please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Called in on spec for a meal with the family (all adult) on a Sunday early evening. I was initially doubtful as the last time I had been was about 10 years earlier and had not been impressed. This time it was different - what a difference. The garden is somewhat limited both in size and facilities by its location, but on a good day that would not make a lot of difference. The interior is really quite good - somewhat of a traditional small-town continental bar/café/restaurant feel to it. The menu was interesting and varied and reasonably priced. The quantity and quality of the food could not be faulted. As far as the beers were concerned, there was a selection of Eurolagers and 4 pumps of cask beer, I had Doombar and Adnams, which were excellent. The staff were more than friendly. We'll be back.
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Payed a return visit for the first time in many years. A far more attractive pub than memory serves me and very welcoming bar staff. Reasonable range of ales and seved in good condition. Will return soon and try the food. Maybe they've had a change of management since the dreadful reviews below but I would certainly recommend it.
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As we come towards the festive season I feel its my duty to inform any poor soul that has booked in here that I went last year and it was comfortably the worst pub experience EVER !!
Didn't come close to school dinner standard let alone a passable Christmas lunch. Even allowing for the hecticness, the dinner was bland, cold and tasteless.
and the prices for bland wine ? eye-watering !
Awful waste of money!
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A dreadfully overpriced pub , ridiculous really (r they in central London), God paid less for a beer in the Savoy bar! Awful ripoff of a place. A very lazy pub with idle staff. Shame really as nice location. Have to agree with others i'd stretch myself to beat 0/10, a real ripoff and staff r so poor. Company summer party seeks location??? This place is a big NONO!!
BEER QUALITY - UTTER RUBBISH
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Two real ales, one cloudy but not vinegary. The other, Doombar which was completely clear. Most people seemed to drinking lager although a crowd of French fellows all went for the Doombar!
Tried the food and it was OK and seemed reasonably priced to what I'm used to.
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Agree with the previous review, the beer quality is a major problem, more often than not cloudy and sour. A shame because I really like the pub and the food is good. Would frequent more often if the ales were proper in condition.
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Beer quality has been a problem here in recent weeks - by that I mean cellarmanship. Often the beer has been a little flat and sour slightly vinegary and I've sampled a couple before finding one that is drinkable.
A great shame as the beers they have are quite good. I don't agree about the prices though its nearly a pound a pint cheaper at the Three Hammers who generally keep their beer better.
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I went here last night (Tuesday).; they had 3 real ales on.
Sharpes Doombar, Breakspears Oxford Gold, and a Harviestoun Hoppy IPA
They were all in good condition especially the IPA.
A nice change from the flat dross left over from the weekend served at most pubs.
I was pleasantly surprised. I do know what previous reviewers mean about the middle class "tweeness" of the place but I can live with that. Prices were pretty well St Albans average.
I have eaten here before and it was OK but overpriced - but that was some time ago now.
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I have been to this pub 3 times in the last 2 weeks and there has never been any soap in the men's toilet.
If they do not care about sanitation in the areas that their customers see it makes you wonder about the sanitation in the areas that their customers do not get to see i.e. the kitchen.
And if the kitchen and bar staff have to use the same toilet - where do they wash their hands?
Needless to say - I have not eaten there and I won't be going back.
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I agree regarding the smell of the pub so clearly an issue but also a very good food if you ignore it. Weird cobbled together decor and furnishings. Great way they have done the beer garden to keep it as quiet as possible from the main road. Food is pub grub with a twist. Bit pricey but worth it for me. Beer is good - 2 ales on tap that were not 'usuals'. If you want to start a crawl up the hill, start here.
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@fetchman - the poster above you 'trolley' has answered your question regarding the unpleasent smells at the King Harry, in the years I was going there (2005 - 09) the toilets blocked up at least twice a year by my memory, and for long periods of time. One of my drinking friends who runs a professional plumbing business offered to sort it out but was ignored, lo and behold we went the following week and the toilets were still out of order! So to 'fetchman' and 'trolley' - it's not like the management didn't know about the plumbing issues before your visits!
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Great attentive bar staff, well kept affordable ales, amazing conversation, good food, then go somewhere else........Avoid!
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I went for the pub quiz night last monday and the drinks are ridiculously overpriced, for a start. A single Southern Comfort and Coke cost me �3.50 and a Magners Pear was �4.10 and then they had the cheek to charge me 2 quid for the pub quiz after robbing me of so much money. Don't even bother doing rounds. The ladies toilets were out of order, so we had to use the disabled, which had old boxes next to the toilet as well as the toilet failing to flush properly and ended up as a diluted, pissy clogged up mess (if I wanted this I would've gone to Crosskeys). The toilet was quite literally disabled. They also have new staff.... I also complained that there was scummy froth sticking to my glass which does not normally accompany a SoCo&Coke, I normally wouldn't have cared but it cost me a lot of money, I wasn't happy with the service and I was able to take it back for another one which did the same thing. Don't let the owner's above input sway you; "eclectic" means snobby "urban" means local posh St Albians who have too much money and an "innovative choice of food and drink" most likely refers to the ridiculous prices (�1.50 was the cheapest thing on the menu for a fricking sauce on the side) whilst not actually stocking the most likely of food and drink which you would want (they didn't have half the beers as usual and decided to display the ones they did have by covering up the plaques with candles - great logic there guys). Oh but I did like the lampshades and the vintage looking chairs.
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Popped in for a quick pint on Saturday evening, I like this place because of its good range of beers and lagers, but the place had a very nasty smell, a cross between boiled cabbage and damp hamster cages! Beer was nice but had to leave as couldn't bear the odour.
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I used to drink here regularly with a group of friends who are all professional people who enjoy good conversation and good beer. It was convenient for the directions we were coming from and for a while seemed fairly welcoming. It's selection of continental beers was unrivalled in the local area and we enjoyed the variety.
Latterly the bar staff became unwelcoming and frankly downright rude towards us. We started guessing what insults we would get when we went in there. Prices went sky high and the menu became pretentious and overblown for the type of pub it is. The tables became dirty and empty glasses were not cleared away (except at closing time when you were marched outside to finish your drink as soon as your time was up). Beer quality went downhill and some were often not available. The supposed 'guest' real ale was the same for about 2 months. I didn't dare try it as it had no doubt been standing for so long. Finally we have abandoned this place and put our money towards a real local pub not one that has ideas above it's station.
I would not recommend this place unless you enjoy getting abuse from the scruffy and unkempt barstaff.
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This is one of our favourite pubs in St. Albans. Good food and decent selection of lagers and wines. It's the only place I've seen outside London with Fruili beer on tap.
I'm not an ale drinker so can't comment on their range of 'proper beers'. Busy over the weekends, we've turned up before and had to leave because the car park was so packed.
Last orders on a Sunday is 10pm, which I thought was early but I've only been there that late once (Bank Holiday) so not much of an issue.
Greg. - 30 Apr 2010 15:17 |
We went out for a Christmas drink last night. We were on our way to The three hammers, but decided to stop off here for a quick one. As there was 8 of us (not all blokes either) we walked in to see if we could find seats, as we walked round (and I thought I'd misheard this) the barman said "Thats right just walk through". A great start. So we ordered, and ended up taking back my wifes half of lager, as the barman had given us a shandy, which he insisted we had ordered. After a row , he then, and with a very surly attitude ,gave us a replacement. Now it was a very snowy night, the pub had very few people, he was hardly rushed off his feet, so what was with this fellas attitude. So we necked our drinks, and took a very icy walk to the Hammers, were we should have gone in the first place. Avoid this place, it's an absolute hole of a pub.
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Must have improved recently based on some of the older reviews. I got decent beer, service was good and friendly. Good atmosphere in the pub, I'll be back...
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Very good roasts! Good portions and very tasty! Friendly and funny staff. Good for a family meal with children!
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Further to my review of 20 Jan 2008, food improving and some beer selection getting better.
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Had Sunday lunch there as a group and many of us were disappointed. The vegetarian option was not available - but they didn't tell us until they had started serving some of the other meals. No fizzy mineral water available or hot chocolate or decaff coffee, both on the dessert menu. No children's menu although they have a "family room" and selection of toys and they weren't prepared to provide a small portion of anything. Food was unspectacular and service slow.
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A turd of a pub, trying to be some pretentious wine bar...food is bad fish and chips the best thing on the menu, not really a friendly place to be.
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No longer good in parts so no longer even a curate's egg. Any passing heavy goods drivers feel free to take the front off again as it desperately needs a shake up.
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Poor quality.
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I have been using this pub regularly for many years only because it is convenient and sells a belgian white beer which I like. It has never been very good and very often serves short measures. If I receive a short measure I always ask for a top up and I am regularly informed, by somebody barely out of nappies, that the head is legally a part of the pint. However, I have always got a top up in the end.
It has now, yet again, changed management, and the first time I asked for a top up I became embroiled in an argument which resulted in me not paying for the short pint, walking out, and deciding not to use this pub again while the present management is in charge.
The problem is that the present manager has no idea of customer service and, even worse, does not care.
He would rather lose a regular customer than serve a full pint.
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I got served my cottage pie which had funny lumps of whole potato, in a dog bowl..or that's what my husband and I were reminded of!
Very basic, there was a scary looking teddy being hung over the bar at one point..
Looks nice from outside but just don't do it!
anonymous - 10 Nov 2007 19:58 |
This place has nosedived.
badly kept ale
clueless staff
feeble service
high prices
poncey food
short measure pints
appalling house clearance furniture
Theres a million reasons to take your hard earned elsewhere.
However they do have lots of pretty xmas lights - work that one out!
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This pub does try hard, but seems to miss the mark on occasions. The Prices for food are over the top, and �5-6 for a Birdseye burger in a bap from the BBQ is outrageous. Probably was better a couple of years ago, we have noticed a few more undesirable types making it their local of late, which is a shame. Probably best for a winter pint midweek.
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A curate�s egg if ever there was one. I like the d�cor and the atmosphere and they play nice relaxed tunes at an inoffensive volume. The beer�s not bad, although they do go in for a few too many zany choices rather than doing simple things well, and the wine is pretty decent. On the other hand the service really ain�t all that, the garden is tatty and down at heel and the food is an abomination. Basically they�ve tried to steer away from standard pub grub which is fine if you can pull it off but they can�t. The menu�s clich�d and unimaginative, the ingredients are poor quality and the cooking is just plain bad. The prices are silly, St Albans is never going to be a cheap place to drink but that�s not an excuse to actively rip your clientele off.
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I come here for lunch quite often and find the food and beer very acceptable , but the prices are very steep,especially wine.The bric a brac furniture somehow works , and this is a little different to other Mitchells and Butler chain pubs like the Embers ( I think this is called a "Castle") The garden is ok ,but be warned its right on the roundabout ,so you get alot of traffic fumes,in fact it has its unique feel down to the fact a lorry hit one early morning and they had to do a quick refurb on it.
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Very average. I wouldn't bother walking out from St Albans, not worth the effort (if you're not killed trying to cross the road and get in there). Food and drink is alright, it's nice during the summer sitting outside.
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Good sunshades (!), good food. crap beer.
Take your pick.
Exterminate!
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Popped in last week and the pub had improved, certainly to a higher standard than implied in recent messages below. There were 2 guest ales in addition to the usual Bombardier and Youngs, and the barstaff were working quite hard.
A flash in the pan? Possibly, but credit should be given where it's due. I've uprated my score from 4 to 7 out of ten.
Incidentally, which King Harry are we talking about?
anonymous - 17 Oct 2006 11:55 |
A favourite trick of this pub is to run out of ale the instant the sun comes out.
Previous reviewer is quite right the service is, and has always been, awfull and the prices scandalous.
How this ever made it into the GBG is beyond me.
anonymous - 14 Jul 2006 12:29 |
Not only did they charge me �4.60 for a pint of Bombardier and some pistachio nuts last night, it wasn't even a full pint of beer - more like 95%. I would have complained but the 2 bargirls were so engrossed in their chatting that I didn't bother. Other customers were also treated fairly brusquely. All the fancy wine and champagne lists and posh menus don't mean a thing if the basics aren't done properly.
I shan't return to this ghastly pub in a hurry, if ever. 4/10
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New manager in the last few weeks, last night he was the only pair of hands behind the bar that I could see, did pretty well on his own though.
Nice pint of Spitfire and Youngs Special.
Pretentious and expensive menu continues
Furniture still cack.
All the best to the new manager (can't remember his name) - he's from Namibia you know
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More news. The King Harry was threatened by demolition and "relocation" as part of a proposed housing development. But the plan has just been rejected by the local council, so the KH lives to fight another day! Apparently it is a Grade-2 listed pub - a bit like the furniture, oops, hush my mouth!
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Hmmm. Puzzled by the differing opinions below, I finally visited the King Harry yesterday lunchtime. All was revealed: it's a bit of a hit-and-miss pub!
First the good points. The range of drinks is not extensive, but fair enough; I enjoyed 2 very good points of Bombardier. The 2 barstaff on duty were fine, doing the "I'll be with you in a minute" routine when serving other people, and regularly collecting up dirty glasses. Entertainment was provided by a good selection of music, and I had great fun looking through the window at the motorists making a pig's breakfast of the double-mini-roundabout
outside.
Now for the dodgy bits. The furniture really is a strange mixture of tat, and looks as if it fell off the backs of various lorries. Worse, the pub's atmosphere is a bit odd, with the regular customers hogging the back bar, leaving the front bar occupied by passing misfits and weirdos such as myself. I enjoyed the beer, but left the King Harry feeling that on a different day, at a different time, one's experience as a customer would be totally different. Truly great pubs aren't like this.
To regain my equilibrium, I then had two drinks in the ever-reliable "Garibaldi", followed - oh dear - by a couple more in the good old "Boot". I can't remember what happened in the evening.
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This pub is OK. Youngs, Bombardier, lots of wine ... nothing wrong with that!
anonymous - 18 Feb 2006 19:22 |
Nice place but food a bit bland. Seems to have lost somthing but what, I don't know. Will try it in the summer.
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Change in management Dec 2005, who knows what that will bring. So far irriatated one or two regulars that weren't allowed in on New Years eve, despite being nowhere near full at 8pm. That will help the accounts I'm sure when they don't come back.
Beer continues to be changeable but overpriced. Service is only available when the staff have finished chatting to each other Real-Al has the right idea.
Oh yes, where do they get that horrid second hand furniture, are they clearing out slums in the area?
Oh for a traditional pub landlord!
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Comfortable interior. Although a Free House only the area's usual suspects were on for real ale (Greene King, Young's, Courage, Wells). I can't remark on condition as no one was motivated enough to serve me. I took my hard-earned pay and patronage elsewhere. 6/10.
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Good pub,ifact the only decent Ember Ive ever been in,good beer and nice fish finger sarnies
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Nice pub - spent a nice saturday afternoon there last week supping ale (and Pimms but keep that bit quiet!)
Good selection of beers
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Good selection of beers usually on but not always in drinkable condition. Several occasions over the last few years they have run out of all real ales and there has only been lager to drink(puh! puh! yuck). Just not reliable enough on the ales. Food looks OK but poncy and overpriced.
anonymous - 21 Apr 2005 14:22 |
Not a bad place. I've had some agreeable ales there, though they're never top-notch - always slightly "dead". The food is acceptable, though pretty basic. The garden's good in the summer, but there's always the main road running alongside...
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Great selection of beer which improves during and shortly after the St.Albans beer festival.
Good beer garden, which is heated when it's cold.
Chris Scott - 31 Aug 2004 16:55 |
Good atmosphere and nice lazy sofas if you get in quick enough. Bab B Ques in summer weekends though the rest of the menu changes regularly and can be poor, especially for veggies. Fantastic wine and beer selection though.
Julie Anderson - 13 Aug 2004 18:05 |
