The Three Tuns, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead

BF paints a more than accurate view of the interior (below) and I can attest to the 'local' vibe of the place, it being well inhabited during my 4pm weekday visit. Of the three handpulls, just the one was occupied, with Courage Best flying the flag for the real stuff. There was some fanfare about their selection of bottled craft beers, including a chalked-up list with ABVs and prices under the permanent heading of 'Real Ale' (*hears CAMRA diehards shuddering*). I succumbed to a bottle of BrewDog's Punk IPA which came in at £3.50 and was served half-poured into the glass by the heavily-tattooed, yet very pleasant barmaid. Despite the blokeish atmosphere, the interior was clean and tidy and a couple of nice touches included a framed selection of old Benskins beermats and metal plaques honouring former locals now no longer with us. Not one to actively seek out, but wouldn't be any harm in adding to a 'tick-list' of the area.

This Victorian pub is situated opposite what was formerly the last working papermill of the John Dickinson empire,which stopped production in 2006.The pubs customers are largely the people that the mill left behind,and opposite is now a sea of executive housing.It's a local pub for local people and I felt a little uncomfortable invading their space. The pub has two entrances,public bar from the road,lounge from the car park.However the interior is open plan but split into sections with the bar to the left of the mainroad door with the main seating area beyond to the left.The public bar area to the right is dominated by a pool table and has a flat screen while there is a seperate area with a darts board,couple of tables and the door to the garden. There were three handpumps serving GK IPA,Courage Best and a very well kept Doom Bar (£3.10) which was more than I could have hoped for.Basket meals are advertised but no one was eating.It was dominoes night and there was a very blokey atmosphere,a bit of staring at the stranger (me) and a constant stream of regulars heading to the outside smoking shack.Poker nights were also advertised. Mine was a brief evening trip midweek but,despite the decent Doom Bar,I would find it hard to recommend this pub as a destination for a relaxed evening.