The Cock, Hitchin

A 16th Century coaching inn on a semi-pedestrianised stretch in the centre of Hitchin, this is, as mentioned below, a slowly-ascending, long, narrow space with a bar on the left-hand side on the front portion of the room offering four GK-based ales - IPA, Abbot Ale, London Glory and Ruddles County. The Ruddles was £3.45 for a pint's worth and drinkable, albeit slightly too chilled. TV screens at either end of the room screened a PL game and the various tables dotted around all held menus and condiments although no-one inside was eating. If anything, this has in common a trait of many historic pubs in market towns up and down the country - little has been done to exploit the history of the building and a general air of apathy has been allowed to creep in.

The Cock is a nice looking pub that is situated in Hitchin's main shopping area. Once inside there is a long narrow room which runs to the rear,there are normal tables and chairs to the front,the bar is up one step on the left side,there are tall tables and chairs opposite the bar and normal tables and chairs to the rear,the floor is part stone floor and carpeted. The pub is a Greene King tied house,there were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Greene King Radio X Amplified,which was a decent enough drink,there was also GK London Glory,GK IPA and GK Abbot. The TVs were showing BBC News on mute and quiet background music was playing. I thought this was a decent pub to have a drink in. Pub visited 17/6/2017

A fine old exterior to this Greene King tied house,which has a beer garden reached via the courtyard.The interior has modern decoration but has retained the feel of a front snug,with a fine curved banquette and seating booth providing a discrete area to drink at the front.However the chain vibe is never far away with corporate GK pub grub menus on every table,and a few fruit machines up a step on the way to the bar.The interior is long and thin with high tables opposite the bar and more dining tables beyond. The four handpumps were offering GK IPA,Abbott and seasonal Grubber Pale,inoffensive but insipid.The ale selection is cock,the pub could be so much better if only the chain vibe could be downplayed.