please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This is a really attractive pub with good ale (Fullers Pride, Seafarers and one other) that is always kept well. Lovely immaculate interior and large outdoor garden. Both snack and other food available at most times. Definitely a pub for discerning adults. Well sought after by many. Frequently quite full during the week. The pub is a bit off the beaten track but it provides lunches every day 12:00 - 2:00 and evening meals Wed - Sat 6-9pm.
Typical prices: Lunch: Toasted Ham and Cheese £6:00, Evening: Fish Chips £11:00. Very competitive locally. A typical snack lunch meal with drinks comes in at £23.50. Quick service. Highly recommended.
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Definitely a one off for around here. Not the cheapest place by a long shot but doesn't strike me as a place you'd go to get drunk. Beer served in jugs, crisps served in china bowls, polished furniture and a wooden draw to keep the cash in - need I say any more. Worth a visit at least once, but bring plenty of cash..........
Last visit though had a barman (trainee artist or something like that) who couldn't multiply by 2 without a calculator, although on the positive side we were undercharged for our first round by said barman!
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well worth a visit, spotless , great beer, interesting interior,good staff.
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What I would call a 'proper' pub!
Totally traditional and it is just spotless throughout. One of the best beer gardens I've been to, absolutely huge and beautifully kept. Beer was on fine form and the food great. It's nice to see pubs like these still exist and haven't been 'gastrosized' ;)
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Well where to start, as you walk through the door it feels like you have entered someones lounge, without being invited,you then order your drinks with the ale served in jugs, and when you are told the price you stagger away wishing you had stayed at home, but not to worry you will soon be at home because last orders was called at 9.30 and lights out at 9.40. A real shame as it is a very pretty pub and very clean, the person behind the bar needs to attend a customer awareness course, Fullers should do a spot check perhaps one Sunday at about 9.20
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This is a quaint old type rural pub and garden in a lovely backwater of countryside. Four of us (all in our 60s) arrived at 8.30pm on a sunny summer's Sunday evening, there were 4 other people there. At 9.30 pm (yes that's right 9.30 pm!) the very rude landlady (?) called "last orders", then at 9.40pm called "time out" and switched all the lights out. She said Goodnight, we replied Good Afternoon. There were 2 real ales on tap, both served in jugs and both tasted good. However I wouldn't recommend this pub unless you had a very large amount of cash in your pocket. The prices are beyond belief, 2 pints and 2 J2Os = £14.20. Don't think this is a pub that we will return to in a hurry though.
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I did return - on bank Holiday Monday. It was closed!! Unbelievable! We went elsewhere.
Tewin - 14 May 2013 20:09 |
When I was a youngster I found this pub to be a bit "mature" and intimidating. Now I'm "mature" myself I've grown into it. It's a veritable gem. I was worried that when they started serving food it would change the atmosphere but it doesn't seem to have done. I suppose it's one of the reasons that it is still open. I was very impressed by the previous landlord who always dressed appropriately - a suit on Saturday evenings and sports jacket on Sunday lunchtimes. I haven't been for a while so I hope the standards are being maintained. I especially liked beer being served in jugs (you have to ask for a straight glass if you want it rather than the other way round) and the fact that there is no music (thank God!!) and no children.
I will re-visit soon.
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Immaculate traditional pub with superb ales( Fullers only), friendly, efficient service and cleanliness that is an example to all.
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Visited last week and as good as ever. Where else does the barman empty a packet of crisps into a china bowl (hope it was n't a redundant ash tray!). Lovely wood fire too. Tried the Mighty Atom (in a jug of course) and was mightily impressed.
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Still as good as ever. Like beer served in a jug glass - reminds me of when I first went to pubs. Smoking ban has removed the ash trays which were bone china dishes so lost a bit of character. Sometimes appears to close early during first part of the week.
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Myself and my boyfriend are regular visitors to this pub. It has a fantastic, friendly atmosphere, is very well kept and the beer is (according to my boyfriend) truly excellent! We enjoy visiting in the summer when we can sit in the very pretty pub garden. The food served is tastey and the menu has plenty to offer. Would highly recommend!
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What a wonderful gems of a pub this is. Shame it is so far from civilisation - because you have to drive to it and can only have onr drink. I had a love pint of ale and a ploughmans for lunch. Fantastic place.
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Great beer garden. A pub that still has its charm.
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Pleasant enough old style pub, if a little twee, where diners and drinkers mix without compromising the pub feel of the place. A Fullers house with the usual suspects on tap. Tried the Chiswick which was on form. A nice garden for smokers. Hard to reach yet within earshot of the M1. Somewhere you really need to drive to as there is no public transport within miles of the place and the lanes leading to it are pretty dangerous to walk along as they are used as cut throughs by occasional fast moving vehicles.
anonymous - 16 Jun 2010 22:39 |
This is the sort of place you take your granny in to make sure she doesn't forget you in the will. All very clean and civilised and has had the same manger in since granny took her granny here. Fullers beers are usually on top form but have heard some bad remarks abour the cooking lager before.
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Have just discovered this pub and it's a real find. Thought pub's like this had disappeared but so glad to report this one hasn't. Beautifully kept, traditional but remains in the 21st century. Good food, great beer, friendly staff, clean, welcoming, what more can I say! Spent a great Saturday night here with friends for a drink and a meal. Will be back very soon.
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This may be a Fullers pub. But it's not your standard Fullers establishment. The location, despite being close to the M1 and M25 is very rural. The antiques and wooden furniture inside could make this a great place to spend a few hours. Unfortunately, the posh cars in the car park give you an idea why spending time here is not possible, unless you're a millionaire. The drinks prices are astronomical. I couldn't fault the cleanliness, the atmosphere or the service. But it's simply too expensive to enjoy. London pride, ESB and Chiswick were the 3 cask ales available.
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Awesome country pub. Not cheap, and most people will have to drive to get to it, but besides that a fabulous pub. Surely the best beer garden in the area.
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If you want to visit a genuine vintage pub, this is a must, but if you want a rowdy night out, look elsewhere. Its like stepping into your grandmothers drawing room, but with beer for sale. If I'm in St Albans, I have to visit - its a complete one off.
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Lovely country pub,perfect for lazing away an afternoon in the garden. The only trouble with it is the prices, a pint of Pride, a half of Carlsberg and two cokes came to �9.Hence the rating.
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A quintessential English pub. Great food and great drink in a super environment.
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"Oldpublover" must be be going to a completely different Holly Bush to the one that I know, or maybe he's just generally miserable! This beautiful, traditional pub with it's friendly, efficient staff and great food and drink is certainly not lacking in atmosphere - the slightly "eccentric" landlord sees to that! The Holly Bush is picturesque, spotlessly clean (the toilets are the cleanest I've ever visited!), very welcoming and well worth a visit.
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The hollybush is a great pub. I have often visited and everytime have enjoyed myself. It is a great example of traditional pub where you will always get a great pint and good wholesome food. Steve and Vanessa, who have been running the ship recently, always greet you with a smile and make you feel welcome...which is one of the main reasons I continue to come back. Of course the garden is something that deserves a mention, it is absolutely beautiful in the summer.
All in all, if you would like to visit a lovely, traditional and very pretty english pub, the hollybush is the place to go!
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Hard to disagree with most of the comments about this really pleasant and well kept pub. No one has commented though about the beer prices which include an eye-watering �3.60 for a pint of ESB, add in �1 for a bowl of peanuts (decanted from a bag costing much less no doubt) and this becomes a very expensive place for a pint or three.
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It's my regular pub and I therefore like it a lot. The many people I have taken there have enjoyed the fact that it is clean, the decor is immaculate, the food and the beer is excellent and that there are no children allowed. They have also appreciated that it does not have piped music or a juke box. They have all found it a very relaxing place.
I have found the landlord and his staff to be really helpful and kind and the landlord has a very dry sense of humour, which I like. The whole atmosphere and the the decor reminds of a time when, perhaps, life was more civilised and people were more courteous had more time for each other. It really depends what you want from a pub. There are many noisy and hectic pubs but I really do prefer somewhere quieter and feel you can get away from the stress and pressure of life in the 21st Century.
I hope it will continue to be like this for many years to come.
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What a shame. Recently revisited this place after a fifteen year gap hoping that new management might have arrived. But it seems the same regime is in place and even more set in its ways. The atmosphere is deadly and we couldnt wait to get away. I would NOT reccomend this place to any one who wants to relax in a pub.
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All the above are fair comment, except the bit about atmosphere. In my chosen lifestyle as an old fart, I've called in about 6 or 7 times in the last year. I have sat and drunk a few pints each time. The beer is consistently good. The food is expensive, but just about worth it. It really is a little haven of 1930s Southern Counties (Weezel's comment above about Mrs Marples is spot on) and seeing John Betjeman taking notes would not surprise anyone.
Hang the price! What the odd �1 extra? This pub is well worth a visit inside or in the garden for that atmosphere alone.
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Great Beer, pretty pub... but oh so lacking in any atmosphere. Everyone talks in hushed voices.
It was like drinking in my Old Aunties lounge. High backed chairs with all her expensive china dotted around the room, and being afraid to move in case I disturb the layout of the huge porcelain ashtrays.
Not a pub I am afraid.
If it was more welcoming, I would drive out to this pub every weekend for a pint and a pie...
hence I go to the Six Bells in old St Albans, just down the road.. great food, huge portions, excellent ale and a real great buzz
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Proper pub, no kids, no juke box, no video games, no television. Cleanest pub I've ever visited. Home cooked food was excellent, although no starters available. Staff were very friendly, although the Landlord could be alikened to a hostile Basil Fawlty. I must remember to wear a tie and blazer on my next visit. Thoroughly enjoyable experience.
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Lovely looking country pub in the miss marple mould. Price of beer is astronomical and no crisps only peanuts ( bar staff scissor cut the packet and pour into a small bowl so you can't lick the inside of the packet) Once the old farts who seem to inhabit the dark corners of this pub expire, there will be no punters left apart from yanks and germans.....go there but shudder in the tweeness and prices, and vow never to return!
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This place has long had a reputation as the most expensive and up-itself pub in the St. Albans district. It being a lovely sunny weekend (and not having been here for several years) I took a stroll out to see what it's like these days.
My conclusion? Reputation fully deserved! No amount of silver and china fripperies on the tables, or landlords in suit and tie, can justify Fullers London Pride at a gobsmacking �3.20 a pint!
Granted the beer was good, and the place is nice, but at those prices I will not be hurrying back.
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Congratulations to Karen and Ray, who today celebrate their 30th (yes, 30th) anniversary in charge of the Holly Bush. This makes them the longest-serving publicans in St Albans, and I'd have thought in much of the UK too. A great achievement!
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It really is quite jolly to stroll down the lanes on a summer evening to this fine, secluded Fullers pub. Only the distant rumble of the M1 is a reminder that you�re not in the deepest countryside. The pub itself is clean, well run and the staff are smartly dressed. If you visit during the winter months you�ll need a cab or car. Never mind, there is one word that sums up this place: civilised.
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Absolutely superb traditional pub done how it should be. Immaculate throughout, beer first class. A visit to this gem is thoroughly recommended.
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This is truly a well kept secret... so don't tell everyone.
The ale was on fine form and they had Fuller's ESB the last time I visited and it was truly exceptional.
I can only assume that the landlord has OCD because the place is absolutely immaculate, down to the most minute detail. Even the glasses are hand engraved.
The garden at the rear is rather large and as you would expect from the interior of the pub, kept to the same high standard.
Listen, if you ever pass this way make sure you sample the delights of this remarkable pub.
I guarantee you will never forget this place.
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Very pleasant pub, large garden, well kept Fullers Ales, food looked very good, although I did not try it this time. Always nice to see barmen in shirts and ties, makes the slightly high price for the beer seem more acceptable. definitely worth the journey though.
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I regret being dismissive of this pub in the past. After a few more visits, I can now fully appreciate its ales, cleanliness and olde worlde charm. The prices are a bit high, but with this pub you're paying for quality.
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Only young but thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this charming pub. Had a lovely light lunch, overlooking the garden and found the staff polite and friendly. Only thing I'd say is more smaller tables would be good as I felt a bit guilty with 2 of us on a large table but we met some interesting people who came and joined us. I'll be returning very soon!
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Very clean and well kept pub. If you are looking for somewhere quiet and relaxing this is the place for you. No noise just bliss in a pint glass.
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Very quaint public house down a country lane perfect for unwinding after work. Lovely garden in the summer time and the beer is quite remarkable. Ray Taylor the landord and won many awards for his cellar keeping which is reflected in the quality of the ale. Very much a thumbs up
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What a find!! A proper English Pub. No loud music, no arcade machines and a perfect beer. Don't listen to the other reviews regarding the landlord he just needs understanding!
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Very unwelcoming barstaff. And the car park is covered in stones - it's like driving on a beach. My poor car! Shan't be rushing back here.
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used to frequent this place when working in nearby hemel - real nice place to go for a lunchtime drink, food is all fresh and decent as well. nice and chilled, no riff raff
ssrai - 19 Jul 2006 14:51 |
Snooty, very snooty.
One of the most unwelcoming places I've ever been to. The management and staff don't hide the fact that if you're not a regular you're not welcome. I found the landlord to be particularly rude.
Within 10 minutes you'll feel like you've wandered into a masons' lodge meeting. Then again, you probably have.
And the Fullers tasted off.
anonymous - 29 Jun 2006 14:07 |
Snooty atmosphere - derisory staff - food and beers average. Kids are loathed as is anyone under 45. Wide berth unless you've got the blazer, cravat and jag in the car park. Great place for middle class oldies to take crumpet to...
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Very well kept Fullers ales ,cleanest and most polished pub I have ever seen.Beautiful garden in the summer.I would give it 9/10 if they were a bit friendlier.
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Nice pub, no music/chavs etc etc.
Fullers ales always in good nick. Food is limited as there is no decent kitchen.
Great garden. Not child friendly. Tucked away down country lanes a good walk or drive from main roads.
I liked it.
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