The King William IV, Marshalswick, St. Albans

Imposing is the right term for this roadside pub, located at the brow of a hill between Marshalwick and St Albans. If approaching from Valley Road, it looms over you at the traffic lights. Boldly proclaiming Free House on its painted exterior, it remains under the clutches of Ember Inns, and due to its corner plot, has a semi-hexagonal bar counter of three sections roughly slanted 120° from each other. This meant 3 x banks of 4 x handpumps, offering Adnams Broadside (x2), Bass (x2), Dark Star Hophead, Fullers ESB, Fullers London Pride (x2), Timothy Taylor Landlord (x2) and Wainwright (x2). Plumping for the bière du jour, Bass, I got a decent pint (NBSS 3) for £4.65 and a chance to update the keeper of the Bass list, as this pub hadn't been recorded. Settling down to tuck into my pint I then noticed a sign stating that Camra members were entitled to a 20% discount of the price of a pint of real ale (d'oh!) A small throng of people in attendance on a weekday afternoon means there are some boxes being ticked here, and although no destination pub by any stretch, the ale line-up is impressive, if a little predictable, but it least it's in good nick.

Official site of The King William IV - www.emberinns.co.uk

Official site of The King William IV - www.emberinns.co.uk