The Goat, St. Albans

I spotted five hand pumps on the bar at the Goat during my recent Saturday evening visit and these were drawing Titanic Iceberg, Eagle, Youngs Special, Tribute and Old Rosie Cider. There were also four draught lagers available alongside Guinness and Stowford Press cider. To the right of the bar is a fireplace surrounded with sofas and there is also a plasma screen for showing Sky Sports. The larger left hand side contains another fireplace along with a dartboard, bar billiards, a second plasma screen and more board games than I could count. The front bar is duplicated behind were the same drinks are available, but this faces a large area that is used for dining. The food looked and smelt good and it doesn’t break the bank coming in between £6 and £12. There is a stairwell to the left of the pub that is mainly used by smokers, but there is an advertised beer garden that I did not visit. I liked it in here and would have no problem returning, but I will allow myself more time on the next visit as this corner off the London Road and Holywell Hill is where the quality St Albans pubs are (that I’ve visited anyway).

Visited in May 2010 Situated slightly further up the road from The White Lion is The Goat, a pub which, externally at least, with its white washed exterior, looks similar in style to that pub. The pub has a large single bar, but with distinct areas. The small central bar area has old beams, with hops hanging down and several sofas to one side by a large inglenook. The main area on the left looks like it could be an extension to the original building and which, despite the presence of a bar billiards table, dartboard and largish TV, has a rather traditional drawing room feel to it. Notably, there's several old West Ham 1960's team photos and a seriously large collection of board games. The pub is much larger than it looks from the outside and extends back a long way into a food orientated area, but still with a pleasant and traditional feel. On my recent lunchtime visit, beers on were Bombardier, Wells Eagle IPA, Youngs London Gold, St Austell Tribute plus Elgoods Snake Slayer - a range which might be considered disappointing by today's standards, but which did at least give me an opportunity to sample Wells IPA, a beer that seems somewhat difficult to find nowadays. It seems to be a beer that divides opinion, but I like it and it was in splendid form . This pub is also a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular. I didn't like this pub as much as The White Lion down the road, but it's a fine pub in its own right and, given their close proximity, it seems daft to visit one without at least popping in to the other.

This former coaching inn dating back to 1587 is tucked away in a quiet back street but is just a short walk from the City centre. It originally boasted the largest stabling in St Albans accommodating up to 72 horses even though there was only room for 10 people to stay at the inn itself. The rambling and quite spacious interior is roughly split into 4 areas around a central bar, all having plenty of character with open fires and numerous old pictures. One section contains a bar billiards table and dart board as well as a huge selection of traditional board games. Despite being a Young’s pub, they do have a rotating selection of guest beers although on our visit there were only 3 ales (Ordinary, Special and Everard’s Tiger) and a cider (Old Rosie) across the 9 hand pumps. Sport is shown although the source of the broadcast may not be totally above board. To the rear is a patio although as beer gardens go, it isn’t anything special. They have a good reputation for its food although the restaurant side of things was quite underplayed and, unlike some pubs, there were not huge swathes of tables laid out for diners. A pretty decent pub and one I would certainly recommend although the ale choice on my visit was a bit limited.

The entrance leads to the bar area, left to another room with a bar billiards table, panelled walls and books on a high shelf, a TV also sits high up in the corner. A large selection of board games are available. Beyond are two further drinking areas off the back of the bar, very comfortable and traditional with hops entwined along the picture rail. A great welcoming pub with a good atmosphere, justifiably busy last night. The traditional looking food menu includes the like of beef stew, pie of the day, gammon egg & chips and a curry, generally around 9 quid. St Austell Tribute, Spitfire, Deuchars IPA and Tring Colleys Dog on offer; tasters offered by the staff. First rate!