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The Sportsman, Rickmansworth

Scots Hill
Croxley Green
Postal town: Rickmansworth
WD3 3AD

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Quinno _ left this review about The Sportsman

Basic open-plan locals’ boozer. Everything painted light grey, the lower servery excepted. Laminate floor, pool at the far end. Jumbo TV perched on bar showing the 6 Nations. Brass plaque in the gents proclaiming ‘Consulate of The People’s Republic of Croxley Green’ made me smile. GBG listed with three cask and a cider on over six pumps. Couldn't quite decide whether my choice of Hardline Beer Belly was old and musty or just a poor brew (NBSS 2.5). Fair play to the landlord for giving cask a go and I did at least see a pint of the Church End Gravediggers pulled for an unlikely looking ale drinker from the pool table collective. But it seems to have declined from the local mecca described below.

On 22nd March 2024 - rating: 6
[User has posted 5050 recommendations about 5033 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


john gray left this review about Sportsman

Obviously an old pub but the interior has been ripped out.Lots of silly signs and a large space given over to a pool table.Great cask selection in good condition.Friendly welcome from bar staff.Seating outside.

On 5th November 2022 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Blue Scrumpy left this review about Sportsman

Another pub with incorrect published opening times. Supposed to open at lunchtime on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there was no sign of life after 1pm on a Friday. Apparently, they have changed to 2pm opening.

A shame, as I had enjoyed it on my last visit.

On 4th August 2020 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2442 recommendations about 2441 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Gill Smith left this review about Sportsman

Called into this 2018 Good Beer Guide pub while on a CAMRA coach trip in the area. Found an interesting bar with a massive choice of beers, so enjoyed Dark Star Green Hopped IPA 6.5%.

On 17th October 2017 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about Sportsman

A fairly straightforward bus journey from Watford Junction station took me out to this classic local's boozer and CAMRA award winning ale house. Situated on a busy junction, the pub has a simple L-shaped layout with a public bar running left to right along the front of the pub and a lounge-style space extending to the rear down the right hand side. The public bar is dominated by the tongue and groove servery and bar back on the rear wall, which has a good pump clip collection across the top of the bar back. The area is bare boarded with banquette and low stool seating along the front wall and a pool table filling the open space to the left. A few bits of breweriana are dotted around, plus a dartboard, slot machines, posters for live music and a large TV screen which was switched off. Meanwhile, the lounge is carpeted and has standard seating, low stools and button backed sofas in a fairly cosy looking area with loads more pump clips on display. A number of old pictures and mirrors liven things up a bit and there were a few bits of sporting memorabilia on show, plus some proudly displayed CAMRA certificates. A trip to the gents revealed a most unexpected discovery, as the walls have been covered with an excellent display of retro beer trays which really evoke bygone times. Music was playing quietly throughout my visit and the friendly barmaid was having an amusing conversation with a customer who was helping her manage the pub's Twitter account.
I had high hopes for a good ale range here and certainly wasn't disappointed. The long row of handpulls was dispensing XT8 Dark Roast, Cryw Ial Community Brew Co Limestone Cowboy, Fullers ESB, Oakham JHB, Sharps Doom Bar, Cottage Texas Brown Ale, Elephant School Odds and Sods and Redemption Fellowship Porter. The keg range was also pretty good, including beers from XT and Magic Rock. I had an outstanding pint of the XT8 which flew out of the glass and had I not needed to head off to watch a dull 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road, I would have happily stayed and tried some more of their offerings.
This is clearly a destination pub for ale lovers and a sound community pub for the local residents. I thought the pub looked a little frayed around the edges and could probably do with a bit of a spruce up, but this didn't detract from a very enjoyable visit and I was glad I made the effort to make my way out here.

On 6th April 2016 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Thuck Phat left this review about Sportsman

The Sportsman is a real ale drinkers' oasis in an area which is a relative desert.
A relatively nondescript but tidy building both inside and out. The interior is effectively one large open plan area. To the left on entry is more of a bar like area where, on the Saturday evening we visited, a band was playing. to the right is a more comfortable carpeted seating area.
The welcome from the knowledgable landlord was warm and the serving staff included one or two decorative barmaids.
A wide range of ales were offered: Downton Brewery Quadhop, York Scrum Down, TT Landlord, Doom Bar, Gales HSB and Fullers London Porter which, we were told by the landlord, is brewed for The Sportsman. We tried pretty much all the above and all were in good nick although maybe a touch cold and when the Landlord barrel was changed and the new one not up to scratch, all pints from the new barrel were collected and replaced. These people care deeply about the quality of their ale and the range was also well selected.
I wouldn't hesitate to return.

On 26th October 2011 - rating: 9
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about Sportsman

ORIGINAL REVIEW Jan 2011
A good drinkers pub and very deserving of it's local CAMRA branch award.Of the six handpumped ales available,two are normally from the Red Squirrel Brewery ,Conservation Bitter and an excellent London Porter on my trip.The other real ales available were Buntingford Winter Sauvin,Dark Star Hophead,Tring Sidepocket and TT Landlord.There is a careful choice by the landlord to ensure a mix of strengths and styles.The guests rotate regularly and there is a board showing the brews up next.A real ciders is available as well as bottled Belgian beers.The ale is served in house branded oversized lined glasses which would be another tick in the box for CAMRA members.
The pub itself has a pool table and darts board to the left of the entrance and seats to the right ,extending to a larger carpeted area at the back of the pub.Traditional furniture,one sofa,another dartboard and a discreet TV monitor not in use on my trip in this rear area.I didn't see any sign of food being available.
Having been to many pubs in the area over the years,The Sportsman stands head and shoulders above the competitors on the beer front IMHO.
UPDATE.
A porter is normally available and on my latest visit this was the excellent Fullers London Porter.I also appreciated the following ditty painted on one of the ceiling beams...
"Not turning taps but pulling pumps
Gives barmaids splendid busts and rumps"
The attention paid to serving excellent quality ale merits a higher rating from me,hence the update.There is also live music from 9pm on Saturdays and this brings in a good crowd,the atmosphere is friendly and welcoming at all times.

On 23rd October 2011 - rating: 9
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Clive Thompson left this review about Sportsman

Recently won the South Herts CAMRA Pub of the Year for 2010 and with good reason. Darts and Pool teams, quiz nights, beer festivals and live music every Saturday, it seems there’s always something going on. There are six real ale pumps with beers from smaller, often local, breweries that turn over regularly. Pints at around £3 and they’re happy to let you sample them before you buy. Add a couple of real ciders, a few Belgian bottled beers and premium lagers and you can see why they won the PotY. Service is knowledgeable and friendly and the pub is a nice laid back place for a pint or two. The décor has a sporting theme, as you’d imagine, with a few old fishing nets and guns adorning the walls. A little decking out front although it is on a main road.

On 18th July 2010 - rating: 9
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]