please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Still a small backstreet old man's local. Ale selection was pretty bland though the Youngs Bitter was fairly good. Not everyone's barrel of biscuits but these old school small local pubs are dying off at a tremendous rate so nice to bale to have one to drop into.
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Small, locals, back street bar.
Good choice of ales.... rarely seen Betty Stogs in great condition.
Found the staff very pleasant!
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2tMDBNJ
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The landlord was a self important little twit, the service was beyond rude. I have to ask why if you hate your job that much do you inflict yourself on the public? The beer was not particularly good for the area.
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Potentially fine locals pub with tasty beer, but spoilt by miserable landlord and unhelpful landlady.
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What is happening to this once thriving boozer? Have dropped in twice in the past month, both Thursday evenings, and the place has been almost deserted - at one point there were only 2 of us in the entire pub at 9.45pm. No wonder McMullens sold it off - seems that the current owners might be up to the familiar trick of letting it go and then turn it in to housing.
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Traditional boozer. Good beer & friendly locals, away form the bustle of the city centre shoppers. Worth a visit
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A top notch boozer! Its oddities are its charm.
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I've been using the Farriers on and off for a good few years and have found it to be a friendly pub, serving good ale and pretty good food. McMullen may not be everyone's favorite brewery but the Cask ale is tasty and they have regular guest ales, Doom Bar was on when I last popped in.
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When I said County, I meant Country. It would be helpful if BITE had an edit function.
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McMullen house. Camra wasn't formed here, but the first branch meeting was held here. It had to be held somewhere. Three casks: AK, Cask, and County. I like McMullens, and I loved the County - it's my sort of beer. Sweet malt and lovely fresh, dusty hops. Served in perfect condition by the surly barman. The locals shout at him, and sometimes he doesn't notice. He spends more time watching the TV than serving beer. It would be cute if there were not the air of someone with mental health issues about him. Slightly creepy really.
There are two rooms, each with their own TV. In the front - main bar - the TV was on the football. In the back room the TV was showing rugby. There was a sign saying "No food today".
It's a traditional pub. It has charm, and I liked it. Though I can see why people would not. I'd liked to have experienced it on a better day when people were not watching sport, when the food was on, and when the place was more relaxed and welcoming.
It's a must visit place, and it has history and quirky charm, and the beer is excellent, so it's going to get a decent score from me. Not top, because of the faults; but quite decent.
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Called in for one on the way to watch St.Albansfootball club play. I thought I had broken in to someones house uninvited. A very underwhelming welcome was given to me. Still the AK was in good condition and most enjoyable. After finishing that pint I headed off to the Jolly Sailor forthwith.
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It is your small traditional street corner local no doubt. Ale was drinkable (even if it was McMullen's Cask). Smokers have a yard out back which they share with the quaint toilets. There was some woman serving food who was quite scary... and the those feasting looked more 'care home' than your regular diners. Snorbens is a funny old place.
anonymous - 1 Aug 2010 18:04 |
Small traditional side street McMullens pub close to the city centre.
There's a small bar area at the front of the pub, which extends back into a separate room on the left, giving an overall L shaped drinking area. Through this separate room, a door leads to the rather basic outside toilets.
The pub is traditionally furnished in a lightish, airy and unremarkable. It's music free and unspoilt, although a relatively unobtrusive TV high up in one corner of the bar was showing the Blackpool v Notts Forest play off game.
The walls are decorated with some McMullens memorabilia. There's also a CAMRA mirror and some CAMRA award certificates. Famed for beingthe birthplace of CAMRA, a plaque outside reminds us that Herts CAMRA branch first met here.
Beers on were the standard Mac's range - Country, AK and Cask. The Country - � 3.00p - was in good form. The pub is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular.
This is a good honest unpretentious community local and, despite a distinctly underwhelming welcome, I'd probably do this one again.
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Hadn't realised this place's role in CAMRA history before reading this: they don't seem to make much of it. It's a McMullen's pub: I've never enjoyed their ale in their London outlets, but found the Country Ale much more palatable here (generally it seemed a much nicer affair than their London pubs). Another of the pleasing backstreet locals in which St Alban's seems to excel, unusual only because of its brewery tie I guess. Some fairly old school outside lavatories as well!
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A strange, strange place. Comments below hit the mark. If you're under 60 and you want to feel young then head on in, unless you don't like being starred at for not being a regular. Beer was decent though and worth visiting just to see how different pubs can be.
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had sunday lunch here two weeks had to wait about 30 mins but worth the wait thats twice ive been here now and very very good i would say to anyone if you a want a here good sunday dinner come
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Excellent basic boozer - how a pub should be. Beer well kept. Landlord miserable but friendly and happy to talk beer with strangers despite being seriously bushwhacked (me not him).
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A clean and cosy McMullens local serving three of their ale range in good condition and in a handled mug (hooray). It's nice, light and airy inside with a bit of history hung on the walls and a TV for sports/news. Clientele were on the greyer side and there was a nice relaxed buzz about the place, which was already quite busy for an early Sunday afternoon. Some may find fault with the mid-80's refit decor but it didn't bother me - in fact I rather thought that it looked like an improvement from the previous interior judging by the photos on the pub walls. I'd be happy to go back again and would recommend it as a tidy place to enjoy a relaxed pint (presuming you like McMullen beer).
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I am not a local at the Farriers. Hell, I'm not even a local to St Albans. However, I am happy to report that no sense of hostility was experienced on a recent drop-in. It was a quiet period just prior to the Saturday evening session, but nevertheless a thoroughly relaxed and undemanding atmosphere was found, all founded on a steady flow of very nicely-kept McMullen's ale.
It is curious to think that this is supposedly the very location in which the consumer might of CamRA was formed back in 1971 - I somehow expected them to have made more of this but comfortably, they have not worn their heart on their sleeve. And nor should they, as that would be decidedly un-Farriers. For those who want to escape the hurly-burly of the centre, and take a few quiet and contemplative pints - possibly even accompanied by nothing other than a book or a newspaper - then seek this out. Keep it simple - come here and re-focus on what really matters, in pubs, and in life...
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Everything you could possibly ask of a pub. I have drunk hundreds of gallons of country bitter in this pub down the years and never once had to send one back. Anyone who thinks being looked at when they enter a pub is a sign of hostility, needs to have a good hard think about themselves. The Farriers is as convivial a pub as you could ever wish for. The locals are only being curious when they look at a new face. Truly great pub.
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Enjoyed a nice pint of McMullens, good solid drinking mans pub. Thank god for the two fires as it was -3C outside. No stares as we outnumbered the locals. Note CAMRA plaque outside.
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A nice, quiet, well-run, traditional English pub with a loyal, local following. It's more or less unchanged since the 70s; few frills - all the better for it.
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When you go in tumbleweed will drift across the plain and you'll hear the sound of the door creak shut and nothing else - because everyone will have stopped talking and be looking at you, locals and staff alike.
All jokes aside this is an odd pub. Really nice venue, tucked away in a side street and kept very traditional... but with an older set of locals who stare at you intently and wait silently to eavesdrop on the first line of coversation from your mouth before apprasing you.
You will fail.
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see stonch.blogspot.com. do a search for St albans pubcrawl.
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Rather unfriendly clientele, but this pub has its charms.
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I had the pleasure of drinking at the farriers a couple of weeks ago....great relaxed drink and will be going back...
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the farriers is a great little building , very unspoilt with outside loos. it has a loyal following of locals who are middle aged slighly wallyish blokes who are VERY interested in sport and not much else.. Indeed if you are looking for anything further than in terms of conversation i would give it a miss. The beer is functional and the staff are weird.
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This is a great pub and is definately worth a visit.
The sunday roasts are superb (they get their meat from an excellent butchers) and the landlord and landlady are extemely friendly.
It is worthwhile coming down to watch a big rugby match on telly as it can get a very good atmosphere in here.
Friday nights are usually busier then Saturdays and there is an area out back next to the toilets for smokers.
The choice of beers is good: McMullens AK and Country plus a seasonal special. Draught Guinness (normal and cold). Lagers: Stella Artois and Fosters..
Lots of bottled beers and ciders...
Highly recommended..
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All I said was that I was expecting To be bitten by a werewolf on exit, I didnt say the beer was bad, I loudly said goodnight three times and was ignored coz this be a locals pub.( for those who didnt understand ref the slaughtered Lamb in American Werewolf in London.)The fact that that small comment was removed is a disgrace,Im not the only one saying its unwelcoming, I didnt swear,mention anyone by name, or drain the blood of one of the said locals.
Carefree
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Oh, do behave! It's not THAT bad, and the Hertford Castle beer which they're serving at present is really quite good. Unfortunately it's only a "guest" beer at present, but with a bit of customer pressure.... Well, here's hoping!
anonymous - 25 Jun 2007 23:13 |
Great Little Pub, Best Sunday Roast in the city. it packed when the rugby was on.
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Outdoor toilets! Very loud Sky Sports! Locals crowding the bar! Visitors obviously not welcome. Back to the Verulam Arms, lads.
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Visited here recently found it very unwelcoming and beer mediocre. The competition in this part of town is too good to waste time in here.
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Things are looking up in St Albans, two pubs with McMullens AK MILD, here it's on all year round and at the Blue Anchor where I'm not so sure if it's always available. In both places it's labelled up as a bitter so the locals will drink it, too snobish to knowingly drink MILD down this way. Pleasant old fashioned pub with a good atmosphere. Found parking just past the park, had to watch out for dodgy characters hanging around the back streets.
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The beer here is excellent but it is a very cliquy pub - both staff and locals are matey with each other but don't make non-regulars feel very comfortable. 8 for the beer, 4 for the atmosphere
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Nice friendy little old fashioned pub with excellently kept McMullens beers.
It was, I think, the pub where CAMRA was either formed or where they had their first meeting.
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Popped in on New Year's Eve around 8pm and it was completely dead! Two other punters in there. Nice back street boozer though; been in a couple of times in years past and always liked it. Not a great fan of McMullen's beers but had a pint of their Christmas ale and it was in perfect nick.
Beer quality makes it a very safe bet for the ale drinker.
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A good pub, but it knows it. The drinks and food are fine, but the atmosphere is smug and superior. That's no reason not to go in, just don't expect a friendly welcome.
anonymous - 16 Dec 2005 19:00 |
Extreme local feeling. As an outsider, you almost feel you have to apologize for disturbing the harmony!
Had a very good McMullans Summer Ale here -and a friendly welcome.
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Best pub & beer in the country. My local!
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This is a traditional McMullens pub with a convivial friendly feel within. The beer is well-kept and both staff and customers alike have afforded me a warm welcome, albeit roughly a year ago when I last visited. Worth a visit, and quite a good pub in which to finish a crawl.
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