Crystal Palace, Berkhamsted

This is no longer a Big Smoke pub: I could see no sign of their beers either on handpump or keg. Instead, just the regular choice of Amstel, Madri, Brixton etc on the taps, with Landlord and a warm and somewhat below par Tring offering on the pumps. You can order food, but with napkins hard for this visitor to find, eating was an uncomfortable experience. The canalside location is an obvious attraction but, that apart, there seems no other reason to visit, especially with two other pubs also offering seats looking out on the Grand Union just minutes away. To be honest, this had the feel of a pub being run by someone who's never been to a pub before. I'd suggest giving it a miss if my underwhelming experience is anything to go by.

Facebook page of Crystal Palace - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Crystal Palace - www.facebook.com

First time here since Big Smoke took over and I'm quite impressed with the refurb. Here for a beer festival, 12 ales on gravity (and a load of craft taps) in a marquee at the side with open views of the canal. Pleasantly surprised to find the 10% CAMRA discount being applied to festival beers. Revisiting this pub on PuG I was reminded that it featured in my Great Inter County pub crawl 12 years ago. 1 day, 1 train ticket, 8 counties and 12 pubs (plus a he'll of a lot of planning and luck)

The Crystal Palace is now part of the ever-expanding Big Smoke chain of pubs. I know I've been before, but I don't recall when and I don't recall the pub itself. It enjoys a nice location next to the canal. Although the high speed train line into Euston is also just across the road. So, it's not exactly peaceful. Despite being a Big Smoke pub, it seems to be less aimed for the drinker, with more inclination towards the food market. On a rainy spring afternoon, there were only a handful of customers in what appears to be a circular room, with different areas. Big Smoke Solaris is the regular beer. Big Smoke Ceremony was also on, along with Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter. The cider was Lilley's Mango Cider. Not as good as other Big Smoke pubs, but an improvement on what was here before.

Now an independent and refurbished beer house, with a much improved food and drink offers. The canal-side location remains a draw, but on an otherwise cold, wet and windy day, it was doing great business in its own right (with all tables in use or booked for later in the afternoon). There are now six handpumps on the counter, offering a pair of Big Smoke real ales - Solaris (£3.96, with a 10% Camra discount) and Underworld - a rare 'northern' excursion for Harvey's, Momento from Siren and a Lilley's cider. There are also ten craft keg taps on the bar-back, dispensing seven more Big Smoke beers, the German Flensburger lager, something from Deya and Guinness.