The Lytton Arms, Knebworth

Official site of The Lytton Arms - www.thelyttonarms.co.uk

Official site of The Lytton Arms - www.thelyttonarms.co.uk

A large late Victorian building ,feeling a little out of place in a semi rural setting.There are two side entrance doors,the one from the car park leads directly to a restaurant area but keep walking and you will come to the bars.The counter for the restaurant only serves keg beers and lagers but persevere through the arch to another bar which sports 10 handpumps.However at lunchtime all the tables in this area ,which wraps around the real ale bar were also set up with placemats and cutlery,apart from a high circular table in the bay window.However the absence of diners in this area gave me the confidence to sit at a dining table with the only objective to polish off my pint.The side section contains a large brick (real) fireplace and doors which lead through to a very undistinguished conservatory and thence doors to a rear garden.The internal decor in the pub was rather bland and the pine flooring throughout together with high ceilings didn't create a great ambiance.Most punters were in for the food,and that seems the main raison d'etre at lunchtime. This pub is listed in the 2012 GBG,and of the 10 handpumps ,7 were dispensing on my trip Tring Brock Bitter,Dark Star Hophead,Adnams Southwold Bitter,Doom Bar,Ringwoods Fortyniner,a 7.4% Norfolk Micro product I failed to note ,and an excellent Mighty Oak Oscar Wilde (£3).I was impressed by the quality of my pint,and would therefore be quite happy to call in again to a pub that is committed to a wide range of ale,which is unusual for the area.

Built a good beer reputation with Steve in the 90s and some say it's not the same since it changed hands (?about 2002). It was given a bit of a face lift and still has a great variety of real ales which seem to be well kept. Good food selection. Lacking a bit in character and the pricing policy seems a bit aggressive, but well worth a visit.