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Submitted on Friday, 6th July 2018
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Detail Pages
The Nags Head, Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford
CM23 5HP
Served areas
Reviews of The Nags Head (Average Rating: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Nags Head
Built in 1934 replacing an earlier pub of the same name, the Nag's Head has an attractive brick art deco exterior retaining the original window style, and on entering it was pleasing to see that although clearly refurbished, many original features remain and newer ones have been remodelled on original lines. Now listed, there is a central island bar, mostly wood flooring, large 30's style lightshades and period wall lights, cream and brown decor, elegant curved lines including window cills which flare out to form tables and at least one original white stone fireplace. The font on the pub signs, plus toilet and private area signage is well reproduced from the era's style. The two main areas still feel like divided rooms despite the opening out, and the L-shaped area to the right has the back section set as a preferred dining area. There are a few very intimate little 2-4 seater booths along the frontage and also another small separated room in the same area.
Over the main pub entrance door is set a carved stone panel inscribed with a precis of the town's history.
Built originally for Benskins of Watford, so it probably became a Whitbread house later, today the brewery is McMullens, IPA (4.8% and £3.10), Cask and Country Bitter. The pub is a brisk walk from the town centre and is the nearest if en route to Bishops Stortford FC.
On 3rd March 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Nags Head
A 15/20 stroll from the town centre, the Nags Head is a Grade II listed building that has recently been purchased by McMullens after a period of closure and undergone a major refurbishment to bring out the best of its art deco features.
The eyecatching interior is divided by a central bar with a large dining section on one side, a smaller bar on the other and a few snug rooms to the front that include a couple of small and intimate 2 man booths. By all accounts the pub was a bit of a grothole before the makeover but I found everything very presentable, clean and tidy and for once the refurbishment compliments the building’s character. Camparisons of the old and new can be made from the interesting old photos on the wall showing the pub in its Benskin’s livery, presumably shortly after it originally opened.
There were 3 McMullens ales on, Chancellers Revenge, Cask Ale and IPA and at £2.60, £2.70 and £2.90 respectively, probably the best value beers in town. Quality was very good. The food was typical pub grub with the prices of main courses around £5-8. The service at the bar was very efficient and the barmaid quite chatty.
The big downside of my visit was more down to timing, a Saturday lunchtime, whereby it was at the peak of its family dining session and I did find the presence of screaming kids dragged along for a family meal to be a bit intrusive. That said, I would certainly pay the place another visit and would even mark it out for a bite to eat on my next trip but I would ensure that I avoided the weekend lunchtime sessions.
On 17th March 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
William Purnell left this review about The Nags Head
Pub closed and boarded up
Admin note:-
Marked as closed (20/09/09)
Now reopened (07/12/2010)
On 20th September 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 218 recommendations about 205 pubs]
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- Nags Head page at the McMullens site - www.mcmullens.co.uk
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Nags Head - whatpub.com
Stansted Mountfitchet, 3.24 miles, 1 hr 2 min walk (show)
Sawbridgeworth, 4.94 miles, 1 hr 35 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 17 March 2011 by hondo .
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 17 March 2011 by hondo .
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 17 March 2011 by hondo .
