , St Albans
Plans submitted to convert to three homes. It's a goner.
15 Nov 2011 19:45
The Royal Oak, Holmbury St Mary
Stopped here yesterday for a quick pint after a walk around the area. Very nice pint and friendly staff in a lovely location.
20 Aug 2011 12:45
The George and Dragon, Northchurch
Went there yesterday to see local acoustic duo "Mouth On A Stick" (who were excellent BTW). Decent selection of beers, very jolly landlord and friendly locals in a pub with some real character.
10 Apr 2011 12:40
Has had a recent revamp. Still serves decent beer & food in a friendly atmosphere.
7 Apr 2011 19:16
Very much a locals pub, but a pleasant little place with decent beer and a very nice collection of flowers outside in the summer.
12 Sep 2010 11:26
It's good to see you guys seeking the opinions of the locals. I'm from St Albans, but I have a good friend who lives in Marsh Lane, so I use many of the pubs in the area regularly, including The A&E when Mary was there. Hopefully, if the renovation (and the beer) are good, we'll be back.
5 Sep 2010 23:58
The Green Dragon, London Colney
Went there on Friday to see local band "The Push", who were, as usual, excellent. Pub was rammed with a mixture of friendly locals and a few who had travelled from further afield to see the band. Decent beer and very hard working staff, but boy was it hot in there.
5 Sep 2010 23:40
Found this by accident yesterday. A great little pub with a very quirky interior. Good basic food and well kept beer. Had a very pleasant hour outside in the sunshine.
1 Sep 2010 12:57
The Waggon and Horses, Elstree
Decent locals pub with polite staff, well kept beer and some good outdoor music in the summer. Does get very busy at weekends.
11 Aug 2010 21:36
The Fox and Hounds, Bricket Wood
Owner has applied for planning to convert to a private house. Probably a good idea since it's been a financial disaster for the last few owners who have run it as a pub.
11 Aug 2010 21:30
Nice pub. I often make the effort to visit from Park Street. Friendly staff, decent beer and some good food. A hidden gem.
11 Aug 2010 21:25
Wandered in here by accident a few weeks ago. One of the weirdest interiors I've sever seen. Beer was warm, barman was an idiot and the place was nearly empty, which I guess was a bonus given the comments about the locals from previous visitors.
Definitely won't be going back.
11 Aug 2010 21:15
I agree with stemginger - dull and lifeless describes this place perfectly. The only plus is that it's usually open late.
11 Aug 2010 20:36
Being going here on and off for the last few years. It's gone downhill recently. Food can be very slow at busy times and tables are often dirty. Needs a decent Manager to get it back on track.
11 Aug 2010 20:32
A nice friendly pub with a decent selection of beers. They have regular live music and it's amazing how many people they can cram in there when a decent band is on.
11 Aug 2010 20:30
The Blacksmiths Arms, St Albans
Gone massively downhill under new management. There are rarely enough bar staff on busy nights, and the place is generally untidy and dirty. They also have a habit of cancelling bands at the last minute, and they treat them particularly badly. Most of the best local bands no longer play there. It has gone from my No. 1 choice for local music to a place where I only go if there's nothing else on.
8 May 2018 22:25