please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Bills itself as a 'traditional pub' but that couldn't be further from reality. Annoying loud music that seemed to be to no one's taste (neither staff or clientele - so why play it?) Original interior gutted to make it look like a cross between a coffee bar and the Gallery from Vision On. One ale on (Doom Bar -another one I swerve) Went for the highly recommended Italian lager they do at a fiver a pop - which turned out to be the Italian Carling Black.
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Not a bad little pub mostly carpet and wooden furniture.
I was in here early last Saturday afternoon and only one other customer present.
Some overloud piped music is playing.
4 hand pulls but only 2 in use for the dreaded Doombar and Tim Taylors Landlord.
I try a pint of the latter which is hazy and a bit too cold and cost £3.80.
Now I have got some time on my hands and no where else to go so I try another pint of Landlord which is a bit clearer this time.
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Lots of promise here: rural setting, rambling old inn type building. However, the detail was disappointing!
Only two cask ales - one being the omnipresent Doombar. The Three Shires I tried was too cold and lacked body. The food menu featured silly prices: 'pie and something' mains at £11 and desserts at £6.
Lots of promise here_ but ultimately disappointing. 2/10.
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Absolutely proper boozer. Real Ales,ciders, varied lagers. Old world look, roaring fires, live music nights, great food, great bar staff . Proper,proper boozer!!
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Returned to this pub recently. It has changed - for the better. I didn't particulary like the beers Jack o Legs from Tring Brewery and Old Speckled Hen from Moorland (?) (I don't like Wychwood either so Hobgoblins a non-starter for me.) but they seem to be trying different beers so that's a good thing and not all bitters suit all drinkers as we know. However the food was fantastic pub grub and so well cooked and presented. Best meal in a pub for absolutely ages! No complaints at all from the four of us. I concur with the comments below. It is so unusual to find two such charming and friendly women behind a bar nowadays. Inside very well laid out and friendly! Try their site (waggon&horseselstree) looks like they do a bit of entertainment. I'll be back when out this way.
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Have family visiting from Australia, so brought them here today for lunch to see an old pub in a leafy bit of the country. Original part was built in the fifteenth century apparently. It looks much as you'd expect - low ceilings, wood beams, a couple of fire places - all very nice, and there's a cute tea room tucked away inside. The choice of beer was pretty ordinary - Speckled Hen and Hobgoblin - but the food was good quality pub grub and came in pretty generous portions.
All in all it's a nice place and well worth a visit, but what really made the pub stand out was the barmaid, a beautiful blonde girl who never stopped smiling, was kind, welcoming, enthusiastic, couldn't have been more helpful, was just utterly charming. Such a change from the usual grim-faced depressives. If the management ever read this, you should definitely pay her more. She's a gem!
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Changed from my last visit (some time ago) from somewhere more open plan back to a represention of a pub. Staff seemed friendly enough though the ale (Pride - it was either that or the usual GK suspects) wasn't particularly nice.
anonymous - 22 Nov 2010 16:34 |
Decent locals pub with polite staff, well kept beer and some good outdoor music in the summer. Does get very busy at weekends.
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Went in for a pint and with the intention of eating. Difficult to get served so didn't bother with the food. It wasn't a problem with there being lots of people waiting it was more to do with this being (I suspect) a locals pub where people from 'outside' are, from our experience ignored. Very 'clicky' pub. The ale was ok the ambiance was not!
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This already great pub has now had a complete refit and a fresh new paint job too, this pub has never looked so good! everything about it just gets better and better.
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p.s. It's not dirty! On the day I went, ther was a staff member constantly clearing tables, wiping down tables for the next customers to use, and even clearing up ashtrays from the outside smoking area.
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I went back to this pub after ages recently. They had an acoustic night on in the back section of the pub. Was wonderful without invading on your space. Met the two new publicans - Rob & Darren. You really could not meet nicer people. The meal was lovely. It wasn't instantly delivered - but then I always worry when it is, s I think that it's been reheated rather than cooked from freh. The new landlords have been there for just under 2 years. The pub is much airer, lighter, brighter then it has ever been, yet the history surrounding it is not lost. There have been many more refurbishments since I saw it last. I am so pleased they are redoing the ladies. Although it was functional, and the little touches (fresh flowers, sanitary towels, nice handcream and soap etc) made a difference, having listened to their plans for it (theyhave all the fixtures and fittings, just waiting for the plumber) it feels like it's going to be Gorgeous. The food is lovely. Really generous portions. Happy to make little changes for you. And the service is second to none. Really, really friendly staff who make you feel part of a bigger family without intrusion on your private space. The clientel are very accepting. There are many pubs to choose from in this area - I would choose this one every time.
Jessieonlocation - I suggest that you take up the landlord's offer to meet with them. It sounds like you just had a one off bad experience. You won't regret giving it a second chance.
Really looking forward to my next visit
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From the Landlords of the Waggon and Horses,
Darren and I are very disapointed to hear that your experience at our pub didnt reach your expectation.We are very proud to be a part of this pubs history and alway strive to give each and every customer our best service.
Our 2 for 10 pounds deal has been very popular with hundreds of satisfied customers ordering from it each week. If you would like to return as our guests or discuss your visit you can contact us by phone or via our website.
The waggon and horses is a very important part of local history and this is the reason we chose to run it.our refurbishment programme is ongoing and any work carried out is always completed without disruption to our customers and in a way that is sensitive to the age and character of the the building.The ladies washroom has been one of many refurbishment projects and should be completed by the end of this month.
We have discussed your feedback with our trusted team of staff.
We assure you that your experience is not a typical one for our pub and would like to extend our sincerest appologies to you and your guest. Darren and Rob.
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We stopped at this pub during our lunch break as the car park was empty and we thought we'd get served fairly quickly. The pub was empty except for an elderly couple in the garden. We ordered the 2 meals for �10 deal.. something quick we thought..a pizza & scampi & chips! After 40 minutes with no sign of the food, we reminded them thinking they must have forgotten, after all there was no other customers so they couldn't be making more food. We were told by the very young barmaid that ''the food was on it's way'', we presumed she meant it was coming from a take-away in the high street, it was taking so long! Finally after an hour and 10 minutes the food turned up with a mumbled apology. We asked why it had taken so long and were simply told..''they are slow in the kitchen today''!
If we were expecting something half decent after all that time we were wrong, it wasn't even that..it was revolting! The pizza was slimy and overcooked with rubber cheese, and the scampi was stone cold, the potato wedges were burnt & cold, and the tiny pot of garden peas were the only things to have seen a cooker in the last hour!
I have to admit to blaming myself a little, because I had noticed as we sat down just how dirty the tables and surrounds were, and the ladies toilet is such a disgrace they even have a notice to the effect that they will one day get around to ''making it gorgeous''. I should have about turned and left there and then, but were very hungry and time was not on our side!
Shame on you wagon & horse kitchen staff & cleaners...there are 1001 better pubs and I'd walk on my knees to every one before stepping inside this one again!!
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We had a Baptism in the family recently, and approached this pub to ask them to host an outside event at the premises. Well, to summarise - it was superb and nothing could be faulted. The generous fellas that run the place worked hard to ensure that our day went superbly. They actually bought another marquee to assemble in the garden in case of inclement weather (which thankfully we didn't need). They closed off the back of the garden to the rest of the punters, meaning we had our own space. Staff were on hand and the barbecue went down a treat with our guests. The play area was consequently the sole domain of our party, and we could let the children play and have fun while not being too far away from watchful adults. The tables were decorated with balloons etc, but in a tasteful not-over-the-top way. They even provided juice (in cartons - how sensible is that?!?!?) for the kiddies and naturally the bar facilities were near to hand to quench our thirsts. Cava for toasting and wine for the tables were obtained without any fuss. All in all a super day out for our party, and a bill that was very reasonable.
My only advice is to deal with the owners in person - they are not overly good at emails. But everything they said they could do, they did do. No disappointments on the day at all!!
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I paid a visit last week after a 20+ year absence, the pub is much larger than it used to be and looks really great. I loved the real fires, beams, comfy armchairs and real Christmas tree. The beer was on very good form with festive guest ales on. There is now live music on certain nights. I'll definitely be back, the only downside, you need a car to get to there as it is a fair old walk from Elstree station along busy Watling Street.
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excellent pub, staff are so friendly.pub is dog friendly, disabled friendly, serves tea....no bad vibes at all. i went there with two friends who are transsexual and we got no rude stares or comments. drinks are reasonable, atmosphere great.lovely comfy sofas and log fires, it deserves to be packed full every night.. best pub on earth shame I do t live near it anymore...
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i used to go to the waggon all the time about 12-18 months ago but seemed to be taking a nose dive.decided to give it another go and was very glad i did!! the two guys now runing the pub have only been there a few months but the pub looks the best it ever has,food was fantastic!real ale went down a treat..will be back again and again and again!!!
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A very cosy, comfortable little place - very nice home-cooked food (although quite a few items on the menu not available when ordering..)
Quiet & has a lovely beer garden. Will be back!
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Nice pub, home made chips. Great for food. Quiet for a weekday lunch. Service Friendly. All round worth a visit.
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This gorgeous pub has been taken over by two wonderful, experianced publicans from the north, who have some amazing plans for it without losing the authenticity of this beautiful building. The pub id gorgeous - all low beams and real fires and wonderful nooks and crannies to hide in. The prices are normal for the area. No TV (thank god) or bostorious groups of football crowds. Gorgeous food, now the menu has been updated. A place that wins hands down every Friday night, and lots of great live acts too. All the bad publicity needs to be forgotton - this really is a place reborn!
Nikky - 11 Feb 2008 15:18 |
Hmmm, this is the only pub on Watling Street between Elstree and Wadlett. It's a bit expensive, but the beers were OK and the welcome friendly enough. It's a 15th century pub, with a wishing well in the beer garden! 6/10
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Having been reccomended to visit the Wagon and Horses due to the new chef on board I went there.
The food was awful, the meat was so tough you could not even cut it with a knife. The Yorkshire pudding was so hard that when we tried to break it with our hands we could not. The vegtables were frozen with some of them turning to mush and the others still rock hard. The presentation was awful. We did complain to the manager who in fairness explained that his chef was not there and he had called in a temp chef who could not cope with the cooking.
He offered us a full refund and promised us that once the chef was back the food would be back to normal.
lets just hope so, it is a friendly pub although it could do with a bit of a clean up but you are made to feel welcome there by the landlord.
It may be a while before I visit again!!!!
anonymous - 11 Mar 2007 19:05 |
havent been in the pub for a long while heard new managers had taken over was pleasently suprised at how clean and tidy the place was the staff were very welcoming and friendly will definatly be coming back.
anonymous - 15 Jan 2007 01:59 |
A quaint Tudor, low beamed country pub, with open log or coal fires. This pub stands in a large well lit garden with play area for children, with a panoramic view ofte surrounding countryside. Good variety of food from a large menu. Best wishes and good luck to the new couple Kaz & Dave, all our love Sue, David & Angel.
Saggsy - 1 Dec 2006 06:58 |
