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Topic ID 452

23/01/2005 by wizkid

Worst pubs in Hertford area

Having visited the Prince of Wales pub today in Hertingfordbury whilst taking our dog for a walk, I have to say it is one of the most sleasy and depressing pubs I have ever visited in my life. This for a person brought up in Peckham is saying quite a lot! There was a group of women in training for the smoker's Olympiad, cobwebs were everywhere and the paper was falling off the ceiling. I remember this pub in the early 1980s and it was a very pleasant pub..... what on earth has happened!? This is my nomination for the worst pub award.... are there any contenders??[:)]


Replies

Reply ID 3700

23/01/2005 by JohnSmith

The Saracen's Head. Only been in there once a few years back. The drinks we were served were nothing like what we ordered. Nothing about the pub said "come back soon".


Reply ID 3708

24/01/2005 by Mike

My wife and I went for a cycle recently down the old trackbed from Hertford to WGC and there was what LOOKED like an intriguing little place just next to what was the old station (at Cole Green?) -- can't remember what it was called (It had a "Tavern Fayre" sign outside) but it turned out to be truly AWFUL: All the beer (nearly all lager anyway) was on press-button pumps, even the Diet Coke came from a sodastream, and there were no interesting bottled beers. They were doing 2-for-the-price-of-one lunches which looked similarly depressing. We drank up quickly and headed for the Black Horse in West St instead --- much better!!!


Reply ID 3711

24/01/2005 by Joby

quote:
Originally posted by Mike
My wife and I went for a cycle recently down the old trackbed from Hertford to WGC and there was what LOOKED like an intriguing little place just next to what was the old station (at Cole Green?) -- can't remember what it was called (It had a "Tavern Fayre" sign outside) but it turned out to be truly AWFUL: All the beer (nearly all lager anyway) was on press-button pumps, even the Diet Coke came from a sodastream, and there were no interesting bottled beers. They were doing 2-for-the-price-of-one lunches which looked similarly depressing. We drank up quickly and headed for the Black Horse in West St instead --- much better!!!
That'll be the Cowper Arms, I think. Considered nipping in for a pint whilst out cycling last week, glad I didn't now.


Reply ID 3713

24/01/2005 by wizkid

Mike.... we ended up in the Black Horse in West Street. Much nicer, with a real locals pub atmosphere. [:)]


Reply ID 3714

24/01/2005 by del

the Sportman is due to be taken over by Bollywoods..soon to become the worst pub in Hertford!viva la resistance[V]


Reply ID 3717

24/01/2005 by Frenchie

My understanding is that the Sportsman is going to totally gutted with the bar and kitchens being redesigned/relocated. It will be furnished/designed to be more of a wine bar rather than a pub. Dont know what to expect, but i would welcome a wine bar rather than another pub.


Reply ID 3720

24/01/2005 by Ewoowar

quote:
Originally posted by Frenchie
My understanding is that the Sportsman is going to totally gutted with the bar and kitchens being redesigned/relocated. It will be furnished/designed to be more of a wine bar rather than a pub. Dont know what to expect, but i would welcome a wine bar rather than another pub.
So......The Sportsman is due to be taken over by Bollywoods and turned into a wine bar type of venue. Where does that leave Mrs Del?


Reply ID 3722

24/01/2005 by del

well we can spend more time on the furniture business,getting out of the pub game aint a bad thing,my good lady works her little socks off and my liver needs a brake![:D]


Reply ID 3726

24/01/2005 by GillP

quote:
Originally posted by Joby
quote:
Originally posted by Mike
My wife and I went for a cycle recently down the old trackbed from Hertford to WGC and there was what LOOKED like an intriguing little place just next to what was the old station (at Cole Green?) -- can't remember what it was called (It had a "Tavern Fayre" sign outside) but it turned out to be truly AWFUL: All the beer (nearly all lager anyway) was on press-button pumps, even the Diet Coke came from a sodastream, and there were no interesting bottled beers. They were doing 2-for-the-price-of-one lunches which looked similarly depressing. We drank up quickly and headed for the Black Horse in West St instead --- much better!
Ohh i really like the it there, the food is really good. We are actually going tonight for a meal with my parents, That'll be the Cowper Arms, I think. Considered nipping in for a pint whilst out cycling last week, glad I didn't now.
The Cowper Arms is very good for low priced food. I agree that the beers in there are pathetic but the food and the facilities are really good.


Reply ID 3737

24/01/2005 by wingnut

Saracens Head, used to have a decent landlord .. has crap beers. better potential as a wine bar as its opposite toothbrush towers yuppie estate.


Reply ID 3739

24/01/2005 by JohnSmith

Toothbrush Towers! Superb.


Reply ID 3740

25/01/2005 by Frenchie

My wife refers to it a Noddy land with its yellowish bricks and blue railings..


Reply ID 3745

25/01/2005 by justin

quote:
Originally posted by Frenchie
My understanding is that the Sportsman is going to totally gutted with the bar and kitchens being redesigned/relocated. It will be furnished/designed to be more of a wine bar rather than a pub. Dont know what to expect, but i would welcome a wine bar rather than another pub.
agreed


Reply ID 3746

25/01/2005 by del

with alittle inside info.the Sportsman is staying as it is for a few months [a silly name change ofcoarse]then a refurb,but they do intend to keep it as a pub even though they dont have a clue how to run one!


Reply ID 3748

25/01/2005 by carlos fandango

For the knuckle dragging characteristics of some of the customers the White Hart gets my vote.


Reply ID 3749

25/01/2005 by del

The Heart does seem to have a thug eliment weekends so i spurn it the way i would spurd a rabbid dog[B)]


Reply ID 3765

26/01/2005 by Mike

Quote: --------------------------------------------------------------------The Cowper Arms is very good for low priced food. I agree that the beers in there are pathetic but the food and the facilities are really good. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ....each to their own, GillP, each to their own!!!


Reply ID 3772

26/01/2005 by wizkid

Going back to my original comment on The Prince of Wales in Hertingfordbury, which we visited whilst walking the dog.... I have to say even the dog (who is not normally too fussy) didn't seem too happy to be there.[:p]


Reply ID 3876

29/01/2005 by Dude

quote:
Originally posted by del
with alittle inside info.the Sportsman is staying as it is for a few months [a silly name change ofcoarse]then a refurb,but they do intend to keep it as a pub even though they dont have a clue how to run one!
Interesting! Bollywoods is a chain isn't it (or at least, a franchise) so I wonder they'll offer Indian pubs!?


Reply ID 3890

30/01/2005 by del

if theres a god...HELP


Reply ID 4266

10/02/2005 by OldCross

Sloppy Joes was a toilet when it was in existence. Number 11 is nice but empty all the time.


Reply ID 4268

10/02/2005 by Victor Meldrew

quote:
Originally posted by OldCross
Sloppy Joes was a toilet when it was in existence. Number 11 is nice but empty all the time.
I and 5 pals were turned away late Friday as No11 was full. And Sloppy Joes was an institution that unfortunatly went down hill in its latter years.


Reply ID 4294

11/02/2005 by newcomer

Well, I finally went into No.11 to have lunch on Sunday and was very impressed with the food and service. Prices were similar to the Salisbury. Note to poster from Admin: This thread is "Worst pubs in Hertford area". Please start a new thread for other comments.


Reply ID 4304

11/02/2005 by Drama Queen

Worst pubs in Hertford??? Anyone of them that posts Oafish "Bouncers" on the doors! So White Hart, Baroosh (but nice Mon-Wed and Sunday during the day!), Woolpack, anything that had Fledgling and Fcuking in the title you get the picture! I want a drink, not a hospital visit!!! I wouldn't give some of "pubs" the benefit of my queueing up for hours just for the "priviledge" of lukewarm low-grade vodka! Gentlemen, why do you put up with your pubs turning themselves into manic raves???? If I want a club, I'll go to a decent one in London, not in Hertford, give us back our pubs Wetherspoons et al!!


Reply ID 4320

11/02/2005 by Frenchie

Stop it, you are scaring me.....


Reply ID 4322

11/02/2005 by Victor Meldrew

Gentlemen, why do you put up with your pubs turning themselves into manic raves???? If I want a club, I'll go to a decent one in London, not in Hertford, give us back our pubs Wetherspoons et al!! If I want a quiet drink, I will go to The Salisbury, The White Horse, The OCT or one of the great back street pubs that we have locally.


Reply ID 4325

11/02/2005 by carlos fandango

Or...knowing victor...all of them one after the other. Even an old git like me can see the value of both types of bar. I just think we have enough of both sorts.


Reply ID 4328

11/02/2005 by Victor Meldrew

Theres a lot of angry people on this forum. variety is the spice of life!


Reply ID 4331

11/02/2005 by del

yes ive noticed that,it makes me so angery im off to get very very drunk[xx(]


Reply ID 4334

11/02/2005 by Frenchie

del, must seem like deja vu


Reply ID 4428

16/02/2005 by Bengeobabe

worst pub in hertford? easy, the white lion on bengeo street, followed closely by the greyhound on bengeo street.


Reply ID 4449

16/02/2005 by 2929paul

quote:
Originally posted by Bengeobabe
worst pub in hertford? easy, the white lion on bengeo street, followed closely by the greyhound on bengeo street.
You should check out all the bengeo pubs before you go casting aspertions - The Warren, The Millstream, The Two Brewers (I count them 'cos they're on the walk home dependeing on where you're coming from!), The Reindeer/Hooden Horse/Hillside. And then there's the Bengeo Working Men's Club.


Reply ID 4450

16/02/2005 by Bengeobabe

are you saying they're good or bad??


Reply ID 4452

16/02/2005 by Ewoowar

quote:
Originally posted by 2929paul
quote:
Originally posted by Bengeobabe
worst pub in hertford? easy, the white lion on bengeo street, followed closely by the greyhound on bengeo street.
You should check out all the bengeo pubs before you go casting aspertions - The Warren, The Millstream, The Two Brewers (I count them 'cos they're on the walk home dependeing on where you're coming from!), The Reindeer/Hooden Horse/Hillside. And then there's the Bengeo Working Men's Club.
Over to you, Del. Although I fear you may get very, very drunk.


Reply ID 4471

17/02/2005 by del

cheers,right YOU shouldnt go casting aspertions,the millstream is possibly the only pub in town that welcomes children its great in the summer,as one of the statictical weekend dads my son is of age when he wants to meet other children so we have the park or the millstream,hang on i think im loseing the plot here oh anyway it all makes me so angry im off to get very very drunk[xx(]


Reply ID 4475

17/02/2005 by Victor Meldrew

quote:
Originally posted by del
cheers,right YOU shouldnt go casting aspertions,the millstream is possibly the only pub in town that welcomes children its great in the summer,as one of the statictical weekend dads my son is of age when he wants to meet other children so we have the park or the millstream,hang on i think im loseing the plot here oh anyway it all makes me so angry im off to get very very drunk[xx(]
The Millstream is also what I would classify a good blokes boozer. Ok it might be smokey and full of old locals sitting/standing at their place at the bar and drinking out of "their" beer glass and Jamie might not be the most welcoming of landlords in the world (you have to get used to his sense of humour)But without the Millstream, myself and a number of other chaps would not have a local for a quick/long beer after work or an escape from the the house for a couple of hours. Back street pubs are the corner stone of the British Empire!


Reply ID 4538

17/02/2005 by Ewoowar

I have to agree with the last two posts. I haven't taken our lad to the garden there but our neighbours have and said it was very welcoming. Also it's not just a good blokes boozer, it's more than that. The Millstream is a good local pub, a community pub.


Reply ID 4561

18/02/2005 by carlos fandango

One of the things that has ruined the City of London has been that all the grotty old pubs (eg. The Hatchet, Green Man, Sugar Loaf) have been turned into noncy yuppie bars with barmen who have never poured a pint in their lives or Irish themed bars with overpriced beer and piped in diddley diddley music. I don't want hertford to go the same way...there is room for both types of bar and long may the grot holes flourish.


Reply ID 4565

18/02/2005 by Victor Meldrew

quote:
Originally posted by carlos fandango
One of the things that has ruined the City of London has been that all the grotty old pubs (eg. The Hatchet, Green Man, Sugar Loaf) have been turned into noncy yuppie bars with barmen who have never poured a pint in their lives or Irish themed bars with overpriced beer and piped in diddley diddley music. I don't want hertford to go the same way...there is room for both types of bar and long may the grot holes flourish.
Amen Sister! However do you think the Barge would make a good TGIF's???


Reply ID 4570

18/02/2005 by carlos fandango

No....unless they do Onion Loaf a la Tony Romas in the 80's. Boy have i become an old Git!!


Reply ID 4571

18/02/2005 by Joby

quote:
Originally posted by Ewoowar
I have to agree with the last two posts. I haven't taken our lad to the garden there but our neighbours have and said it was very welcoming. Also it's not just a good blokes boozer, it's more than that. The Millstream is a good local pub, a community pub.
Would agree with the comments about the Millstream, although it hasn't been the same since Ron left - I miss the music nights. One thing that always p*sses me off about the place, though, is the fact that the radio is *always* slightly out of tune and hissing.


Reply ID 4574

18/02/2005 by Victor Meldrew

Would agree with the comments about the Millstream, although it hasn't been the same since Ron left - I miss the music nights. One thing that always p*sses me off about the place, though, is the fact that the radio is *always* slightly out of tune and hissing. [/quote] The Hissing is actually Jamie!


Reply ID 4577

18/02/2005 by Plod

quote:
Would agree with the comments about the Millstream, although it hasn't been the same since Ron left - I miss the music nights.
There may not be the 'big' music nights any more, but there's a local band playing acoustic most Monday nights. And it's the only place I know where the AK is actually drinkable!


Reply ID 4583

18/02/2005 by Ewoowar

The last time I was in the Millstream there was a bloke dressed as a pink fairy. Perhaps it was a theme night.


Reply ID 4588

18/02/2005 by Victor Meldrew

quote:
Originally posted by Ewoowar
The last time I was in the Millstream there was a bloke dressed as a pink fairy. Perhaps it was a theme night.
No that was Jamie as well. The beer is very well kept there FYG.


Reply ID 4606

18/02/2005 by del

anyone out drinking tonight or sataday night,theres a drink um dry party at the Sportsmans as it is changeing hands, i for one am going to get very very drunk [xx(]


Reply ID 4607

18/02/2005 by Ewoowar

When is it changing hands? Is this weekend really the last before it becomes The Bolly Sportsman?


Reply ID 4609

18/02/2005 by del

It is indeed!shut on sunday they take over on monday..get drinking! [bollybar]


Reply ID 4610

18/02/2005 by Victor Meldrew

quote:
Originally posted by del
It is indeed!shut on sunday they take over on monday..get drinking! [bollybar]
Tiger beer, Curry nuts and Kahbadi on the TV??


Reply ID 4611

18/02/2005 by del

god help us..


Reply ID 4612

18/02/2005 by Ewoowar

quote:
Originally posted by Victor Meldrew
quote:
Originally posted by del
It is indeed!shut on sunday they take over on monday..get drinking! [bollybar]
Tiger beer, Curry nuts and Kahbadi on the TV??
I must stop skim-reading......... I read that as 'Curry beer, tiger nuts'.


Reply ID 4613

18/02/2005 by Admin

Off-topic


52 replies