please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Still a good pub although beer variety is starting to slow (This is OK if you like Woodefords Wherry, Adnams Bitter and Haresfoot beer). Usually 6 beers on, plus a couple of bottles and Red Stripe, Hoegaarden, Carlsberg. Quiz nights once a month-ish... Advertising for this is poor so if you're interested in the next date you basically need to be lucky and be in there about 7-10 days before it happens. Prizes for the quiz are good and the atmosphere usually very jolly. Gents toilet still needs serious attention.
Staff can be good, or... not... depending on if they have just had a txt or if they have a facebook notification, in which case you may be waiting a while.
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I have no idea how Stevenage got such a great pub, its not fair. A good sized estate pub stuck next to a petrol station. Inside it is big with two bars and looks like a country pub with old wood look. Shame about the carpets, get rid of them. Excellent beer, changing through out the afternoon and evening. I was there for the local class between Luton and the local trash around the corner. But the supporters mixed happily here. The left hand lounge and no TV bar was best. Good service on a busy day.
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Still a great pub, but the gents REALLY need to be sorted!!!
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Beer fest last weekend in January. Starts Thursday evening...
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Beer fest 6-8 November. They are usually good!
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After a dismal pub crawl around the eastern and southern suburbs of Stevenage, we arrived at the wonderful Our Mutual Friend. Six real ales, no loud music, friendly clientele, nice bar staff with a bit of personality, and a landlord who truly believes in and loves real ale. I had a nice amber bitter from the Mighty Oak brewery, but I could have tried the Conservation from the local Red Squirrel brewery or the Woodford Wherry, or any of 3 others. My only complaint was that it was just a little on the warm side.
I have yet to come across another pub in Stevenage which comes close to Our Mutual Friend.
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ciders tried were very good ( £3.75 ) beer range fairly standard, football day so everyone has to have plastic glasses.
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We rounded off our trip to Stevenage with a few pints in the Our Mutual Friend. As detailed below, a beer festival was on spring. Many of the beers were from Oakham and Ossett and some had run out. Available ales were Oakham Bishops Farewell & Black Hole Porter, Ossett Big Red, Excelsior, Galaxy & Treacle Stout, Thornbridge Wild Swan, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Everards Tiger & Dark Start Hophead & Art of Darkness. In addition - there were 16 ciders or perries - Westons Rosies Pig, Raspberry Twist & Country Perry, Farmer Jims Medium Cider & Farmyard Fruits, Dudda's Tun Pear O'Duddas, CJ's Wench, Gillow Knicker Dropper, Glebe Farm Side-R Elderflower, Millwhites Mixed Scrumpy & Rum Matured, Oakham Oaple, Aspalls Cyderkin, Double Vision Strawberrry Cider, Dreymans Chilli Squirrel and one other. Being so close to the football ground, drinks were being dispensed in plastic glasses. There are 2 rooms - the one to the left when you enter is the cosier of the two. Doesn't look much from the outside, but this is without a doubt Stevenage's best pub.
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The beer fest at the end of January will be about 18 beers, split between Dark Star (Bar), Osset and Oakham (Stillage).
Starts 5pm Thursday 23 January 2014, then on until it runs out - probably Saturday lunchtime when Everton play Stevenage in the FA Cup, late kick off I believe around 17:00 ish...
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Voted North Herts Cider pub of the year and beer fest at the end of January.
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Beer fest this weekend, starting Thursday...
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It's Beer Festival time at the Mutual again!
Here are the cast...
1 Oakham The Hare & The Hedgehog 3.9%
An intensely dry and bitter beer loaded with citrus hops.
2 Oakleaf Dragon on the Floor 4.3%
A red chestnut ale with a robust bitterness and a long hoppy finish.
3 Orkney Red MacGregor 4.0%
A ruby-red beer, malty with a spicy hop finish.
4 Outstanding Beers 3.9 3.9%
So new, we have no idea what it tastes like – let us know!
5 Redwillow Wreckless Pale Ale 4.8%
Award winning pale ale loaded with Citra and Amarillo hops.
6 Blindmans Bobcat 3.6%
A light copper, malty beer with a zingy finish.
7 Castle Rock Yellow Archangel 4.0%
Pale and refreshing with Slovenian Dana hops.
8 Goose Eye Over & Stout 5.2%
A dark moreish stout with a hint of chocolate.
9 Green Jack Albion Mild 3.8%
A full-bodied mild, sweet & malty with a dry finish.
10 Holdens Stalin’s Punch 4.5%
A straw coloured beer with a hoppy nose, rich and full bodied.
11 Rudgate Wunjo (Joy) 3.7%
Golden brown, well balanced, fruity session bitter.
12 Tiny Rebel F.U.B.A.R. 4.4%
Very pale, floral & hoppy up front, leading into a dry spicy bitterness.
Starting time is 5:00pm on Thursday 25th April, until they run out.
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The beer list from AleSipper was accurate, however I was at the beer fest almost constantly and I don't recall the Oakham RCH Light Porter going on. No I wasn't that drunk, just enjoying it. Also I thought Oakham and RCH were 2 different breweries...
All the seating in this pub has now been re upholstered also.
On the Sunday afternoon the remaining beers on the stillage were £1.50 a pint while they lasted.
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I have it on good authority that this is the beer list for the Our Mutual Friend Burns Night Beer Festival on 24th - 26th January. Of course, it might change at the last minute...
Beers on the Stillage
1 Blue Monkey Infinity (L) 4.6%
2 Buntingford Partridge (A) 4.5%
3 Cairngorm Gold (L) 4.5%
4 Cotleigh Barn Owl Premium Ale (A) 4.5%
5 Crouch Vale Blackwater Mild (D) 3.7%
6 Dark Star Art of Darkness (D) 3.5%
7 Dark Star Hophead Galaxy (L) 3.8%
8 Hopback Redsell’s EKG (A) 3.9%
9 Ilkley Fireside Porter (D) 4.2%
10 Mighty Oak Jake the Snake (L) 4.0%
11 Sunny Republic Dolphin Amber (A) 4.2%
12 Windsor & Eton Knight of the Garter (L) 3.8%
Beers on handpump are still to be decided, but there will definitely be Oakham RCH Light Porter near the top of the list
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Beer fest, end of January.
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Was in here on 28 August before the Saints game. Beers from Brewsters, Mighty Oak, Holdens and Dark Star among others. Great pub, great staff and although I didn't eat the food went down well. The beer also went down well, it had run out by the time we left for the game!
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Next Beer Festival will be from 5:00pm on Thursday 18th October, until the beer runs out!
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Food is served in the evenings between 530 and 830 I believe and lunchtimes between 12 and 2pm. There are usually varying specials depending on day of the week, the weather etc. Next beer fest is end of October as far as I know. Yes the gents do need sorting!
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Last in here 12 months ago. Went late June 12. Real ale selection is superb (6 barrels at any one time) and cellar management has improved too. Offers fantastic array of ciders but have to ask for the list. Superb malt whisky selection - one of the best ever seen in over 40 years for a southern english traditional local community pub.. Real ale focus on micro and local/regional brewers. Bar staff focus and attention between the two separate bars also improved greatly. This pub very much concentrates on being a proper open doors local community pub with no trouble, no aggression and no loud music. It was interesting to see how the mix of customers has grown here (last time we went it was the real ale 'experts' holding court at the 'snug' bar to the detriment of other customers) with a now wider variety of backgrounds and ages. They do food here and it is excellent old fashioned pub grub (exactly what it should be!). The young chef makes it effectively from scratch. SO nice to see this as opposed to the usual banal pubchain brakes brothers rubbish. They should advertise it more (menus and signboard hidden away above eye level!) Decor and toilets desperately need refurb but noticed new benches outside and car park works so imagine this is planned as the pub grows financially. The atmosphere is very good here with no loud music and eclectic bunch of customers.
Summary: incredible selection of real ale, cider and malt whisky in community pub.Unusual to see this in a 'new town'. Parking available as is traditional pub grub. Poor decor and toilets but improvements to customer focus and service. Very much a growing pub rather than a pub in decline and visit it for the oddity of the location if nothing else.
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Superb beer fest, great list enjoyable atmosphere.
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Friendly pub with an excellent range of ales. Popular before the football (it's very handy for the ground) but deservedly so. No food evenings.
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Beer fest, last weekend in April starting on Thursday through to Sunday.
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Beer festival, the last weekend in July. Always an excellent selection and a good time to be had!
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Easter beer festival - it'll be GREAT!
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What an excellent pub, it has everything the punters are friendly, the pork pies are to notch. I visited on Friday and drank most of the beers that were on gravity in the public bar all were very good, the Harviestoun (Haggis Hunter) was excellent. Lastly the staff behind the bar and Mick the landlord have a smile on their faces when they serve you unlike a lot of pubs, where you greeted with long faces.
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A pub on a housing estate.. not only that but the closest one to a football league ground. Not normally a good recipe but this place is a proper pub serving decent ale. Had a pint of Church End (End Reg) and Harviestoun (Haggis Hunter). Snacks were reasonably priced.... would say it is probably the best 'estate' pub in the country.
anonymous - 5 Feb 2011 21:48 |
Next beer festival weekend commencing Friday 4 February, these never fail to be superb.
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Visited this pub last Saturday before and after the Stevenage v Reading FA Cup tie and what a brilliant place.
It was, as you would expect, packed to the gunwalls with footie fans but we all got a seat and enjoyed some fine beer. It was a case of taking whatever was available at the time as the beers were running out quickly and be changed by the minute but we enjoyed some Adnams Explorer; Ringwood Best and Dark Satr Hophead amongst others - and Ham/Cheese rolls for a �1 - brilliant. I would imagine it is a bit quieter on a weekday lunchtime but the locals are very lucky to have such a good boozer on their doorstep!
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Now that was a great beer fest! Well and truly a "Proper Job"
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Halloween Beer Festival is on. 29th - 31st October 2010. 24 beers available plus cider & perry from the national cider collection.
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I was in over the weekend, as usual. The ales are still varied and taste on top form, it's great that things are looking up again.
Rumor has it there will be a Beer Festival over the Halloween Weekend...
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Future was uncertain, but is now clear. Ale is still fantastic, and snack menu is expanding. Mick, Andy and Martin have saved this pub, with help from friends and staff. Visit and enjoy
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Menu still expanding and the beer is still top notch
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Bar snacks (Rolls etc) on the go and Hammys hot dogs during the England games. Plus 20p off a pint for every England goal during the match.
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Apparently, food has started with rolls at lunchtime, watch this space for more soon. I understand there will be further snacks coming shortly such as lasagne, chilli and curry. Will update further when I hear more.
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So I here :D
The ale in there yesterday was still lovely.
NeilA - 15 May 2010 18:41 |
SAVED!
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Best Ale in Stevenage by far always changing from far and wide.
No Food but for an estate pub as good as it gets.
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Still reliable for a decent pint and pork scratchings!
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Superb range of beers today, not a bad one amongst them and all new as the Oxford FC supporters drank the previous lot right out before yesterdays game!
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Im still going here for a regular Friday night drink. Ales are different every week which is nice as you never know what you're going to get.
Staff are friendly and so are the locals who frequent the pub. Some funny things happen sometimes if you stay till late. Such as a griuyp coming in and one who was drunk slept while sitting in a chair at the bar. Then the landlord Keith comes in and says "Evening all, what's this then?" Made me laugh. I've met some excellent people there mostly CAMRA members and even the guy who is in charge of the North Herts branch.
See you soon!
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Beer festival last weekend was fantastic, never seen the place so packed on Friday night. Did most of the beers on Thursday, did the whole lot on Friday including the bar and Saturday was wind down. The place just gets better and better... Its beer heaven!
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I've been using the pub for a while, not had a bad beer yet. The service is always pretty quick, although you can be kept waiting if there's a crowd in the larger front bar and there's only one person serving.
The range of beers turns over really quickly - I've known five be changed after line cleaning in the course of an evening; a tribute to the enthusiasm and knowledge of the staff, and the landlord's planning.
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the layout of the pub and the ocation is good, but the main problem was that i waited 10 mins for a drink because there wasn't a member of staff in sight, i ended up going to the man in the moon wich was alot better!
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A great pub, seemingly incongrous in its setting amongst dreary new town houses and the maze of dual carriageways, roundabouts and underpasses. Eight pumps dispense a good and unusual range of ales, note the pumps are split between the front bar and the lounge to the rear. Earl Soham Albert Ale, Tring Jack O Legs, Clarks Classic Blonde, Shepherd Neame Canterbury Jack, Everards Tiger, Northumberland Brewery Legends of the Tyne on, another being pulled through but not considered ready by the enthusiastic barman. Yes, Trainman, I've been in that pub depicted in "The Stranger". Thankfully though this one wasn't it. Excellent.
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Adnams Explorer, Durham White Gem, Youngs Best, Acorn Cascade IPA, Tring Side Pocket for a Toad, Hooky Dark, & the admirable Marble 1280. Pretty much a public/saloon layout with the long front bar housing pool table nr entrance, a dartboard with its own space & oche to the right, pub darts available. A plasma was showing the tennis but unfortunately was not switched off when the schedule led into Weakest Link. The rear bar was hop adorned and had comfortable seating & a couple of booths with upholstered settles, a victorian style fireplace, cabinet displaying ceramic steins, this area carpetted with walls semi-panelled in wood. Check out the superb picture �The Stranger� next to the Dickens display box on rear wall; I bet we�ve all been able to identify with �the author� in one pub or another!
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I couldn't say i overly enjoyed my visit here, which is a shame cos the place has a great reputation. I know this because of the beer-bore/know-all who insisted on telling me what a great place it was, and how great the beer was, every time i went to the bar. Both were ok, by the way. I shall return, hopefully when he isn't there.
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Still the best pub. Lovely selection of ales which included a mild, porter, dark and golden ales. Staff friendly and crowd very good. It was so refreshing to stand at a bar and have the person next to you talk about the ales and what they think of them.
NeilA - 10 Feb 2008 02:04 |
Beer festival at the pub 24th to 26th January 2008. 20 beers to try from all over the UK. One at 15% apparently!
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Great pub fully deserving of its Hertfordshire Pub of the Year award. Handily placed for beer loving football fans but a fair step from the town centre and all the better for that.
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The Mutual is having a beer festival this coming weekend (20/21/22 April) to celebrate 5 years under the cureent ownership. 15 beers on offer.
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Just joined site so thought better say about one of my local pubs always enjoyed this place and the real ales,i like the caledonian beer very tasty beer and a friendly bunch of people so go try it..
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Beer fest last weekend, did an all day session on Friday, tried all of them and it was great! Loads of variety on the beer front and the cider was excellent too. Saturday evening it was nearly all gone, shame as jazz band was excellent, even though my Motorhead shirt shocked the barman... Do a Summer fest too!!!
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Fabulous ale range here yesterday (8 plus two real ciders!), including two American brews (Hop Devil IPA @ 6.7% from Victory Brewing, Downington, Pennsylvania and Oatmeal Stout @ 7.0% from Ipswich Brewing, Ipswich, Massachusetts) which were both very tasty indeed and a real find so the landlord certainly has some good contacts! Excellent!
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Im in two minds about this pub. I went there Saturday night for a few beers. I believe this pub has a good side and a bad side. It's like a good pub and a bad pub all in one. When we were there, there wsa do of some sort going on in the lively bar which was ok but there were some right pricks ij there. We were sitting outside trying to ahve a nice quiet drink and a few of them come out. "Alright geez! You lads alright, what ya doin?". That peed me right off for the night.
On the good side the real ale bar is just that. Full of nice people and friendly staff and excellent beer. They have about 6 ales on and they are all in perfect condition. They also have my all time favouite on all the time, Caledonian Deuchars IPA. There is lots of real ale related gear in this side of the pub so is very nice to be in.
I'd love to reate this pub highly but because of the other bar I put it down, shame really. I give the real ale bar 9/10 and the other side 5/10.
NeilA - 30 Aug 2006 20:50 |
went here for the first time sunday and would highly recommend it ,excellent beer ,choice and quality,and seemed very friendly.Shame it wasnt open after three sunday as I would have had a few more pints.An oasis in the hell of a new town!
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Went in twice this weekend, excellent selection of beers - every single one flippin lovely!
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Easily Stevenage's finest pub. Two distinct drinking areas: A long rectangular public bar features a pool table and a rather exotic-looking jukebox, and is spacious enough to accommodate beer festivals which the pub holds. The lounge bar is warm and welcoming, and this is where most of the locals gather. I visited last night and found everyone friendly and welcoming both sides of the bar, following an afternoon visit to the town.
Several changing real ales on: one of the regulars is Deuchars IPA. I was even lucky enough to sup an exquisite pint of Eastwood & Saunders' 1872 Porter on gravity. The next guy to walk in after me had the last pint of the cask.
Whatever takes you to Stevenage, this pub is worth the journey from the town centre. You will be pleasantly surprised. If visiting in the evening, eat beforehand.
Recommended 10/10.
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a shock to the system this pub you really would not expect to find such a good beer range and friendly staff if you believed what is said about the area, but it is preety good, and cider is ok too , well worth a visit
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Great pub, with a great selection of well kept ale. Bar staff polite with warm atmosphere.
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I was recommended this pub by another BITE user and I have to say it was one of the best bits of advice I have ever been given! What a great pub, great beers, friendly, helpful, and polite staff - they've even got jars of cockles as a bar snack (one of my favourites)Cant rate this pub highly enough - well worth a trip anytime of the day.
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If I am not mistaken, this pub is the HQ of Camra for North Herts group. Camra is the campaign for real ale and if this is their HQ you are sure of some fine ales in there.
I have not been there yet but will do soon and will update on what I find out.
NeilA - 13 May 2005 21:03 |
An excellent real ale pub, serving around ten ales, all in top condition. One bar has a pool table, wide screen TV and juke box, the other is nice and quiet and has no distractions from the fine ales, so something for everyone.
I'll certainly be making it a regular on my trips back to Stevenage.
Food is apparently only served lunchtimes and there is nowhere else in the vicinity to get food, so it might be worth eating before you get there.
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very friendly pub that serves excellent real ale
Anon - 16 Nov 2004 13:33 |
