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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
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Detail Pages
Strathmore Arms, Hitchin
St. Pauls Walden
Postal town: Hitchin
SG4 8BT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Strathmore Arms
A modest sized Victorian building for the workers on the Bowes-Lyon estate,this is a simple,rustic ale house set at the edge of the hamlet,with a view of fields to the front.To the right of the front door is a carpeted section with different sized settles,while to the left there are a few tables and chairs,a terrestrial TV and one part of the pine clad bar.The open plan interior continues to the rear with a wooden floor surrounding the second part of the bar,with a doorway through to the loos and a bar billiards table.The back door opens to the car park and a good sized sloping garden with bench seating.The rural idyll is sometimes disturbed by budget airliners on their final approach to Luton Airport.
The locals gather around the back bar and there is no musak,only the pleasing hubub of conversation.Basic pub grub is available and it is worth checking the website for availability times as well as opening hours.
The star here is the ale selection.Besides the regular house brew from Buntingford,there is an everchanging selection of four guest ales which on my trip were Beavertown 8Ball Rye IPA(£3.30),Mallinsons Linley Pale Ale,White's Franklin EXP and Oakham Citra.My beer condition was spot on and I was impressed to see both Oakham and Mallinsons at the bar.The guv'nor will also try out brews from new micros,so expect some unusual and enterprising brews to be available.Again check the website prior to arrival if you want to be ahead of the game.
There is an impressive collection of pump clips on the ceiling and a long list of bottled beers on a chalk board.
The interior decor is basic,whitewashed walls ,with some modern prints but also a sign saying the pub will accept euro notes at an exchange rate fixed at the bar.If you can't cadge a lift and want a real pop at the great ale range,there is a bus stop outside for a service from stations at Hitchin,St Albans and Welham Green.The GBG listing is fully deserved,consider an extended visit if you are in the area and good real ale is your primary focus.
On 2nd August 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Keith Blaxill left this review about The Strathmore Arms
The Strathmore, and Danny the Guv'nor in particular, likes beer - real ale, different beers, obscure breweries. Always trying something new - as long as it's beer. A basic, ordinary pub near a church and not much else. Best value ham, egg & chips in the area. Regular beer festivals. Not as popular as it should be.
On 8th February 2007
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8 recommendations about 8 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Strathmore Arms
Classic country pub, situated on the Bowes-Lyon estate with a friendly landlord and a cracking view from the window. A whole host of ales (including a porter and a mild) to tempt you, alongside some foreign garb in the fridge. However the beer quality was rather hit and miss on my visit – maybe I caught it on a bad day? There’s a big beer garden and there is apparently a bar billiards table available. Toilets could do with a dusting down - cobwebs and long-dead crane flys are pushing the rustic thing a little too far...
Not bad but it could be a little better.
On 8th October 2006
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]