The Carpenters Arms, Harpenden

Probably one of Harpenden's better pubs, but that isn't saying much. The Carpenters Arms has a very small single-bar interior, where all tables were taken early on a Thursday evening. It was just about warm enough to sit outside. So quite a few locals and their dogs had spilled out onto the outdoor patio areas to the front and side of the pub, which are partly covered. Courage Best is a regular beer here and so is Adnams Southwold Bitter. Adnams Broadside & Ghost Ship were also on, with Marston's Pedigree completing a fairly mundane real ale selection for a Good Beer Guide pub.

Abbot, Youngs Special, courage, Adnams Bitter, oh dear, but thankfully also Harveys Best. Looks very inviting from the outside as you approach and, indeed, enter to a convivial local conversational humm, but WHAT a bad layout! Just 8 people between the door and the bar made it impossible to get near to even view the pumpclips, necessitating a circular approach around a pillar and between seated customers to the left. Admittedly, having finally ordered we did get a table & even upgraded to the larger table in the bay window when it became free (sorry locals, you've gotta be quicker than that!). Probably a nice pub when very quiet but, otherwise, rather cramped, and they need to wake up that beer selection. The suggested taxi service was very prompt (early), £4 back to stn.

Quite an attractive pub with a small gated beer garden out front. Friendly staff and customers, willing to have a chat. Four pumps with some changing guests if the clips behind the bar are anything to go by. Probably wouldn't make a special journey but I suspect it's one of the better pubs in the locality and it was a good place for a beer after missing my bus.