please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The management have obviously taken this feedback into account! The pub's beer offering has completely changed. Good lineup of real ales - Adnams, Oakham and Tring on rotation, as well as 8 craft beer taps from Germany and America etc. And the fridge has a selection of about 30 Belgian and American beers! And it doesn't feel like an unwelcoming restaurant anymore - no more pre-laid reserved tables. Now it feels more like a cross between a british pub and a European beer bar. I notice it also just appeared in the Guardian as the nation's favourite local. Worth another try, I think, for anyone who was put off by "restaurantiness" over the last few years. A regular haunt for me.
|
Thought I would tick off another of the 45 or so pubs in St Albans. With so much choice, each one needs a USP and this one goes foraging for its food. And the emphasis is on food, slightly weird being in a pub where everyone wlse is dining. Then again, this isn't really a pub any more.
Would I come again? Timothy Taylor landlord is always tempting, but nah.
|
Went here last night at 6pm for a quick beer>. Place quiet with only two tables of eaters. Problem was trying to get a drink . The two young ladies behind the bar seemed more interested in the computerised till than serving me and my other half. 5 miniutes went by which included both of them ignoring me and walking away before one of them served me. This excitement was shortlived however. Halfway through pouring my pint a man came in and asked her a question re booking a table. She left my pint and proceeded to spend several minites dealing with his query. When we finally got our drinks we sta at a table by the bar only to be swooped on by a waitress who informed us haughtily that this table was booked from 8pm. It was only 6.10 by this point. This place needs to decide if it is a pub or a restaurant as currently its making a pigs ear out of trying to be both. The beer Sapper from the Tring brewery was actually very good. The kids working in this place do need a bit of leadership about custom service. Its not all about wearing designer galsses and looking cool its about selling your product and getting people to want to come back. I shan't be "poopping in " here for a pint anytime soon but i get the impression they won't be that bothered. Pity as the place has character, quirly food stance and good beer. Just poor staff and welcome
|
I was in here yesterday with my Brothers and Farther in Law On a regular Pub Crawl of the area. As already said the place looks more like a licenced caf� than a pub. Its not very cosy or welcoming and its badly laid out nearly every table was set for food making it feel even more like a caf�. The bare wood floor and stripped out interior Don't make it feel any better. I found the staff very offish and unwelcoming added to the fact the few other customer that were in all sat around the bar making it difficult too get severed and were giving you evil eyes just for making them move. Between the four of us we tried all the Ales on Tap plus the Old Rosie Cider which were OK but there was nothing outstanding. I don't think we will be putting this on our regular Pub Crawl as there are much better Pubs nearby
|
I'm afraid the experience of the last reviewer is becoming all too common. This is no longer a pub, it is a restaurant. If you have to book to be allowed in on a Sunday that's a pity. There is still the Six Bells and White Lion that are hopefully more welcoming! Surely a first come first served policy would be better, if the food's good it would always fill up.
|
Tried to pop in for Sunday Lunch, only to be told that they can't allow walk ins.....as they are booked up...not going to spend my hard earned in here with that sort of attitude; I said we'd go somewhere else and the answer was ok...not very welcoming, bad service, would not recommend, stay clear and avoid.
|
Yes, they've got beer. So far only two (Youngs bitter and Bombardier, both very good quality), but there are plans to have ales from microbreweries too. Watch this space.
|
Yes, but any beer??? I go to a pub for a pint of bitter. I can get the rest at home.
I note that the new web site offers detail of their menu (item 1: carrot & coriander soup) but the drinks page is "coming soon". Guess the direction of this one! Hope I'm wrong but...
|
Lovely Lovely English Pub.... fab tasty food, good wine and cosy fire! What more could you want!..
|
Good news!
This pub is due to open again on the 21st November 2010 under new management.
Let's hope they bring back decent food and hopefully this great little pub will survive.
Much better than making it into flats!
|
A
|
This pub is I'm very sad to say shut, and planning has been applied for a change into flats.
What a real shame, agree with last comment posted though that it really went downhill after a revival when it started serving great food after a small re-fit some years ago.
If it doesn't compete as a business this I suppose it what happens.
|
Walked past again twice in last 2 days (daytime) and closed - with nothing written on the blackboard. Looks like not open anymore but the garden gates are open with cars parked in.
Is a shame - used to be good a year or so ago.
|
It was a tad trendy but did serve a decent ale. Most definitely NOT open today.
anonymous - 1 Aug 2010 18:07 |
So sad - this place seems to have closed entirely now after a prolonged decline following the change in management about a year ago. It had great food, but then there were days when they "forgot to order the meat" and only a few beers were available, then there were nights when they simply didn't serve food at all for no apparent reason, then it started closing some nights and now it hasn't seemed to be open in a couple of weeks. Shame.
|
Seams to be losing the plot this place. Went out for a lunchtime pint as it was a glorious day....thought I'd sit in the garden.....oh no, it doesn't appear to open lunchtimes any more!
|
Popped here with my gf for Sunday lunch, they only had 2 options on the menu! I heard the food was good here but they couldn't accommodate us so never found out! Wasn't very busy when we went either but it seemed lunch service was over (2.50pm).
Greg. - 30 Apr 2010 15:36 |
Of the pubs we went in in St Albans, this was the only one which appeared to aimed more at diners than drinkers - it had a very clear gastropub feel to it and quite a trendy clientele. Ale didn't seem like a priority, but the pint of Buntingford Highwayman we had was definitely well-served.
|
What a shame, I used to love this food for it's great food, still pubby atmosphere and friendly welcome. Went in for lunch last Sunday at 1:15 and there was not a single customer. No cheery fire lit, no nice candles, not even a table laid. No roast on the menu either! The atmosphere was uninviting with load music playing and the limited menu on the chalk board uninspiring, so we left and went elsewhere. Shame, this used to be my favourite pub, but looks like current owners are either not prepared to put the effort in, or want the place to end up with 2 people nursing a pint of bitter at the bar on a Sunday lunch rather than a room full of people enjoying food.
|
Further to my review below we ate again in the Verulam Arms who now have a new Chef on board. This certainly shows as the food could not be faulted. I could not resist the burger which was excellent and served with hand cut chips which is rare these days. My partner had chicken breast stuffed with feta cheese, peppers and olives and was cooked to perfection. Washed down with a bottle of wine and sat in front of the fire a very pleasant evening.
|
I'm very pleased this pub survives, but service is variable, depending on who is behind the bar. And I don't understand why they clean the lines at 7pm, when there are customers waiting to be served: why not do this before the pub opens? Still, the beer remains good, the Monday quiz night is a good innovation, and I haven't given up on the Verulam yet.
|
Great pub, good beer and top notch food if you want to go for the not cheap menu.
|
Have been eating in this pub for about 4 years now and has always been excellent. Unfortunately my visit last night seems to point to the new owners letting things slip. I was surprised to be able to get a table at short notice as normally it is fully booked. On arrival there was a lack of atmosphere. Beer was good as usual but the menu was very limited. My burger was as good as it has always been but my partners vegetable pie was awful. When we commented that it was not very nice (and most of it had been left) the waitress did not seem at all concerned. Always considered this the best eating pub in St Albans but unfoirtunately the food and service seems to have gone along with the previous owners. A real shame.
|
Yes, still a good pub. Unless you knew the people you wouldn't know it has changed hands. The food menu is still varied and interesting, and they seem to have brought the prices down a bit, which is welcome. As for beer, 2 or 3 Buntingford ales are available, in addition to the usual Black Sheep and London Pride. I wish more pubs would make an effort to stock a few local ales. The staff are friendly and professional, AND at the moment there's a sale of Christmas Trees in the pub garden!
Good news all round. This pub is well worth a visit.
|
Been in a couple of times in since change of hands. Not much change apart from a couple of the drinks on offer.
Still good pub with friendly staff.
|
End of an era. The Verulam has at last been sold, and thus will no longer be cared for by the mighty Hughes family. They've done a great job here over the last 4 years or so. Let's hope that whoever is taking over aims to maintain this pub's high standards.
|
The pub sign displays a Latin moto which loosely translates as "mediocracy is OK". Despite this service was good and the food was well above the usual pub standard with Stuffed Peppers a big hit as the veggie option. Three well kept real ales on draft included Batemans Rosy Nosey, a seasonal favourite.
|
I agree with beerwench. The only proper gastropub in St Albans. Nice for a meal, but ambience more of a restaurant. The prawns are good, as are the scallops.
|
All I can say is that Beerwech 27 must of enjoyed her free or paid for meal in this establishment as would recommend any of snorbans fine eating establishments rather than this place for a plat d'mange..it's a boozer not claridges.
|
I had a lovely meal in this pub and the staff couldn't have been more helpful. This is a great place for a cozy meal and drinks, it deserves to be even busier, this must be St Albans best kept secret!
|
The snooty locals are posher than Joan Collins knickers, beer is costly and has weird shape bar with many people choosing to eat gastro than drink beer, snootily glum........
|
We sat in the garden the other night for a peaceful drink or so I thought, buts its got Digby the biggest extractor fan in the world making loads of racket and spewing chip fat stink into orbit.They only had one ale on also.Bad night I hope.
|
I read the reviews for this pub, then visited. On the whole it's fine btu i am puzzled by the food policy. They are really pulling out all the stops during the current St Albans Food & Drink Festival, but at other times (esp Mondays) they are turning punters away coz there is no grub! Also I think they are a bit short of chefs at the mo, so overall they cd try harder.
|
I was wrong to doubt this pub. I've been here 3 times in the past fortnight, and had a great time on each occasion. There are rumours that it's going to be sold - I hope this doesn't happen. One strange thing is that they started serving food on Monday nights but have now stopped again, however this does mean that convivial drinkers are more in evidence, which I greatly approve of!
|
dig_deep, Monday nights have improved loads in this pub. It's now my "regular" night here, and the real ale is fine. You might wish to try it again. hl
|
Visited this pub a few months back on a Monday night. Unfotunately had to send back both a pint of guinness and a pint of lager due to it being hazy. Can't imagine what the real ale would've been like. Decor is nice though and food looked appetising. Shame about the beer considering the reputation of the pub and it's owners.
|
mighty fine pub, brethren.
|
It depends who's working here that determines what your experience is like. Most of the girls are fine, and the blond guy with the northern accent is a major asset - he should be running the place! The food's excellent and well prepared, in my judgement. But I think the Verulam can be a bit brash and money-obsessed, like many St Albans pubs. This probably sounds like gibberish nonsense, but I can't always feel at home here.
|
Had an ok meal here recently,three of us had fish,two of which were rubber,but were replaced with no quibble.The beer was good but I like to to have something more interesting on tap like their sister pub The Boot.Realale realfood obviously runs this as he has only reviewed the two pubs.Not much room here just to have a pint.
end of term report "could do better"
|
Had a truly great meal here on Friday, so good I had Sunday Lunch as well(possibly the best in St Albans)! Good pint(s) of Brains SA and saw a board advertising a free cheese night every Sunday which sounds pretty good. Will update you all on that next week!!!
|
There�s a bit of a reverse TARDIS effect with this pub, it looks quite big from the outside but when you get inside you wonder where all the space has gone. Mainly it�s taken up with a large horseshoe shaped bar around which there are tables and comfortable chairs plus some bar stools. There�s a small �snug� area to the left of the bar which holds a single large table. There�s a small outside area that they call a patio but it is clearly an old storage area that they now use as a smoking area, they do have a large patio heater though. I think I remember seeing Hoegaarden on tap and they have three cask ales, although the Black Sheep bitter I tried was a bit dull and flat.
|
A lovely pub really, although a few of the "eating" customers can be a bit obnoxious - exterminate! But once they've gone this place can be really frendly. They don't mind daleks, so I'm all right! Good beers too and most of the barstaff are fantastic.
|
Someone has sat down with a calculator and worked out the best place to position this pub in terms of revenue. To that end, it feels like it exists to make money, often to the detriment of the paying public. I�m fairly certain that if the tables were not bookable, or at least 50% of them, a few more �000s might appear on their calculator. Everything is in place here to make it a real winner, if only the owner compromised on his or her ruthless pursuit of the bottom line.
|
There's an interesting novelty here: tea and scones!Not much use for Bluebottle, since I take Mum's sandwiches to eat, but I thought I'd mention this added attraction.
For all you grown-ups, the quality of the beer in this pub remains excellent.
Exit Bluebottle, replete.
|
I agree about it being over rated. My recent experiences were it took ages to be served at the bar even though it was almost empty. All the tables are permanently set for dinner which does not make for a great drinking ambience. I had originally stopped by for a pint on route to food in town but then heavy rain started I enquired about eating in the pub instead. They told me no chance it was fully booked. I commented there was nobody else in and barmaid said all the bookings were for 7pm. I stayed until about 8 when the rain stopped and it was barely half full and none of the tables had reserved signs out anyway. Bizarre! In summary it feels like a restaurant not a pub - and they wouldn't let me sample the cooking so can't comment on that. Oh yeah and it was fairly pricey too!
Boost - 25 Jun 2007 11:48 |
Doesn't live up to it's high rating. Very average, there was a beer festival on when I visited, very scummy crowd in, everyone who bumped in to me wanted a fight, food average, beer average, no smoking nice, garden nice.
|
Weekends before 5pm can be a bit iffy here. There's usually just one harrassed barperson to serve drinks, take phone calls, deal with obnoxious visitors who want food NOW, and run round to the kitchen if something is needed from there. Service is fine later when meals are being served, but the Verualam is more than half way to being a "de facto" restaurant. I know it's a tall order to keep everyone happy, but if you just want to pop in for a drink it can be a bit frustrating.
|
Back on form after a recent dip in quality.
anonymous - 18 May 2007 09:39 |
My friend and I enjoyed a fine pint of Otter on Tuesday 15/05/07 during a crawl. Staff and regulars were very friendly and a pleasant relaxed atmosphere prevailed. This was my first visit to the Verulam, and it merits spending longer there next time.
First impressions are of a fine pub.
|
Oh dear, I can't believe I wrote such rubbish last night: that's what drinking at beer festivals leads to! Still, the Verulam Arms really is running like clockwork now, with plenty of bright young staff to serve the growing army of customers, indoors and out.
The beer festival is still on today, but there is heavy rain at the moment, which might spoil things.
|
Rather a good Beer Festival going on this weekend at the Verulam Bierfest. 17 ales at the moment and very well run. My stratospheric opinion of this pub is confirmed every time. In fact, how many stars can one man reach in his lifetime? It's a stonker! (the pub I mean, and the beer festival.) Next stop, Pluto!
|
I sincerely hope that I�m mistaken, but I�m sure I�ve detected a distinct fall in standards at the Verulam lately. I can�t quite put my finger on why: maybe the menu isn�t as interesting, or the food as well prepared, or maybe it�s because providing table service for drinks often means that there�s no-one serving at the bar. Whatever, it�s a real shame. 7/10
|
You would think from the name that this may be a pub of great history and character, it's not. The interior is modern and bland. 'Great decor' gingerprince? I think not! The pub was completely empty yesterday at 17:00. That said, the staff were friendly enough and the beer was ok. The pub is already no-smoking throughout.
|
The best pub in St Albans? Great decor, food (on the gastro side of pub) and staff, good garden too. Please avoid!
|
After a year's courtship, I'm starting to fall in love with this pub, which is a bit embarrassing. Top food, an interesting selection of 4 real ales and always a friendly welcome. Sigh!
|
Improves with every visit. 9/10.
|
Friendly staff... Food menu looked quite something, but we did not have time to sample today. Good pint of Youngs, and quality Cider on sale. Loved the chocolate lab puppy :)
anonymous - 15 Oct 2006 21:32 |
If this pub doesn't start winning awards for its food very soon, I'll throw a tantrum and refuse to eat my vegetables. Not only that, but the beer is now very reliable and good quality. Nice one.
|
The "new" Verulam Arms seems to be settling down nicely, which is good to see. It's now achieving a good balance between eaters and drinkers, so it's regaining its feel as a pleasant community pub. The food is sensational, the drinks are good quality and the barstaff friendly and hardworking. What more could you want?
|
It's official! The pub has announced a three-day Beer Festival, 4th-6th August. "Up to" 20 real ales and a barbecue all weekend. Could be good.
anonymous - 22 Jul 2006 15:14 |
The recently refurbished Verulam Arms is a fine addition to pub life in St Albans. It�s a handsome Victorian building with a pleasant atmosphere (no smoking throughout), good service, decent beer and wine and an interesting menu. We'll be back. 8/10
|
Yeah its nice, I passed thru with some mates last week and had a good time.
|
It's now 3 weeks since the Verulam Arms reopened, and since no one else has commented yet, I'm going to!
My feelings about the "new" pub are overwhelmingly positive. The refurbishment is total but also discreet: no gaudy colours or anything. It's good that they've opened up the garden and the back room (come back, Dan, and play your guitar in there again!) and customers now have much more choice about where they sit, and with whom. I haven't eaten here yet, but the new food selection looks fine.
As a real ale fan, I have to say that the quality of the beers is superb. Youngs Special, Youngs Bitter and Deuchars are always available, with one other: last week it was Adnams Regatta, this week it's Black Sheep. Finally, it's worth mentioning that the girls behind the bar are very professional and do a great job.
I do have one gripe. The walls in the main bar are now bare; all the photos of old St Albans have been removed. In my opinion this is a pity: after all, this is the Verulam Arms, close to the buried city of Verulamium. A bit of history in the pub wouldn't go amiss, I feel.
Anyway, I'll stop rambling now. (Everyone: "Good!") This pub is now back on track, and well worth a visit.
|
It's reopened! Must go and have a look...
anonymous - 25 May 2006 12:28 |
No it hasn't shut down, far from it, although it will be closed shortly for some refurbishment. But even without that there's been a definite improvement in recent weeks, with more beers and a livelier atmosphere. The Verulam should be even better after the work has been done; I for one certainly hope so.
|
Has this pub shut down? What is going on here?
anonymous - 30 Jan 2006 20:19 |
Management change seems to have alienated most of the erstwhile locals, but my first impression is of improvement. Youngs Bitter & Special both in good nick. Let's see how it settles down. Worth a visit.
|
I've just moved in over the road, and this pub is perfectly OK for a quick drinky on the way into town, or on the way back. On only my second visit, after a gap of 2 weeks, the manageress remembered my name! This was highly impressive. The Verulam doesn't seem to be very popular at the moment, but pubs, it's nice to come somewhere with such good service.
Apparently this pub is now run by the same people who own The Boot up the road - a great pub - and they certainly seem to know what they're doing.
anonymous - 16 Dec 2005 18:44 |
Something strange has happened to this pub. There's been a change of management, most customers have gone elsewhere and it's often empty. How sad. I hope it's just a temporary problem.
|
This is a friendly traditional pub in the old part of St Albans. Ken and Rosie Adams always give a warm welcome and the real ale (Adnams Southwold Bitter and Green King IPA) is well kept.
|
