Hertford Pub Crawl

Hertford - A Pub for Every Reason

Les Middlewood describes a selection of pubs in Hertford.

Hertford, our county town (pop. 25,000), has a pub landscape that has evolved over 700 years, often re-inventing itself to match social, economic and political changes. By the late 1880s pub numbers had swollen to 87 (some pub crawl that) and were largely in the hands of local brewers. McMullens were one of these — their imposing Victorian brewery still keeping watch over the town. Today Hertford has 28 pubs and bars.

Much can be written about the pub scene and how it has changed over the last 100 years but today`s pubs are a mix of historic stalwart survivors, social meeting places, Sport-on-TV, food specialists, live music venues, new-style bars and real ale specialists. Come over to Hertford and sample some of its pubs?.

1. Old Cross Tavern, St.Andrews St.

Hertford`s premier real ale free house was created in 1999 out of a former antiques shop. Always offering 7 or 8 top-condition ales from far and wide, its slogan is “The way pubs used to be”. No music, TV or gaming machines here — just great ale and good conversation. Beer festivals are held in the flower-bedecked patio at the rear in May and October and there’s an excellent lunchtime menu. No wonder the pub has been the recipient of recent local CAMRA branch awards and is a regular entry in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide (GBG). Open all day. Public car park is opposite.
Old Cross Tavern, St.Andrews St.

2. White Horse, Castle Street

Operating as a Fuller’s Free House, the full range of Fuller’s beers is available plus three other interesting and well-kept beers from small independent brewers. Again, no music or machines and only occasional TV for cricket and rugby internationals. This tiny former beer house has grown from one bar to two plus no smoking and bar billiards rooms upstairs, yet somehow it feels as if it was always like this. Another deserved regular in the GBG, there are tasty lunchtime meals and special Monday night forays into world cuisine. Beer festivals are held in May and August. Open all day on Saturdays and Sundays only. Street parking.
White Horse, Castle Street

3. Black Horse, West Street

A welcome new addition to the 2006 GBG, this timbered pub has a country feel about it yet sits happily amid the picturesque buildings of West Street. Greene King beers plus guests are kept in pristine condition and homemade food is available at lunchtimes and during the evenings. Near Hertford Town Football Club, it is more famous for its RFU-affiliated pub rugby team — probably the only one in the land. Open all day on Saturdays and Sundays — Quiz on Sunday evenings - the “Horse” is closed on Tuesday lunchtimes. There are some good records on the pub juke-box and for a town centre pub it`s rare to find such a pleasant pub garden.
Black Horse, West Street

4. Salisbury Arms, Fore Street.

Perhaps Hertford`s most written-about and photographed pub with a history stretching back to at least 1431 when it was known as the Bell. Listed, the pub displays many superb architectural features and maintains a County-town feel about it. Famous guests once included Oliver Cromwell and Thomas Fairfax on their way to difuse the Ware Mutiny in 1647. The hotel was bought by McMullens in 1891 and sells the full range of Mac’s real ales including their seasonal brews and guest ales. Fine food is available in the bars and restaurants all day from Monday to Sunday. Car park in Bell Lane.
Salisbury Arms, Fore Street.

5. Old Barge, The Folly

Riverside on the Lea Navigation; moor your narrowboat outside. An Enterprise Inn with 7 real ales, of which 3 or so are guests, the Barge is situated just over the bridge at the entrance to Folly Island with its homely lines of 19th century cottages. The pub has gained a reputation for its fortnightly jazz evenings held on Thursdays and its well-attended Quizzes held on Sundays. Sport is shown on TV, though not football. No food Friday to Monday evenings. Open all day. Small car park — otherwise use Bircherley Court Public Car park and walk across bridge. A famous former landlord at the Barge was Harry Curtis Garner who at one time held all national walking records between 1 and 30 miles. In 1891, in New York, he established a new World Record for the 1/4 mile — at 1 minute 23 seconds.
Old Barge, The Folly

6. Great Eastern, Railway Place

McMullens and left stranded when Hertford East station was relocated 250 yards nearer to the town late in the 19th Century. AK and guest ale are available in this pub where conversation, banter and laughter are the name of the game — TV sport often helping the process along. A great selection of guitar- based blues and rock tracks often to be heard in the evenings. Sandwiches on request and hot food Fridays and Saturdays until 6pm. Open all day. Pub car park.
Great Eastern, Railway Place

7. Baroosh, Fore Street

McMullens` successful venture into the world of new-style bars started here and what a success — Baroosh being popular at all times, no more so than on Friday and Saturdays when queues to get in form around 8.30pm. The pub was fashioned out of a former bank in 2000 and its winning formula is being extended to other towns in the South-East. Country Bitter is available. Accessible for wheelchair users throughout. There’s a no-smoking area to the rear and small outside patio. Baroosh opens for breakfasts at 9.30am and offers an interesting menu well into the evenings. Large public car park off Gascoyne Way.
Baroosh, Fore Street

Hertford map

Directions. Hertford town centre is a ten minute walk from Hertford North station (connecting to Stevenage and Finsbury Park, Moorgate and King`s Cross) or two minute walk from Hertford East Station (connecting to Liverpool Street and Broxbourne for Bishop`s Stortford and Cambridge). The 724 Greenline bus connects Hertford to Harlow, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, St.Albans and Watford. The 310 bus travels up the Lee Valley through Waltham Cross, Cheshunt, Hoddesdon and Ware. By road, Hertford is on the A414, just off the A10 or 8 miles from the A1(M).

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© South Herts CAMRA Branch & Tony Dawes
22 July 2006
Disclaimer

1. Old Cross Tavern, St.Andrews St. Hertford`s premier real ale free house was created in 1999 out of a former antiques shop. Always offering 7 or 8 top-condition ales from far and wide, its slogan is “The way pubs used to be”. No music, TV or gaming machines here — just great ale and good conversation. Beer festivals are held in the flower-bedecked patio at the rear in May and October and there’s an excellent lunchtime menu. No wonder the pub has been the recipient of recent local CAMRA branch awards and is a regular entry in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide (GBG). Open all day. Public car park is opposite.
2. White Horse, Castle Street Operating as a Fuller’s Free House, the full range of Fuller’s beers is available plus three other interesting and well-kept beers from small independent brewers. Again, no music or machines and only occasional TV for cricket and rugby internationals. This tiny former beer house has grown from one bar to two plus no smoking and bar billiards rooms upstairs, yet somehow it feels as if it was always like this. Another deserved regular in the GBG, there are tasty lunchtime meals and special Monday night forays into world cuisine. Beer festivals are held in May and August. Open all day on Saturdays and Sundays only. Street parking.
3. Black Horse, West Street A welcome new addition to the 2006 GBG, this timbered pub has a country feel about it yet sits happily amid the picturesque buildings of West Street. Greene King beers plus guests are kept in pristine condition and homemade food is available at lunchtimes and during the evenings. Near Hertford Town Football Club, it is more famous for its RFU-affiliated pub rugby team — probably the only one in the land. Open all day on Saturdays and Sundays — Quiz on Sunday evenings - the “Horse” is closed on Tuesday lunchtimes. There are some good records on the pub juke-box and for a town centre pub it`s rare to find such a pleasant pub garden.
4. Salisbury Arms, Fore Street. Perhaps Hertford`s most written-about and photographed pub with a history stretching back to at least 1431 when it was known as the Bell. Listed, the pub displays many superb architectural features and maintains a County-town feel about it. Famous guests once included Oliver Cromwell and Thomas Fairfax on their way to difuse the Ware Mutiny in 1647. The hotel was bought by McMullens in 1891 and sells the full range of Mac’s real ales including their seasonal brews and guest ales. Fine food is available in the bars and restaurants all day from Monday to Sunday. Car park in Bell Lane.
5. Old Barge, The Folly Riverside on the Lea Navigation; moor your narrowboat outside. An Enterprise Inn with 7 real ales, of which 3 or so are guests, the Barge is situated just over the bridge at the entrance to Folly Island with its homely lines of 19th century cottages. The pub has gained a reputation for its fortnightly jazz evenings held on Thursdays and its well-attended Quizzes held on Sundays. Sport is shown on TV, though not football. No food Friday to Monday evenings. Open all day. Small car park — otherwise use Bircherley Court Public Car park and walk across bridge. A famous former landlord at the Barge was Harry Curtis Garner who at one time held all national walking records between 1 and 30 miles. In 1891, in New York, he established a new World Record for the 1/4 mile — at 1 minute 23 seconds.
6. Great Eastern, Railway Place McMullens and left stranded when Hertford East station was relocated 250 yards nearer to the town late in the 19th Century. AK and guest ale are available in this pub where conversation, banter and laughter are the name of the game — TV sport often helping the process along. A great selection of guitar- based blues and rock tracks often to be heard in the evenings. Sandwiches on request and hot food Fridays and Saturdays until 6pm. Open all day. Pub car park.
7. Baroosh, Fore Street McMullens` successful venture into the world of new-style bars started here and what a success — Baroosh being popular at all times, no more so than on Friday and Saturdays when queues to get in form around 8.30pm. The pub was fashioned out of a former bank in 2000 and its winning formula is being extended to other towns in the South-East. Country Bitter is available. Accessible for wheelchair users throughout. There’s a no-smoking area to the rear and small outside patio. Baroosh opens for breakfasts at 9.30am and offers an interesting menu well into the evenings. Large public car park off Gascoyne Way.

Directions. Hertford town centre is a ten minute walk from Hertford North station (connecting to Stevenage and Finsbury Park, Moorgate and King`s Cross) or two minute walk from Hertford East Station (connecting to Liverpool Street and Broxbourne for Bishop`s Stortford and Cambridge). The 724 Greenline bus connects Hertford to Harlow, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, St.Albans and Watford. The 310 bus travels up the Lee Valley through Waltham Cross, Cheshunt, Hoddesdon and Ware. By road, Hertford is on the A414, just off the A10 or 8 miles from the A1(M).
Back to the Pub Crawls