Waterend Barn (JD Wetherspoon), St Albans Central, St. Albans

They have upped their game a little on the ale front and have guests as well as the usual fare. The queuing system still seems to be observed at busy times but the staff are not so inflexible as they once were and will actually serve along the whole bar. Damn cold in the winter, like now !! May have to go outside after this pint to warm up.

Pretty poor offering for a Wetherspoon.The only good thing about it was there a several different drinking areas but unfortunately there was not much selection of real ales and the one I did try was not very good.I suppose this is partly due to there being a cider festival going on.As with a lot of other Wetherspoon's people seem to have got into a nasty habit of queuing at the bar which just adds to the confusion.

With the lease on JDW's other St Albans pub, the Cross Keys, not being renewed this is now their only St Albans outlet. The previous Lloyds No.1 branding has been removed but apart from that the pub remains the same. They have never had a great reputation for real ales in here, being more food and family focussed. It will be interesting to see if that improves now there is just the one outlet, and whether or not the old Cross Keys clientele make their way to the Waterend Barn. From my visit yesterday they seem to be trying it out.

We were in here yesterday as one of First pubs on our pub Crawl I Had a Pint of Abbot as thats all I could see as it was so packed solid and we could not even get near the bar. No it weren't a Saturday night It was Thursday afternoon. I was told there was some sort of special college do on thats why it was packed never mind. Nice old style building very large barn type of place serving the usual Wetherspoons food menu good selection of Ales on Tap about 9 but could not see which ones were on tap. I would pop in again when I'm passing as its a nice place well worth going if your with Friends for a Meal during the day time which was our intention. We went too the other Wetherspoons The Cross Keys instead.