please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Huge, loud, packed, but simultaneously vacuous.
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Drinks are a bit on the expensive side, with not much in the way of choice when it comes to real ale.
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The service in this place has always been slow, even in it's previous incarnation, went in there a few days ago and waited around 10-15 and went elsewhere.
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Turned into a "Pizza bar" over the weekend which is surprising considering there a number of such restaurants Harpenden already including a couple very near-by!
Not sure how this will work out TBH...the sitting area seemed much smaller and didn't really feel like a place you could enjoy a quiet drink or two in anymore.
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Not a bad place if you want to watch a sporting event but not really a place for a quiet drink and the serive is quite slow.
I have no problem with young guys and girls drinking (in Harpenden they generally behave themselves..) but this pub has more than most which might unsettle some..
As for food...a bit slow and sometimes not the best but ok.
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I liked it 2-4 Saturday afternoon - mostly quiet, and amiable staff - I went there to study - that said, I can well believe what it's like later on Fridays and Saturdays, once the pondlife emerge from under their rocks and come to drink their lager by the gallon...
But - if the alternative is central Luton, go for it, it's top quality!
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i cant belive this comment. Dee has been there from the start of December not the middle, so far all she has done is let all of the drugies and kids back in and upset the police. Whats happening with this refurb thats on pub explorer??? The place has gone so down hill over the last few months...
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to familys and drinkers old and new, i post this message to inform the locals that as of mid december the george is now under new management. landlady is called dee. she has come from a succesfull pub in hove and aims to make the george the place to be once again. as locals may know the pub has had some crazy things going on in the past few years with managers and staff constantly changing, well hopefully dee will be able to stabilise the ship and offer customers old and new some fine ales and excellent food. the pub is due to close for approx a week towards the end of january. during this time the pub will be having a spruce up also pizza ovens will be installed amongst other things i.e more real ales i believe there are to be 2 more on offer. all one can ask is that we all give the lass a chance.
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Truely awful young drinkers bar ,with lounge furniture and deafening musak plus dim lighting so that you dont notice just how many chavs have infested the interior.London Pride and Bombadier on handpump but if you order these ales you will be on your own,all other punters drinking overpriced chemical lager fizz or alcopop crap.From the outside this place looks respectable,dont be tempted inside.
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If you are going to proclaim yourself as a Free House with Cask Marque accreditation then I expect more than two pumps and something more adventurous than London Pride and Bombardier. Their marketing material claims that they have teamed up with SIBA but I saw no evidence of this. Only the Pride was on and at �2.80 it was reasonably priced, the menu also looked decent value for such an establishment. Diamond Club membership gets over 50�s 25% off food on weekdays. A bit Ikea showroom like and a bit dark when you first walk in until your eyes accustom themselves to the low lighting and you spot the bar to the left hand side. A few TV�s dotted around showing sports and some tables out front right on the main road.
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I came in here on a Saturday evening for a quick pint. The bar staff carefully choreographed ignoring the customers until every glass in sight had been polished. The barman finally poured my Stella which was mainly foam. When I pointed out that there was something wrong with the gas pressure he proceeded to fill the glass right up as if I was being deliberately difficult, wasting a lot of beer. This was handed over with a look of contempt, as good as saying, its Saturday night are you expecting quality? Of course the beer was flat and I went back to the bar and told another member of staff that there was something wrong with the gas pressure this was flatly denied.
This is a pub that can�t even serve up a pint of cooking lager, so god knows what the rest of their offer is like. Sneering, unpleasant staff � avoid this place like the plague.
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Don't know what it was like before, but this refurbished pub appears to be devoid of much character inside (although it looks like it ought to be an interesting place from the road). Quite a large space to fill, with some sofa-style seating near the windows, a few of those annoying high stools/tables near the long bar and more traditional tables and chairs further back. The staff seemed rather disinterested, despite it being a fairly quiet late afternoon. London Pride the only real ale on offer, but perhaps there is usually another beer on the second handpump.
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Looking for an early doors meal , most places in Harpenden stop serving food between 3 and 6, The George should stop serving food altogether! We ordered burgers with stilton and caramelised onion chutney. Despite being the only customers in the place we waited an age, and the burgers arrived without onion chutney, which was actually needed to mask the taste of a particularly ropey burger and the stilton which on it's own can be a bit fierce. The staff, two of them leaning on the counter and making themselves coffee avoided us like the plague and I eventually had to approach them in order to ask for the chutney. It came, eventually in a paper sauce pot with a scowl. The wine was ok but the orange and lemonade ordered was made with flat lemonade and fairly unpleasant. Iwould not recommend The george to anyoneover over school leaving age. The only saving grace was, the Yummy Mummies had gone home and we did not have to eat in a nursery as can occur most lunchtimes. Definitely to be avoided for food.
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Great day time pub. I have a new baby and they are very accommodating with prams, requests for hot water etc. Service is also to the table which is also very helpful. Service could be a bit smarter, they are a bit slow and dont always get it right.
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Who is doing the cleaning ?....
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Love it....good coffee...good tea...Love Ryan and love his hair...thumbs up to The Goerge...
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From one extreme to another, before the refit, the place was nearly always busy but there was often a troublesome element and the service was slow. Now there is hardly any atmosphere and the serice is still quite slow. The food is quite good although when I was there I had a pint of from what I think was London Pride bitter which was awful, tasted watered down, both a friend and I had a pint and both felt ill the day after. Try the Harpenden Arms or the Inn on the Green nearby.
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As from this week it gets worse the Pool tables have been removed from the bar to put in more seating areas
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As others have said, its a huge improvement on the previous incarnation. I've tended to be there during the day for lunch etc and haven't really noticed the slow service.
However, its clear that the staff are inexperienced.
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Big improvement on what was there before.
Have been there for good value, good quality lunch on a number of occassions.
Very pretty and comfortable surroundings
Agree that the service is very slow though.
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We went in in there today in mid afternoon to give it a try. Waited 10 minutes to (not) get served. Watched soapy looking beer being pulled by disinterested youth (other three were s l o w l y stocking fridges and counting till (I think they had possibly been out on the lash the previous night). In the end the combination of poor looking beer, slow disinterested service encouraged me not to be so adventurous in the future.
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Yes, some of the bar staff could be better trained/speedy/over 16. Nice wallpaper to look at though while you wait to be served ... Orchid should shell out for an extra pair of hands weekday evenings ...
anonymous - 17 Jul 2007 10:56 |
Nice decor, however really poor service. The guy next to me was asking / waiting for his cup of coffee for 30mins before he got it.(Waiting for milk to be brought down from upstairs!!!!)
Also I had to ask 3 times for ice in my girlfriends drink. Very disapointing.
All bells and whistles but that does not make a great pub.
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a HUGE improvement - well done Orchid Group. Decor very nice. Prices @ �3/bottle a bit steep.
anonymous - 15 Jun 2007 16:10 |
The place is alot better than before, decoration wise. Some of the staff are very helpfull. I do feel that it's a bit confused. I've known people to be turned away for wearing football shirts and caps, but they do show football!!. The food is good but noy alot to choose from the menu, but the portions are very small
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My understanding is that the displeasure of the local Magistrates at the George running Fight Club led to the brewery 'reconsidering it position'. Expect the chavas to be priced out of the premises and back to Batford/Luton.
anonymous - 16 May 2007 15:22 |
How could the George improve when it reopens then???
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3 words - fight! fight! fight!
anonymous - 27 Feb 2007 13:57 |
I really enjoy going to The george, its friendly, clean and serves a good pint (not real ale though). The staff are friendly and the manageress is a lovley looking lass, my son loves her. The food is great and i know that its a good night at the weekend, the place to watch all sports and relax with your pals. Ignore the remark about it being a McDonnalds, its a great pub. Keep up the great work emma and darren. Tayloy.
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Hmmmmm the rash of positive comments seem to indicate the Management of this fine establishment are at last getting their side of the story through. However, it's the same George and, I'm afraid, the same ghastly 'clientele' - Rat Boys and their companions. I imagine a group of residents might make their objections known when it's time to renew the lincence? There's plenty of this sort of pub in Luton if they need it.
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when I was last in Harpenden 10 years ago the George was certainly a place to avoid, full of pikeys, scum and other low life. I returned there briefly just recently and guess what? Nothing much has changed. It's about time it was closed down and converted to a macdonalds or chinese. The people who use it should not be allowed to drink alcohol. They shouldn't be allowed to live either.
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World cup in the george. what can i say?, it could have only been better if England had of won. Im going to enjoy walking to and from this pub as to my old local, ill lose some weight too.
anonymous - 17 Jul 2006 22:29 |
I suppose if you are in you are 50 plus its not the best place to go on a weekend, but definately for food during the week. 'great value the sign says' its not lying.
anonymous - 13 Jul 2006 00:11 |
Love the george, love daz and emma. Best landlord/landlady in town by far. That pub was terrible but now it rocks!!! oh and no children..yay!
anonymous - 13 Jul 2006 00:08 |
I like the george, it has the happiest staff and is very quick and friendly. I've lived in harpenden for 11 years and find it is a much better place than it was say 5 years ago, the management are fantastic and they are always there to help or to just say hi. Great food and friendly service, a big thumbs up in my eyes. Dj Ash is good too, just what i like to listen to on a weekend, keep up the good work guys.
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Police were called again. Surely it's time for the brewery to take things up market?
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Agree with last comment, often full of people who want a fight, plus beer seems to be watered down and it takes ages to get served as people spend too much time talking at the bar including the staff.
anonymous - 30 May 2006 17:12 |
The worst of Harpenden in one place.Arrogant and aggressive crowd, more money than sense. IQs lower than average age.
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Harpenden's premier "lets drink up and leave" nightspot.
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Trendy young refurbished modern looking pub. Always rammed on a weekend with young 20 somethings. Over 21's and a late license on a Saturday until 1am. Pool tables and small dance floor.
JC - 27 Apr 2004 16:13 |
