The Verulam, St Albans Central, St. Albans

A bit of a mixed bag I thought, on face value a decent street corner local boozer but it has also a theme of being some kind of upmarket trendy foody place based on earthy ingredients sourced in natural ways with a hunter/gatherer ethos. A board advertises "Foraging Walks" and there are framed posters of fungi and the suchlike. If you look at the place purely as a pub it's not bad. Four handpumps, Adnam's Ghost Ship, Tring Kotuku, house beer Grindcobbe (with an unusual carved wooded clip) and a scrumpy cider from Wales, who's name I couldn't see properly. A few fancy keg offerings from the likes of Camden, Titanic and a wheat, Maisel's Weissbier. Boarded floor, some etched glass, olive green wainscoting, scrubbed tables with mismatched chairs, a nice fireplace with a mirror over. A feature was a carved wood stag's head.....I doubt the politics in here would permit a stuffed one. Fancy menu at fancy prices, I didn't see anyone eating but it was around 4.30 in the afternoon. A bit of a short measure but not worth arguing about, strange to get a pint in a goblet glass I thought. I can't really make my mind up about here, as a pub it is ok but the undercurrent of it trying to be something else that it possibly isn't I find difficult. I'll probably never go in again so I must judge on this visit, I'll try and be fair.

This pub re-opened last Sunday and was pretty busy at lunchtime, certainly in relation to nearby pubs. This had in the past been a decent traditional pub but when it was purchased from Punch a couple of years ago it got the gastro treatment and the venture didn't last long before it failed and the pub closed. The current owners look to be following a similar business model, with their USP being that the menu is largely sourced from locally available produce. This has led to the pub being doubled-named as The Foragers at The Verulam Arms. I can't say I'm in favour of this practice, a couple of other places in St Albans have done it and I see no good reason. It is however pleasing to see that it has re-opened as a pub/restaurant rather than being turned into housing, as was the fear. The bar is well stocked with wines and spirits and there are three handpumps. Youngs Ordinary and Bombardier were on and I was told that the intention is that the third will be used for a local micro beer, possibly from the Verulam Brewery (no relation to the pub) This seems positive news for real ale drinkers but there's not a great deal of room inside making me feel that diners and drinkers won't sit comfortably alongside each other. The premises has had a lick of paint and is very clean, the decor was quite plain but no doubt will take on character over time. I've added a web link although it is currently under development.