BITE user comments - The_Music_Man
Comments by The_Music_Man
The White Horse is currently going very well under its recently-appointed landlord Paul. He takes a lively interest in the pub and its customers and is serving its range of ales in top form. The auspices are currently promising for this gem of a hostelry.
3 Sep 2013 14:21
Like the other, older and more established pubs in this town, The Wheatsheaf's trade has suffered from the outstanding success of the Lord Nelson, which opened its doors in December 2011 and has not looked back since. With the Nelson's excellent range of well-kept ales and delightful service, The Wheatsheaf, once humming with local life, is struggling to survive..
Everards have entertained plans to revamp the pub and attempt to establish it as a flagship gastro-pub, but the tenancy is on the market and there are even rumours that it may close.
11 Jan 2013 21:41
Once again a thriving pub, that hums with conversation at all parts of the day. No music, no televisions, no gaming machines. Excellent food, served at lunchtimes and now on most evenings until 8,30.
2 Dec 2011 07:47
Our old local in a very different incarnation when it was run by Dennis and Audrey, like parents of one enormous and very happy family. What fun was had there over the years.
The interior is unrecognisable but the pub is run by an excellent, energetic and creative landlady who is working hard to bring it back to life. The beer is consistently good, the service friendly and the food, we understand, good value for money.
18 Nov 2011 18:14
A small, traditional pub with a colourful history and scene of some dramatic moments when run by Mary and her partner, Geoff, who sadly died a couple of years ago.
Now in new hands after a 'tidy-up'. The new landlord is great and making a go of the place, as a friendly local that provides good, reasonably priced food. There is bed and breakfast too.
The only down side, for one who has no faith in the ability of McMullens to produce anything decent to drink, is that it is tied to them. A drinkable guest ale would make all the difference.
But good luck to Kieran. He deserves to be successful.
18 Nov 2011 17:59
The Salisbury Arms Hotel, Hertford
The bar food is reasonable but, alas, that is as far as it goes. The beer is substandard, (and I have to admit to being passionately anti-McMullens products), and grossly overpriced. They even managed to serve me a gruesome pint of Guinness on one occasion.
But the building is stunningly beautiful, a gem in Hertford's architectural history, so a visit is worthwhile. No need to stay long, though.
18 Nov 2011 17:52
Is this information correct? I was there only a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday evening and everything was in magnificent form, busy, friendly and with top-quality ales served by polite, well-informed bar staff.
Has the world gone completely off its head?
18 Nov 2011 17:49
The Old Cross Tavern, Hertford
Yes, there are some excellent ales available here, from the great standards like London Pride and T.T. Landlord (though both were off on my last visit), to the unusual products of microbreweries, along with an impressive selection of bottled ales, but I'm not convinced by this place. It has an interesting range of customers, predominantly of a more mature generation than many of the pubs in the town but, when busy, negotiating the bar can be a nightmare and it somehow lacks the feel of a pub with a real history. Before its (relatively) recent conversion, it was an antiques shop.
18 Nov 2011 17:40
The last visit, on a weekday evening, was not a success. The pub is one of many that likes to promote its 'real ale' character but the majority of the clientele seem to drink lager so the condition of the beer is not a priority. This was borne out on that evening, when both the IPA and guest ale were very poor.
Years ago, this building was three pubs next to one another. The Old Punch House was run by a very eccentric landlord, Norman Dare. But that's another story.
18 Nov 2011 17:32
Run by the longest-serving landlord in the town, this is undoubtedly the finest traditional pub. The beer is always in top form, (even if you are not a GK fan).
18 Nov 2011 17:25
There was a change of landlord in July and the new couple have settled in well.
Prices of drinks have just been reduced, and trade is picking up again. The clientele is interesting and eclectic: you will find an entertaining range of locals and visitors alike.
11 Nov 2011 17:29
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Prince of Wales, Herftord
It has recently been announced that the pub is to close at the end of 2013, apparently because planning applications to extend the restaurant and accommodation, vital if the venue is to stand a chance of viability, have been repeatedly rejected. If this is the reason, it is depressingly short-sighted of the local authority because the pub is run very caringly by two excellent landlords who serve good beer and provide decent food at moderate prices. This marks the demise of yet another village local, leaving customers no option but to resort to the horribly over-priced and chaotic White Horse Hotel down the road, where you will be hard-pushed to find an acceptable pint of draught ale.
22 Oct 2013 19:34