What makes the perfect pub? For me it is no fruit machines, cosy sofas, good food (locally sourced and not cooked from the freezer), decent real ale, smiling staff. Crisps – must have crisps. Really like a pretty garden big enough not to be just a smoking area. Lavender plants. Hate football matches being on.
Ye Olde Fighting Cocks
The food here is fab – we go early evening with the children. Apparently sunday lunches are very busy so pos not for the starving or grumpy. Quirky interior and great for the park too.
Dylans
Small, but well worth squeezing in. Drew does an amazing job with the food, whether you sit in the restaurant bit at the back or have the home-made bar snacks perched at the front. Sean is a great publican with a good range of beers and the largest selection of gin in St Albans.
The White Hart Tap, St Albans
For the best fish and chips and beer. A proper locals pub.
Also great: Hare & Hounds, The Portland Arms, The Boot, The White Lion – basically the St Albans pubs are brilliant.
Suckerpunch
On pretty George Street, this long narrow bar sells good cocktails in dark (‘flattering’) atmosphere. Very busy on a weekend but worth it.
thelocalfoodie 