South Herts CAMRA, St Albans Pub Crawl

St Albans Pub Crawl

The hostelries of the historic city of St Albans have been refreshing travellers since Roman times. The Roman taberna have given way to coaching inns, market pubs and style bars and today St Albans boasts many pubs worth visiting that serve excellent real ale. So if you have some time to spare after the Beer Festival here are a few suggestions for places to try all within 1 mile of the Arena.

THE LOWER RED LION 34-36 Fishpool Street

This genuine freehouse is a 17th century two-bar coaching inn. Regular beers include Oakham JHB but in addition there are up to seven changing guest beers from microbrewers. Also draught Belgian and Czech beers including Budvar and a range of bottled beers from these and other countries. Food served lunchtimes Monday to Saturday. If you exit the "Lower Red" turn right and go down Fishpool Street till you find a narrow set of steps on your right. Go up these steps to the top and follow the path and you should be close to the Portland Arms.
Lower Red Lion

THE PORTLAND ARMS 63 Portland Street

A Fullers pub with usually the brewer's whole range of cask ales on offer. Good food available lunch and evening. When exiting the Portland Arms turn left and then left again and go straight on for about 800 yards. The Farriers is on your left hand side.

THE FARRIERS ARMS 32 Lower Dagnall Street

A McMullens pub which was the only pub in St Abans serving real ale when the Herts branch formed in 1972. The first meeting of the Hertfordshire branch of CAMRA was held here - see the plaque on the outside of the pub. Food served at lunchtimes. From the Farriers continue up the hill to the Market Place where the Boot can be found.
Farriers Arms

THE BOOT Market Place

One of the many Punch-owned pubs in town but the pub does offer a good range of real ales. Right in the centre of town by the Clock Tower this open plan pub still retains much of the feel of an old market, low ceiling hostelry. Turn left out of the Boot and then left again. At the lights at the top of Holywell Hill go down the hill to Sopwell Lane on your left and follow this road along to the White Lion.

THE WHITE LION 91 Sopwell Lane

Another Punch pub which serves a range of real ales, regulars include Black Sheep. The two-bar pub also has a garden. Food served lunchtime and evening. If you leave the White Lion by the back door and then go through the back garden you will come to the Garibaldi.

THE GARIBALDI 61 Albert Street

A Fullers pub which serves the range of Fullers beers and sometimes a guest from another brewery. Thai food a speciality here. There is a small outside drinking area. Turn left on leaving the Garibaldi and then left at the end of Albert Street. Walk up the road to The White Hart Tap.

THE WHITE HART TAP 4 Keyfield Terrace

A one-bar pub that is also owned by Punch but has four real ales. Deuchars IPA and Fullers London Pride are regulars with the other two pumps sporting real ales from regional and microbreweries. The pub also has a large garden and a small outside drinking area in front of the pub. Turn left when leaving the White Hart Tap. Walk up the road till you reach the main road (London Road). Turn right and walk down, over the traffic lights to the Farmers Boy on your right.
White Hatr Tap

THE FARMERS BOY (and Verulam Brewery) 134 London Road

The only brewpub in St Albans, the Farmers serves beers from the Verulam brewery which is at the back of the pub. Clipper IPA, Farmers Joy and Best are regulars. The Yorkshire is Best, served for those that prefer it that way, through a tight sparkler. There is usually also a monthly special. Home cooked food served almost all of the time. Outside drinking area.

Fifty Great Pub Crawls by Barrie Pepper, complete with maps, is published by CAMRA at 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans; see the campaign website at www.camra.org.uk.

Now it's your turn If you have a favourite pub crawl in the St Albans area, we would like to hear about it. Please send your recommended route, and a brief description of why the chosen pubs appeal to you, to: South Herts CAMRA.

Back to the Pub Crawls

THE LOWER RED LION 34-36 Fishpool Street This genuine freehouse is a 17th century two-bar coaching inn. Regular beers include Oakham JHB but in addition there are up to seven changing guest beers from microbrewers. Also draught Belgian and Czech beers including Budvar and a range of bottled beers from these and other countries. Food served lunchtimes Monday to Saturday. If you exit the "Lower Red" turn right and go down Fishpool Street till you find a narrow set of steps on your right. Go up these steps to the top and follow the path and you should be close to the Portland Arms.
THE PORTLAND ARMS 63 Portland Street A Fullers pub with usually the brewer's whole range of cask ales on offer. Good food available lunch and evening. When exiting the Portland Arms turn left and then left again and go straight on for about 800 yards. The Farriers is on your left hand side.
THE FARRIERS ARMS 32 Lower Dagnall Street A McMullens pub which was the only pub in St Abans serving real ale when the Herts branch formed in 1972. The first meeting of the Hertfordshire branch of CAMRA was held here - see the plaque on the outside of the pub. Food served at lunchtimes. From the Farriers continue up the hill to the Market Place where the Boot can be found.
THE BOOT Market Place One of the many Punch-owned pubs in town but the pub does offer a good range of real ales. Right in the centre of town by the Clock Tower this open plan pub still retains much of the feel of an old market, low ceiling hostelry. Turn left out of the Boot and then left again. At the lights at the top of Holywell Hill go down the hill to Sopwell Lane on your left and follow this road along to the White Lion.
THE WHITE LION 91 Sopwell Lane Another Punch pub which serves a range of real ales, regulars include Black Sheep. The two-bar pub also has a garden. Food served lunchtime and evening. If you leave the White Lion by the back door and then go through the back garden you will come to the Garibaldi.
THE GARIBALDI 61 Albert Street A Fullers pub which serves the range of Fullers beers and sometimes a guest from another brewery. Thai food a speciality here. There is a small outside drinking area. Turn left on leaving the Garibaldi and then left at the end of Albert Street. Walk up the road to The White Hart Tap.
THE WHITE HART TAP 4 Keyfield Terrace A one-bar pub that is also owned by Punch but has four real ales. Deuchars IPA and Fullers London Pride are regulars with the other two pumps sporting real ales from regional and microbreweries. The pub also has a large garden and a small outside drinking area in front of the pub. Turn left when leaving the White Hart Tap. Walk up the road till you reach the main road (London Road). Turn right and walk down, over the traffic lights to the Farmers Boy on your right.
THE FARMERS BOY (and Verulam Brewery) 134 London Road The only brewpub in St Albans, the Farmers serves beers from the Verulam brewery which is at the back of the pub. Clipper IPA, Farmers Joy and Best are regulars. The Yorkshire is Best, served for those that prefer it that way, through a tight sparkler. There is usually also a monthly special. Home cooked food served almost all of the time. Outside drinking area.
Fifty Great Pub Crawls by Barrie Pepper, complete with maps, is published by CAMRA at 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans; see the campaign website at www.camra.org.uk.
Now it's your turn If you have a favourite pub crawl in the St Albans area, we would like to hear about it. Please send your recommended route, and a brief description of why the chosen pubs appeal to you, to: South Herts CAMRA.
Back to the Pub Crawls