The Great Eastern Tavern, Hertford

Backstreet local opposite Hertford East station that features in the latest Good Beer Guide. On arrival I was slightly put out. Having pipped what turned out to be a regular to the front door, I walked into the right-hand room only to find the barmaid greet me but then start pulling a pint for the guy who had followed me in. I didn't have to wait long, but such practices are slightly grating. Being a McMullen's pub, the regular beers are AK & IPA, with one "guest" beer also from McMullen's or in this case from their Rivertown Brewery offshoot. The guest was called Harlequin. Despite my initial annoyance at being made to wait for service in favour of a local, the bar staff did seem quite friendly and there is a real traditional feel to this two-roomed pub where conversation is the order of the day. Snooker was showing on a TV in the corner. This was unobtrusive, but the snooker match was a topic of conversation in any case. There is plenty of amusing signage to admire behind the bar and the pub is decorated in a nice traditional manner. Board games could be found in one corner underneath the TV. With its traditional interior and in spite of the limited ale range and peculiar service standards, I quite enjoyed my visit here and it was my favourite new pub in Hertfordshire on this visit.

This pub had on three real ales - Rivertown Midas (brewed locally in Hertford), McMullen's AK, and Great Eastern Tavern Ale, which is also brewed by McMullen's of course. I didn't see any sign of food on my lunchtime Saturday visit. There has been a pub on this site since early Victorian times, and it was originally right by the original Hertford East Station until the station was moved to its current location some 300 yards to the west back in 1888. Thankfully its managed to survive the loss of the passing railway trade for the past 130 years! This is a most charming little pub. You enter into a small lobby that would once have been a jug and bottle bar, with a door on the left to the saloon bar, and another on the right to the public bar. Both bars are similarly furnished with upholstered fixed bench seating and normal tables and chairs, and both are carpeted. However, the public bar has vertical matchboard wood paneling, whereas the saloon bar has the slightly more upmarket fielded paneling. Most of the fittings date from the 1940s, but the public bar is now larger than the saloon bar having been extended to the rear during the 1970s. As you would expect, there is railway memorabilia all around the place. I would recommend this pub to anyone visiting Hertford.

Great Eastern Tavern pages at the McMullens site - www.mcmullens.co.uk

Great Eastern Tavern pages at the McMullens site - www.mcmullens.co.uk

A step back in time ,this pub still retains a charming 1960's atmosphere with lots of ephemera dotted around the walls.There are two seperate entrances ,one to the lounge which is a smallish square room ,bench seating, small stools and a few tables with it's own bar and the ladies in one corner.The other door leads to the bar and this is where the regulars hang out.Also carpeted ,this is larger than the lounge and has a screen for occasional sports coverage.This is where the gents is ,it is easy to imagine how the two drinking area divided along gender lines in days gone by.A Mc Mullens tied house with AK ,Country and Cask on handpump and in decent shape.Well worth popping in,a short walk from Hertford East station and one of the better Macs pubs in town.(There are many poor ones,beware!)