Farriers Arms, St Albans Central, St. Albans

Found this to be a nice cosy pub.Nice pale wood and sun coming through a pub window is always a plus.Not sure if its still Mcmullens as they had Tribute,Betty Stoggs,Salopian -oracle (nice) and only County bitter from Mc mullens.Very nice pub

Famed for being the host to CAMRA’s first ever meeting in 1972 (commemorated by a blue plaque on wall outside), the Farriers is a cosy little McMullens pub situated a short stroll from the City centre. The L shaped interior is divided into front and rear sections, both quite small and homely in an old fashioned way with a light airy feel enhanced by the white tongue and groove ceiling. There is a TV in one corner used aminly for sport and a noticeboard cluttered with events and messages next to an old cigarette machine. It is the sort of place for traditional pub games and the trophy laden shelf is presumably a sign that they have a decent darts team. Ironically, given the pub’s place in CAMRA’s history, the beers are limited to the 3 McMullens ales – Cask ale, AK and Country Best on my recent visit although there were a few pump clips on the wall behind the bar but I didn’t really examine them to see if there was anything that looked like any guest beers. Quality has never been an issue on my visits. I didn’t notice any food on offer on my recent visit but they have in the past had some good value simple snacks. Slightly on the downside although nothing too drastic, I have sometimes found the place a bit unwelcoming and cliquey, especially when it is busy although certainly nothing too offputting. It is certainly worth an initial visit but probably wouldn’t be a place that you will keep returning to given the number of good pubs in the vicinity.

Farriers Arms pages at the McMullens site - www.mcmullens.co.uk

Farriers Arms pages at the McMullens site - www.mcmullens.co.uk

Visited in May 2010 Small traditional side street McMullens pub close to the city centre. There's a small bar area at the front of the pub, which extends back into a separate room on the left, giving an overall L shaped drinking area. Through this separate room, a door leads to the rather basic outside toilets. The pub is traditionally furnished in a lightish, airy and unremarkable. It's music free and unspoilt, although a relatively unobtrusive TV high up in one corner of the bar was showing the Blackpool v Notts Forest play off game. The walls are decorated with some McMullens memorabilia. There's also a CAMRA mirror and some CAMRA award certificates. Famed for being the birthplace of CAMRA, a plaque outside reminds us that Herts CAMRA branch first met here. Beers on were the standard Mac's range - Country, AK and Cask. The Country - £ 3.00p - was in good form. The pub is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular. This is a good honest unpretentious community local and, despite a distinctly underwhelming welcome, I'd probably do this one again.