The Nags Head, Bishop's Stortford

Almost a time warp establishment with fantastic design features, I tried to recall what the style of windows reminded me of and after a while I realised it was my 'secondary modern' school - built in 1939. Everything about this pub has been written in previous reviews. It was not overly busy on our visit , just busy enough to keep the friendly bar staff busy and have chance to chat to some of the locals. Beer in good condition so I tried a pint of each of the 3 beers on offer - and had change from £15. Well worth calling in.

A 15/20 stroll from the town centre, the Nags Head is a Grade II listed building that has recently been purchased by McMullens after a period of closure and undergone a major refurbishment to bring out the best of its art deco features. The eyecatching interior is divided by a central bar with a large dining section on one side, a smaller bar on the other and a few snug rooms to the front that include a couple of small and intimate 2 man booths. By all accounts the pub was a bit of a grothole before the makeover but I found everything very presentable, clean and tidy and for once the refurbishment compliments the building’s character. Camparisons of the old and new can be made from the interesting old photos on the wall showing the pub in its Benskin’s livery, presumably shortly after it originally opened. There were 3 McMullens ales on, Chancellers Revenge, Cask Ale and IPA and at £2.60, £2.70 and £2.90 respectively, probably the best value beers in town. Quality was very good. The food was typical pub grub with the prices of main courses around £5-8. The service at the bar was very efficient and the barmaid quite chatty. The big downside of my visit was more down to timing, a Saturday lunchtime, whereby it was at the peak of its family dining session and I did find the presence of screaming kids dragged along for a family meal to be a bit intrusive. That said, I would certainly pay the place another visit and would even mark it out for a bite to eat on my next trip but I would ensure that I avoided the weekend lunchtime sessions.