please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Good for tribute bands, good for a late pint and also closest to the station. The ale can be a bit hit & miss though and I tend to stick to lager here.
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Live music pub which has recently been done up. A couple of real ales were on offer.
Worth a visit.
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Saw the Smyths play there the other week - absolutely fantastic. Had a couple of decent beers but not a fantastic choice compared to some places nearby. Seemed a good place for a gig though.
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Hazel O' Connor is always playing. I wish my town had a pub like this. For a music bar, the pint of doom bar was excellent.
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Has now had it's refurbishment - looks like a music themed wine bar now. The front bar has had quiet a lot of alterations but the back bar still looks like the same. Real Ale from �3.45 (Breakspear), �3.60 (Doom Bar) to �3.85 (Black Sheep), these tasted very similar but just about drinkable. Still have the same types of bands there. It is OK, just not really the Horn that's all.
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Will be re-opening soon after a refurbishment. Apparently the beer pipes have been cleaned or replaced...watch this space!
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Well, I visited the horn on a weekday, late afternoon.
I remember the days only a few years back when you used to be warmly greeted and made to feel welcome at any time of the day.
Alas.. this atmosphere seems to have suffered somewhat.
Even though I was the only custom at the time, I was still greeted by "Mr Attitude" behind the bar. A young lad covered in tattoos, who gave the impression that he would rather have been down the sewer than be at work. He also could'nt control the head on a pint for toffee but that's another story.
An older woman, I assume the management, popped her head around the corner a few times and scowled at the pub in general before retreating back upstairs. All in all I was made to feel very unwelcome and uncomfortable. I finished my pint and left very dissapointed.
Ohh to turn the clock back about 5 years..
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Now simply called the Horn. Beer is disappointing. Service is ok, but depends on how busy it is and who is serving.
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I don't go in here enough! It's a great music pub!
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Absolutely amazing night, the drinks were good prices, music was fantastic, staff extremely friendly and the entire atmosphere was second to none.
I had never been in this pub before but felt so welcome. Will definately go back regularly. 10/10 for the whole night.
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Popped in last friday, paid me fiver but no ale on as promised! Went on the brown ale, atleast the music was good, not the usual covers bands like Bumford and Puns or something , someone called Sounding something but then had to leave early as was in search of Ale. Please put some cask ale on here.
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Made my first visit back this way in about 5 years on Thursday Night this week and am pleased to say that it is not only as good as I had remembered but had even improved a little. There is now an ale on in the form of Brackspeare's and the lesser spotted Weston's Iced is also on draught for the cider drinkers amongst you. The Red Stripe is still very good and prices are acceptable. Service was quick and polite and the crowd here are very friendly. Great venue for live music, nice relaxed pub just for a drink too. Oh and they finally sorted the loos out too and have installed novelty urinals that look like giant mouths in the style of the old Rolling Stones logo, which are not only visually amusing but are actually kept relatively clean as well. If you are local, this is an essential place to put on your list of favoured watering holes. If like myself, you are from further afield, it's worth checking out if you happen to pass this way and well worth paying a special visit to if they have a band you like playing here. Up from an 8 to a 9/10 now.
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This pub is (and has for some years been) named The Horn. Its Real Ale history is chequered, but this evening it served a decent pint of Brakspears Bitter (�2.80). This is an unusual beer to get in St Albans & it is named after the family of the only english pope (also from St Albans). The pub now serves an upmarket pie menu (Pieminster). But its main claim to fame remains its music - headlining tribute bands but also including a good proportion of local bands & DJ's - no mean achievement in this town. Sop worth recording that The Publican magazine voted it national music pub of the year 2008.
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There is plenty of competiton from other pubs in the area, that don't charge entry fee to see half decent bands, covers or otherwise.
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This place is going downhill. The best covers and tribute bands play here and yet it's half empty. The beer is too pricey, entrance fee is too high and it takes ages to get served. I also don't like being hassled to get my picture taken by some photographer who then wants to sell me said pic for �5!!!
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Used to go here a lot when it was a proper rockers pub. They finally refurbed the toilets but what's with the funny shaped urinals?
Late licence til 2am at weekends is good. �3 for a pint of Carling. Only costs 50p if you want to put your jacket behind the bar for safe keeping.
As previous poster mentioned, some people are expected to pay..others get let in for nowt. That's one of the reasons I don't go so much now. �7 is a bit steep and who wants to pay when others don't?
Still a good pub but not as popular as it used to be.
Best location in St Albans though...near the station and kebab shop!
Rock on!!!
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You can have a good night here, no problem. The crowd are friendly and the door staff will look after you. The bands are top notch and there's something for everyone to enjoy during the week.
Now for the bad points! (I hope the people that run this pub read this)
The new bar staff are rubbish and seem more interested in chatting to their mates than serving the customers. Service is also slow.
Also, myself and many others are disgusted that the majority of us have to pay �7 to get in on weekends when many others are let in for free. Everyone should pay regardless of how long they've been visiting The Horn. Yes, you won Music Pub of the Year, but you won't hang on to that title if you continue to take the p*ss with your door policy. Is it any wonder so many people choose O'Neills on a Friday night instead?
Sort it out..please!!!!!
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Worst Bar staff in St. Albans.I cant believe The manager would leave the bar to pubescent teenagers who act like Kevin from Harry Enfield.
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My God how low can this place sink!! Many a moon ago the horn was a place full of laughter and pointless cover bands. No this pub charges a fortune to get in and even has an intimidating Nigerian in the bizarrely tin-platted loo's demanding money for paper on which to dry you're hands. The last time we went the main band did not show and they refused to refund our �8. To add insult to injury the bar staff gave me change from a tenner when I handed 20 over, even though there were several witnesses. On the up-side check out the humpty-dumptyesque miniture bouncers, stomping around like theu're in a dwarf remake of the sweeney. I suggest you find another boozer in which to spend you're hard earned.
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Came here for a quick pint on a pub crawl. I was staggered when they wanted �6 to get in at 8pm. I thought she was having me on. But the reason was that there was a band playing. And bands seem to play here every day! Anyway we were let in for free as were just having a swifty. Nice to have ourdoor seating where you have an awesome view of the traffic junction of Alma Rd and Victoria St, and the frustratedd drivers waiting their entire lifetimes for the elusive green. At the time I went it seemed like a nice place to drink after the commute home, being so near the City Station. Want to avoid the wife for another 15 minutes? This is the place to be. Will write another review when i've seen a band play there!
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Great place to go for music. Some of the beer will get slopped/spilled but hey when its heaving to good rock.. what do you expect. Always have a good time
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QUALITY PUB QUALITY GIGS!!Always had a good night there.
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We played a great gig at the Horn last night - it seems they have upgraded both the PA and the engineer since I was last here (albeit some time ago) and the place is all the better for it. I like the layout too - you can either watch the band or hide from them to suit your mood. Pool table and table football always a bonus too, particularly before a gig. Hope we get to play here again soon.
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Age old live music venue. More of a pub with a side room. Probably an underutilised resource so far as this poster is concerned. I have yet to go and see a gig here.
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this is a great pub,i only ever got to watch the bands though its a bit too far for me to travel for a quick pint,admittedly its a little rough around the edges,but it all adds to character especially with one of the many great bands on there,this place shouts ROCK AND ROLL the way it should be!
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A really nice pub with a quality music venue attached. The pub itself is a bright modern looking affair, with an excellent jukebox and a relaxed yet welcoming atmosphere. The games room is nice and has a decent enough pool table and a couple of video game machines. Drinks are reasonably priced and quality is average, not much choice though. The venue is good if a little cramped and the bar stays open late. Toilets are pretty grim though. All in all good for a relaxing pint if you don't want to watch the band, and an excellent place for a night out if you do.
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always seems to be shut when i walk past, what are the opening hours? When i have been in, ok, smallish place, terrible pint of flower. Pool table (rare for St Albans!)
Dave - 30 Oct 2004 12:29 |
Great little venue - the pubs rubbish mind.
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Bar staff friendly, good sound system, bands range from dull and painful to superb. Acoustic nights on Sunday are free and excellent, attracting a geographically and musically wide crowd. Pump ale is terrible - stick to bottles.
Allan Stewart - 18 Mar 2004 00:50 |
A Really quality night where the mix of people and ages for once in st albans is varied with little or no attitude usually good music
k edwards - 9 Feb 2004 16:24 |
St. Albans' main pub music venue with a large variety of different styles of music. Sunday and Monday nights are free entry, with Sunday being acoustic floor spot night, where anyone can go and play. Monday night is 'The Monday Club,' with live djs and quality dance music until midnight. The pub has a late license and sells tickets on the door or in advance for gigs. Many cover bands play here and are usually very good. Drinks tend to be quite expensive here and only a couple of ales to choose from, Flowers and Tetleys. There is a pool table, a friendly atmosphere and a good night out is almost guaranteed.
Amy - 29 Dec 2003 18:34 |
