Great Northern, St Albans Central, St. Albans

This could be quite an attractive building with some modest Brewers Tudor elements, but the exterior could do with being brightened up a bit. Small 'L'-shaped bar, with a pool room beyond. Basic furniture and decor, but a good-natured 'local' atmosphere. Several TVs showing sport. Three-level beer garden to side and rear. Abbot and Greene King IPA (£2.40, and served in the right glass) available from the handpumps (two traditional and one modern contraption).

The Great Northern is an L-shaped local’s boozer with a pool table. Sky Sports is shown on the three plasma screens that can be seen from any position in the pub. These were off, as was the jukebox, during my early evening visit on Saturday but some background noise was being provided by a radio station complete with adverts. Standard draught products were available from the bar and I spotted two hand pumps, but I couldn’t quite make out what they were dispensing. The Guinness was on good form and I found the service to be friendly. There was a boisterous forty/fifty something crowd in situ during my visit and the air was very blue, but I wasn’t made to feel unwelcome. Out the back there is a split level paved garden with plenty of picnic tables and four more tables can be found on an unkempt lawn area down a slope to the right of the garden. I wouldn’t go out of my way to drink here again, but I’d have no problem returning for a pint if passing.

A fine example of an old traditional locals boozer. Very welcoming, good prices, one or two real ales and good conversation. Although it's on the main London Road it hasn't got the best location being opposite a petrol station and right next door to a large old cinema building that has been boarded up for years and looks ripe for development. Hopefully the Great Northern will be around for a good few years yet.