The Beehive, St. Albans

Lovely, busy modern pub.Superb pint of XT-15 English ipa.Really nice beer garden with cabins and an outdoor tv.Good bottled beer selection.

This pub has had a modern makeover, with the grey paint that signifies gastropub now in evidence. There are bare floorboards, and a mixture of high tables with appropriately high chairs in some parts, and lower tables with a variety of easy chairs elsewhere. Background music came from the indy/easy listening part of the spectrum. On the beer front, there were four hand pumps on the bar, serving Sharps Doom Bar, Otter Amber, Tring Side Pocket for a Toad and Adnams Ghost Ship. My beer was ok without being outstanding. This is one that I wouldn't mind calling into again if in the area.

The smaller right hand side of the island bar in the Beehive was reserved for a private party during my visit on a recent Saturday evening. It was no problem though as this is a decent sized pub with plenty of room for drinking and watching sport on the many screens. The bar is stocked with standard draught products and I spotted two hand pumps that were drawing Adnams and Doom Bar. For some unfathomable reason I fancied a San Miguel which was served with a smile, but as flat and disappointing as I remember. At the rear of the pub there is a large paved beer garden and some decent mixed background music was playing to cater to the tastes of the clientele from various generations. Food is served throughout the day and the pub classics of sausage and chips etc were very reasonably priced on the specials board. I thought that it was friendly and welcoming in here and I’d have no problem returning when next in the area.