Three Blackbirds, Hemel Hempstead

The Three Blackbirds is very well located at the corner of the large green park area which runs down to the Grand Union canal. A sign outside gives the history of the John Barras brewery and the pub is owned by the pub group of the same name, in turn owned by Spirit Group and Enterprise. The outside is well kept and inviting but the dead corporate hand of a large pub group is immediately apparent when inside. The pub is large and wraps around a central bar. It has clearly been recently refurbished with lots of standard pubco modern furniture, pictures and signs advertising events for most week nights including poker, quiz and bingo nights. All the tables have large plastic menus offering very cheap food and various meal deals and there are television screens throughout broadcasting Sky Sports news on our visit. Beer choice was limited to Bombardier and Black Sheep the latter of which was drinkable, good value at £2.60 a pint and came with a friendly welcome. To the rear there's a reasonable sized seating area but beware the Gents which doesn't have a lock on the loo and where you're plunged into darkness if in there for too long. The only light sensor is by the main door so take a torch.

Large multi-area Spirit Group pub in a residential area of Boxmoor. Tidy, clean and well presented, seemed popular with most customers looking like locals. Good menu with a number of 2 for £7 offers. Juke box, fruit machines and a dartboard. No children's certificate so they are confined to the small garden area. Four hand pumps with standard beers and Tetley's cask good value at £1.98. Cask Marque accredited.