please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Cracking real ale pub in the middle of nowhere, also with a great selection of dangerous ciders. A bit scruffy, but that makes it a bit more "real". Friendly landlord.
No telly, no jukebox, but enough biltong to feed a troop of Boers. Recommended.
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Good quality beer at this pub, also conveniently located by a bus stop so with a little planning you can get the bus from St Albans or Hitchin. However otherwise it is quite remote. Four real ales on pump when we visited, basically furnished with white walls and photos of the local area, upholstered pews and chairs. Large collection of pump clips on the ceiling. Worth a visit for the real ale alone.
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Great range of beers and they are all well looked after but have found the atmosphere a bit cold and cliquey. Especially after the nasty sounding reports of abuse we tend to go to the Red Lion in Preston, which is a bit of a pain as I have to take turns driving with the missus as she likes her beer too.
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Beer is kept extremely well in this pub. It is a no-nonsense, traditional pub. Been there on my bike/in cycling gear several times and haven't experienced any issues noted below, so hopefully was a one-off.
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inbred1, thanks for your reply. I am sure that the behaviour that I experienced does not apply to everyone who drinks at the Strathmore. However, the behaviour I experienced was extremely unpleasant. The guy behind the bar (Danny, I think his name was) and a couple of customers were talking loudly about there being one around the corner (me) and taking it up the backside (the actual language used was much cruder). Something similar happened a few of weeks ago, when I called in with one of my mates and he told a regular (who happens to be in my cycling club) that we were a couple of gays. He seems to be one of those guys who is obsessed with homosexuality. Maybe he has personal issues, but they are not something I want to experience as a customer. There are a couple of really nice pubs down in Whitwell and we will probably meet there in future.
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Tom314 - you and your friend must have chosen the wrong night. Obnoxious & homophobic we certainly 'aint and accusing us of being inbreds is a bit much. Cyclists are always made welcome no matter what and The Strath is by far the best pub in the area. Please come again, perhaps on a Friday or Saturday or even a Wild Food Night, and meet the proper regs for a bit of banter and good ale.
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A real curate's egg of a pub. Stopped by to meet some guys from the cycling club in the evening. Ordered a homemade pizza, which was really good, and the beer is good too. However, the landlord and some of the customers are incredibly obnoxious, homophobic inbreds. Mentioned this to a friend and they have witnessed the same type of behaviour. Perhaps the guy has personal issues. Explains why what seems like a gem of a pub so often looks empty. Doesn't reflect at all well on the Bowes-Lyon estate of which it is part. A couple of us went down to the Bull Inn a mile down the road - a civil, friendly village pub.
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cracking range of beers on today , Danny is a great landlord always quick with a joke and banter, good homecooked food and then samosas to keep you going through late afternoon, dog/horse/tractor friendly pub, reachable on 2 hourly bus from st.albans to hitchin via the villages, beer fest in june; has a good upto date website.
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Semi-open plan rural wayside pub in this small village between Kimpton and Hitchin. Welcoming, laid back staff, beer is well kept and top quality, like nectar! Ever changing real ale selection exhibits all the hallmarks of excellent cellarmanship. Highly recommended for it's beer quality and unfussy atmosphere. Large collection of pump clips on the ceiling and beer memorabilia. Well done to the Landlord and staff here for creating an excellent public house and long may it continue - CAMRA North Herts Pub of the Year on several occasions.
Can only be accessed by car / taxi or infrequent bus service - why not get some friends along, the cab fare is cheaper if you share! However the extra effort will be well worth it to visit this top class establishment.
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Excellent, unspoilt gem of a pub. Good range of real ales including a house beer from Buntingford and bottled beers from the likes of Kernel and Magic Rock. Highly recommended and not to be missed.
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Laid back landlord , excellent beers , basic pub with dartboard and bar skittle table ,good pub grub ,ham egg and chips highly recommended , well worth a visit or three
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here today for the beer fest quality very good indeed ,friendly crowd,good food,good prices,well worth the trip.
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Superb pub , full of character with 5 hand-pumps inc. 3 ever-changing guest beers often from new up and coming micros like Steel City, Buntingford etc. Friendly landlord clearly loves his beer and also stocks an intelligent selection of Belgian and German beers. Definitely worth the extra mile to find this top notch boozer.
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THIS IS A PROPER DRINKERS PUB...
GOOD ALE AND PROPER PEOPLE DRINKING GOOD,BRILLIANT KEPT BEER WITH AN EXCELLENT ATMOSPHERE.
I RECCOMEND IT HIGHLY....
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great pub ,superb beer range ,wonderful ham egg and chips and jacket potatoes ,house beer one of the best ever ,great landlord ,fun regulars, 2 beer fests a year, regular bus route or large car park, nicely redecorated ,range of belgium beers too .
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Top top pub this with a landlord who understands how to keep his ale in great condition. Great pub in the summer months as a good size garden.
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Fantastic Real Ale in a Great Pub yes a Pub!
Not many of them left this is a Beer Lovers Narvana!
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Always well kept beers , character landlord , oozing character , a proper pub to be taken as seen , not a plastic big chain brewery fabrication
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A wonderful pub, a step back in time, with excellent beer and brilliant value too. Talking to the Landlord, who has run various hostelries in Hitchin over the years (remember Assizes wine bar anyone?) the local Lord of the manor seems to have an enlightened approach to pub ownership, and knows it is a real asset for the community. Beautiful setting too, right in the woods.
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A rare gem, a country pub which is unspoilt, always has great beers, as well as getting a warm welcome from the landlord and locals. A bit of a time capsule really,but in the nicest way. No gastro trendy pub here or themes. Just a country pub that allows you to relax and enjoy your time there at a different pace to these modern times. In summary, BLISS.
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Splendid rural pub - really worth going to, either with a friend driving or by bus. The beers are always good and the festivals worth putting in the diary.
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We went here for lunch today because of the good reviews. Not only was it shut at 12.30 but there was no sign with any explanation. Not only bad business but bad manners as well.
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Beer and welcome always on top form here. Has Five or six ales on Including a few micros, food is good value for a pub these days. The summer beer fest is always good also.
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Shame we had missed last week's beer festival, which was much in evidence, by the sheer number of empty barrels outside! Friendly barman, serving decent beer (Buntingford Golden Plover) and a quiet rural setting to boot. Well worth a visit.
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A year since my last visit (and post) but, thankfully, nothing has changed here. Still a cracking little pub. It might be a bugger to get to for some but worth the effort. Great for walkers in need of a stop off.
If you need a excuse to go there try the beer fest on the first weekend in June.
Oh and the last bus back to St Albans is an hour later than it used to be!!!!
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Dropped in here a couple of weeks ago, on a Sunday lunchtime - still an excellent country pub with an interesting selection of real ales which are well kept.
Doesn't look inspiring or pretty from the outside, but it really is well worth a visit.
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Went there this evening and were really impressed with the beer there. Seems like a little gem tucked away waiting to be sought out. The landlord was really friendly and very welcoming. Also it looked like some of the nights planned for different food events including a "wild food " tasting night could be a cracking different night out. Bit of a trek but worth every mile. Get a vehicle designate a pilot and get out there , you will be really pleased. Any chance of a late night bus route to somewhere with a train ?????
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Always a pleasant enough pub whenever we go there with a reasonable choice of beer. Nice place to stop & have a drink when you're out walking.
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Great pub. Out in the sticks but worth the effort to get there if you enjoy a decent beer. Just about perfect for an afternoon session. Don't miss the last bus home, though!!!!!!
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Fabulous pub and heaven for those who love real ale beautifully kept. The choice changes rapidly and Danny is always on the lookout for beers from new micros to feature. Check out the pump clips on the ceiling! Great location with lovely walks to get up a thirst. Sunday mornings you can have a leisurely breakfast (need to book) and then start on the beer in earnest. This is what a real English pub should be. The welcome is always warm no matter who you are.
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A Real Ale lovers paradise, this place. And anywhere with a bar billiards table gets my vote! As previously mentioned a warm welcome awaits all here.
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Fantastic for range of beers and welcome of landlord. Also unique range of deadly chili sauces on the bar. Try if you dare - not for the macho!
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Superb pub with two regular ales, Woodforde Wherry and Fullers London Pride, and three guest ales. The chalk board tells you about the up and coming ales. The landlord is very friendly and tops your beer up without having to ask. There is a big beer garden. Well worth a visit.
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A whole host of ales (including a porter and a mild) to tempt you, with a friendly landlord and a cracking view from the window!
Toilets could do with a dusting down though - cobwebs and long-dead crane flys are pushing trhe rustic thing a little too far...
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Had my first experince of this pub recently. I was pleasantly surprised to find it open all day (it was a Friday) which meant I could take a walk before returning to drink there.Favourably impressed by the hour I subsequently spent there.Very friendly landlord. The other customers (obviously regulars) were equally welcoming.Beers sampled were all well kept.I will return, tempted by the landlord's board of ales lined up for the next few weeks.
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A glimpse up at the hundreds of pump clips on the ceiling will instantly show you that this is a serious ale house. In the two or so years that Danny has hosted The Stathhmore he has featured a large range of ales from all over the country, a forever changing feast of tastes, strengths and colours. A fine location (ignoring the low flying planes on thier flightpath to Luton Airport)set in Herdfordshires rolling contryside, it is a nice place to while away a summers afternoon whilst supping a fine ale or two or three (hopefully the missus will drive me home!)
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excellent hosts and beer,good beer festivals and do brekie too on a sunday morning
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Has microbrewery real ales from all over the country. And has cider and perry in the summer. Runs several Beer Festivals through the year. Great pub.
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