Our Mutual Friend, Stevenage

This pub, tucked away in a highly unpromising location in one of Stevenage’s unattractive suburbs, was built in 1963 to replace a nearby pub of the same name which was due to be demolished. The original pub was named after Charles Dickens’ final novel, by Lord Lytton who was a good friend of the author and locals maintain that Dickens occasionally drank in the old pub. The new building is a typical 60’s new build of the sort that appear on estates up and down the country, but the proprietors have done a great job in creating something approaching a traditional feel. At the front of the pub is a large, long public bar with part wood, part tile but mainly carpeted flooring. A pool table takes up much of the space opposite the servery and there is a dartboard at the far end of the room. A plasma screen TV was mounted on this wall but turned off during my stay, whilst the inevitable slot machines have been cunningly tucked away in a discrete corner at the far end of the room. There are some carpentry tools on the walls which give it a bit of a rural pub look but decor is otherwise fairly minimal. To the left of the servery there is access to a lounge which is a lot more compact than the front bar and therefore nice and cosy. There are a couple of partitioned booths and a small raised seating area in the corner as well as a tiled fireplace with a CAMRA mirror above. There was loud music playing in the public bar and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that you couldn’t really hear it in the lounge. There are also a few benches available in the outdoor seating area. Ales are split between the two bars, so make sure you consult the blackboards before ordering. I had a choice of St Austell Tribute, Hardknott Cool Fusion, Ringwood Fortyniner, Sharp’s Doom Bar, Woodforde Wherry, Windsor and Eton Tree Tops and Mighty Oak Snake Out Stout. My pint of Cool Fusion was close to being returned but thankfully the Snake Out Stout was much better. The barmaid who served me was really friendly and apologetic about having to serve me my beer in a plastic glass due to it being match day at Stevenage Borough’s nearby Broadhall Way stadium. I was looking forward to visiting this pub and was therefore disappointed to get a dubious pint, but if this place can maintain consistent quality it would be well worth the long and thoroughly dull walk from the train station to check it out.

Official site of Our Mutual Friend, contains beer list and event details - www.omfpub.co.uk

Official site of Our Mutual Friend, contains beer list and event details - www.omfpub.co.uk

A huge surprise awaits those entering this 60's new town boozer....the ale is wonderful.There are two distinct bars,the larger public bar has pool,darts and a trophy cabinet full of cups and this is the locals hangout.The smaller lounge is to the side and contains a raised area in one corner with traditional furniture throughout and is the haunt of the committed ale drinkers,CAMRA ,etc.Of the 4 handpumps in the lounge bar,three were dispensing Northumberland Uncle Fester,Leeds Brewery Midnight Bell and Slaters Original in top quality,making this pub THE prematch SBFC drinking venue.The public bar contains more handpulls.The decor throughout is pleasing with bare boarded floors,wood pannelling and a friendly welcome which more than make up for a lacklustre exterior.This is the must visit pub in Stevenage and is rightly a regular recipient of CAMRA awards.

A great pub, seemingly incongruous in its setting amongst dreary new town houses and the maze of dual carriageways, roundabouts and underpasses. Eight pumps dispense a good and unusual range of ales, note the pumps are split between the front bar and the lounge to the rear. Earl Soham Albert Ale, Tring Jack O Legs, Clarks Classic Blonde, Shepherd Neame Canterbury Jack, Everards Tiger, Northumberland Brewery Legends of the Tyne on, another being pulled through but not considered ready by the enthusiastic barman. The picture in the back bar titled "The Stranger" evokes bad memories of poor pubs once visited, and is well observed. Thankfully though this one wasn't one of those.. Excellent. Very close to Stevenage Borough FC, so a good spot for a pre-match pint or four.