Discover Hertford Online Forum

Reply ID 739

depends what you want.? if you want a quiet drink with the mrs, then come to the hillside on porthill. great wine list, fab beers and i heard the food is superb as well.

Reply ID 740

Difficult one this. I think The Woolpack is probably a good bet. The Millstream is a 5 minute walk from the town centre and is very much what you're after. I haven't visited the Hillside yet but from what I've read on here, Justin tells us that it's well worth a visit ;-)

Reply ID 741

For a real pint of beer try The White Horse or The Old Cross Tavern. The White Horse is probably the better pub, very comfortable, hundreds of years old with a log fire, exposed beams and no-smoking upstairs. Attracts a wide age range. The fruit wines are popular. The Old Cross Tavern arguably has the better beer but does give the impression that they probably sell cream teas during the day!

Reply ID 742

Ones for Michael to avoid: The White Hart Baroosh Duncombe Arms Zeros The Stone House The Blackbirds Sloppy Joes The Ram Inn (not because it's loud but every time I've been co-erced into going there it feels like I've just walked off the moors into The Slaughtered Lamb). You might also consider the Salisbury Arms but I find it a bit claustrophobic.

Reply ID 743

Many thanks to all. Once the removal men have gone and I've put everything where it's supposed to be, I'll check out - for a start - The White Horse and The Woolpack. I suspect I'll need quite a few beers to cope with the day. Michael

Reply ID 744

We've all got our own favourites; mine happens to be the Old Cross Tea Rooms which seems to fit your needs. Might be interesting to hear what you think after dropping into a few town centre pubs over the next week or so. The list to avoid is also an excellent guide for those who like quiet pubs to enjoy good beer and a chat. Now that the fine weather is coming The Stonehouse has a pleasant courtyard; fine for the daytimes, early evenings but if you are over a certain age not on Thursday, Friday or Saturday nights.

Reply ID 746

Welcome to Hertford Michael - what do you think of it so far?? The weather does get better, promise!

Reply ID 747

Take no notice of me - I am ahead of myself - waiting for the weekend and wishing my life away.....

Reply ID 748

The Sportsman at the top of Fore Street is good for the Footie/Rugby games, very few teenage oiks with English shirts etc... Also the Barge on Folly and White Horse are the best for the coming warm, long evenings... Too many men with ponytails and beards in the Old Cross for me....sorry! Edited by - Frenchie on 15 Mar 2004 20:54:54

Reply ID 749

ref the ram..proper pub real people good beer.check out the sunday mornig free nibbles on the bar..can not be beat!!!

Reply ID 756

Definitely The White Horse. An excellent place to hang out and with very good beer. And I especially like being able to sink into those comfortable armchairs upstairs. I think I'll like it in this town. It seems to have everything going for it. Well, everything but a cinema ..... Michael

Reply ID 799

The White Horse gets my vote. It's a proper pub catering for proper people, with real beer, real people and loads of atmos. In the summer the pub expands to take in the castle moat opposite, which is just as well as the pub itself is tiny. Hertford has many places that look like pubs but are actually youth clubs, with deafening music, overpriced lager (no beer),arsey bouncers, fights, dopey barstaff, McDonalds "atmosphere", televisions everywhere, microwaved 'home cooked' food and more alcopops than you could shake a pissed teenager at. These establishments are easily identified by the queues outside on weekend nights. It seems to be a popular pastime with today's youth to stand outside pubs in all weather waiting to allowed in. Other Real pubs in town include:- The Old Barge - Nice riverside setting, friendly, good(but pricey)beer and Jazz Bands on thursday night. Old Cross Tavern - Excellent beer, but does attract CAMRA types. The Black Horse - Nice pub, hard to find. Salisbury arms - Typical market town hotel, ancient, cosy & V. expensive. Duncombe Arms - Good pub, Reasonable beer, Can be noisy, they have bands & disco's on weekend nights(the DJ wears a skirt). The Hillside - NO SMOKING The Ram - It's a local pub, for local people. Nuff said. The White Hart, Stonehouse, Blackbirds. Avoid at all costs, youth clubs/pick-up joints. Cheers

Reply ID 801

Dill What about the Golden Griffin?

Reply ID 802

[quote] Dill What about the Golden Griffin? [/quote] Used to be a bit rough, now a "sports Pub" apparently. Sounds dreadful.

Reply ID 903

Hello Michael - I was just wondering if you had managed to locate that favourite pub yet and how you are finding Hertford generally? Apart from the roast coffee quest... Is it like you expected? Worst things and best things?

Reply ID 908

As for Hertford itself, I�m sorry I didn�t come here years ago. For me, it�s the ideal town (which I thought Epsom was, back in 97): Pleasant historic centre, decent pubs and restaurants, and a happy lack of 1960s/70s crappy buildings. Save, of course, for that abortion calling itself Castle Hall. Anyway, preferred pubs. It depends. I tend only to drink at weekends. If I have company then, definitely, it�s The White Horse. In the upstairs where we can sink into the armchairs. If I�m by myself � Saturday afternoon, Sunday � I prefer The Ram. You get a very intellectual clientele there, I find. But if I�m just returned from London, the Sele Aarms is adequate for a pint or two. In fact, when I�m returning from the gym on a Friday evening, I even find that Baroosh has a pleasant buzz, and is worth me paying out in excess of �4.00 for a glass of wine for. But only if I have some sophisticated cooking planned for the evening. I do wish the town had a cinema, though. Michael.

Reply ID 934

Welcome to Hertford Michael. I'd like to add a good out of town pub:- There's a really good one with an excellent (Routiers approved) restaurant up at Watton (1 stop by rail or a 10 min taxi ride). It's called the George and Dragon and has lovely Greene King ales and a good wine list -- (3 choices of each type of house at the bar). They also let you park there overnight if you like, and collect your car next day, saving some of the cab fare from Hertford. Cheers! Mike

Reply ID 957

Michael Firstly congratulationsd on moving to hertford.we did it a couple of years ago and have since moved away because of work commitmnets.it is a brilliant town. the millstraem is excellent both inside and in the beer garden ; and really nice owners.the barge is also good. all of the other punters are right ;avoid places like sloppy joes like the plague;they arequite frankly an embarrassment. the golden griffin also is a dump.Overall from what I can remember the advice through this forum is pretty much right on the money

Reply ID 1076

I second suggestions of the White Horse - a truly fine pub. The Old Cross Tavern was opened after I'd left Hertford, but I've been in there once when paying a visit last year. It seems like a good place.

Reply ID 1123

Michael I moved from Hackney to Hertford last August and I also love it. You mention the abortion called Castle Hall but haven't you spotted that monstrosity of a multi storey car park. Whoever was responsible for that should be hung,drawn and quartered. On the pub theme. Is it just me or is the White Horse full of rugby union loving, cigar smoking middle aged men who love hogging the bar? That aside it's good for beer and Sunday and Monday meals. The Old Cross has a better range of beers though and the food is excellent. The Barge and the Salisbury are also pretty good. The latter also does excellent food in the bar or restaurant. Contrary to opinions on this site I think the Stonehouse and Baroosh are also worth visiting for the decent range of wines and food. It's only in the evening they should be avoided. Someone mentioned the George and Dragon at Watton. I went there 2 weeks ago (The hillside had no 8pm tables that evening) for a meal. Nice enough pub with a guest beer and a good wine list by the glass or bottle, but thought it strange that they have restaurant selling average pub food. Does anyone else think the food is over-priced and over-rated there? Gary

Reply ID 1141

went to the george in watton this weekend for the first time. we were very pleasantly surprised by the food. it was excellent in both quality and quantity, and reasonably priced too. no complaints from me!