The White Swan, St Albans Central, St. Albans

A back street pub just off St Peter's Street, which I don't think I'd ever visited before, although I used to live in Hemel and my grandparents lived in St Albans, so I've been to a few. I quick glance at the bar counter confirmed my decision to start the day with a coffee, as the beer offering was Tribute, Abbot and London Pride. OK normally, but today there are several pubs with beer festivals or tap takeovers; this is not one of them. I was overwhelmed by some very bass-forward music from some fairly impressive loudspeakers. Good to know that the Otex drops had done the trick, though I think the fillings in my teeth were vibrating almost as much as my ear drums. This would have been quite a pleasant pub in other circumstances.

Attractive from the outside but why fly the tricolour outside when there is little Irish vibe inside ? The interior has a low ceiling but has been modernised with awful slatted blinds in the windows reducing natural sunlight.The front section at least has a real fire ,while two further sections back into the pub have a mix of high tables and comfy bench seating.The pub dogs ran around freely and it did appear a pub where lot of locals know the extended family who run the pub ,with a gaggle of infants and parents gathered at the far end.The muzak was a little too loud and the three flatscreens do dominate the surroundings offering both BT Sport and Sky. Three handpumps with on my trip GK IPA,London Pride and Adnams Ghost Ship (NBSS 3.5) ,a standard real ale offer and not quite enough to place this pub on an ale crawl route,but a decent place to catch televised sport.

A revisit whilst in the area, and between craft pubs. Still a good community local. Three handpumps, Ghost Ship, Pride and Abbot - the last one off. Took the precaution of asking a real ale punter what he was drinking before deciding between the other two. I've had worse experiences at this pub

A decent traditional pub, with its regulars I suspect. Doesn't seem to be a big real ale pub. There are three pumps with Bombardier, Ghost Ship and a Christmas beer. Only the last one was on, and it was awful. Returned it and it was replaced without question and with an apology.