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Black Horse, Hertford
Hertford
SG13 8EZ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Steve of N21 left this review about Black Horse
Am spending a bit more time in Hertford recently as I have friends working for the new landlord of the nearby White Horse but as that doesn’t open till 2.00pm weekdays currently I decided to look this one up again for a lunchtime sandwich and a pint and do the two pub Hertford Horse crawl, a popular thing with the locals as they are so close together and both very good real ale pubs.
Unchanged from my last previous visit a few years ago it’s a historic timbered one bar pub, originally dating from the 1600’s, with the additional smaller room off to the side dedicated to the pubs Rugby team as very well described by PSM below. And at this time of year the very pleasant raised enclosed garden (accessed by a door to the left of the bar) which slopes upwards away from the pub, comes into play.
Formerly owned by GK, but now a Free House, there are six ale pumps on the bar which provide a regularly changing selection of well-kept ales. Oakham JHB is the only permanent beer, as it sells so well, and for this visit the others were Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Mighty Oak Day Tripper, GK London Glory, Timothy Taylors Landlord and 3 Brewers Classic Ale. I tried the JHB and the Day Tripper and they were both in excellent condition. CAMRA member discounts are also provided.
This is one of Hertford’s best real ale pubs and well worth searching out. The only issue is that you have to cross the dreaded A414 to get back into Hertford centre, but I always amuse myself when doing so by thinking that the Hertford Council Road planning department refer to this abomination as a ring road. Fortunately, the White Horse is just on the other side to provide further sustenance.
On 27th July 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2122 recommendations about 2001 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Black Horse
Set on the outskirts of town, close to the local football club, this is a smart little pub with a reputation for its good cask ale. You enter into a well presented, carpeted bar area, with the servery opposite the entrance and a small open area to the immediate left. Smart high backed chairs provide comfy seating options along the front wall, whilst some pews can be found to the left, beneath a huge TV screen showing a muted cricket fixture. The walls have been painted in a two-tone colour scheme and there are plenty of dark wood beams running across the ceiling and posts studded with horse brasses, all enhancing the traditional pub feel. The bar has a nice curved counter with a tongue and groove panelled front and neat bar back. The decor throughout the room is fairly traditional, including black and white photos, some of which are of the pub, old paintings, vases, brassware and the like, plus one more Tv screen, which wasn’t in use. A door to the left leads into a compact side room with some additional seating, an unusable dartboard, an upright piano and lots of photos and memorabilia relating to the pub’s rugby team.
The ale range was pretty strong, with cask options comprising Tring Side Pocket, Hardy & Hanson Bitter, Adnams Mosaic, Buntingford Hurricane, 3 Brewers Classic and Oakham JHB, with the latter in good nick and clocking in at a reasonable £4.00 a pint. The staff were very friendly and there was a nice atmosphere from a good crowd on my weekend afternoon visit.
I thought this was a nice, cosy little pub, far enough from the town centre that people have to actively seek it out, which seems to help create a nice, intimate atmosphere. The ale selection is pretty strong and the service friendly, so I would put this high on my list for a revisit the next time I’m in town.
On 18th December 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Black Horse
An excellent pub on the outside of the bypass, with a very half-timbered interior and lots of character. The only slightly jarring note was the fleet of function-style leather dining chairs which didn't really suit the pub, but otherwise very traditional. An excellent selection of changing ales on the pumps, on this visit from Buntingford, Twitchell, Major Oak, Thornbridge, Listers, Oakham and Tring. The home-made food is also worth a mention, not least the pasties and pies from their own bakery. Well worth the short walk from town.
On 21st October 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3352 recommendations about 3289 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Black Horse
ORIGINAL REVIEW Feb 2010.
This is a Greene King tied house with four handpumps dispensing Abbott,GK IPA ,Old Trip and a "guest" which is normally a seasonal GK ale ,Flanker's Tackle was still settling and unavailable on my visit.The ale is well kept but unfortunately GK beers are often uninspiring and there is nothing the tenant can do about that.The pub also suffers from being cut off from the town by the dual carriageway A414 but its position in the middle of West Street surrounded by many listed Georgian buildings is still attractive .The pub itself is small and cosy with a low ceiling and a traditional feel.To the left of the front door is a dart board and in the main bar there is Sky Sports TV,one of the few pubs in Hertford to screen live sport and a major draw.Food is available at lunchtime and at the weekend ,and the new tenants are making a big effort to create a community atmosphere.The pub is also the closest to Hertford Town FC and the loyal diehards use this place before and after matches.At times this pub can be very quiet and although it will never compete with the free houses in town in terms of ale ,it does deserve to suceed as a genuine local.
February 2012
Although the fabric of the pub has changed little,thankfully the new owners are free from the Greene King tie which means a much more respectable range of real ale is now available.On my recent trip that meant Harviestoun Haggis Hunter (£3.40),Tring Sidepocket,Fullers Seafarer and Exmoor Dark.Every ale supped by my group was in good nick and it would be fitting if the local CAMRA branch put this forward for the next GBG.
There is a new carpet,the fireplace to the left of the bar was glowing and welcoming on a wet night and there are now a few tables in the dart board section,but not hindering play.Lunchtime food from burgers with all the trimmings at £7 to cheaper sandwiches,jackets and the like.
With the more adventurous ale policy,this pub should be included on any pub crawl of the town,it's a genuine drinkers establishment.
UPDATE
Now a GBG regular with a very high standard of cellarmanship.The garden is large and has been well used during the Covid restrictions.A flatscreen on mute is mounted to a rear wall of a covered patio to maintain sports coverage if regulation ban indoor gathering.A small rear extension serves as a dining area or overflow seating if the smallish main interior gets busy.It's a top pub and must be visited when in Hertford.
On 30th April 2021
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2730 recommendations about 2730 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Black Horse
This pub certainly is now free of tie, and the benefit of this can be seen in the real ales available now. No McMullens in here, just Tring Fanny Ebbs; 3 Brewers IPA; Young's Bitter; Oakham OPA; Kent Brewery KGB; and Buntingford IPA. An excellent selection. They do food, but I didn't see a menu.
This is another lovely old pub in Hertford, and is Grade II Listed. It really does look the part of an historic pub. Comfortably furnished with just traditional furnishings. There's a very large garden at the back, which is unusually accessed up a flight of stairs from the main pub. A cracking pub well worth a visit.
On 16th September 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Black Horse
Small traditional pub away from the town centre & across the ring road.
Friendly, needs a little TLC, but nicely unspoilt, wood tables & some soft black chairs. Beer quality was exceptional and worth an extra mark.
On 2nd August 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Black Horse
This is an old Greene King house that I assume from the beer selection is now entirely free of tie. It is situated to the South West of the busy A414 dual carriageway down a very pleasant side street. Inside the bar faces you as you enter and there is a highly obtrusive TV screen on the left past which is a separate room with a dart board that was completely obstructed by tables and chairs.
The interior is clean, functional and unpretentious with a hard wearing carpet rather than trendy wooden floorboards.
On the bar were Buntingford Polar Star, Silent Night & Columbus, Tring Redshank & Kingbird and the less local Milk Street Funky Monkey. I went for the Polar Star (£3.60) which was a hoppy pale ale in excellent condition.
On the day this was the best of the four Hertford pubs visited even though I failed to find out about the 20P CAMRA discount in advance.
On 28th December 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Black Horse
Update: Was back in Hertford for the bank holiday weekend and paid another visit as I also had picked up on the fact that the Black horse is now under new ownership and turned into a Free House after being bought out from the GK tie.
Now a much better beer choice as described by Mr fastard and although GK IPA is still on due to continuing popularity the new owner explained that they have had about 80 guest ales during the first six months since September.
So very happy to report that The Black Horse is back to being worth circumnavigating the clumsy Hertford ring road for and to upgrade my review a notch.
May 2011: I used to frequent the Black Horse in my student days in the late 70’s when visiting the nearby Balls Park annex of what was then Hatfield Poly. In those days it was one of the few Hertford establishments serving real ale in what was otherwise a sea of Keg.
So when cycling past it yesterday I had to revisit for old times’ sake. It may no longer be the Real Ale beacon it once was as GK Ales are hardly the most inspiring, but I found it still to be a comfortable, if smallish multi room pub and my pint of IPA was perfectly fine.
As mentioned below it is handy for Hertford Football ground, but is also on the route of the Cole Green Way disused railway path from Ware to WGC. So if your cycling or walking this route you could do a lot worse than stopping for a quick one before you leave Hertford, especially in Summer when the secluded garden out the back is a great place for a quiet pint.
On 12th April 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2122 recommendations about 2001 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Black Horse
When I walked in here the governor was polishing the pumps on the bar and who I think is his wife made me feel very welcome even though I was the only person in the pub at 22:00. It is Greene King, but there was a guest and I don't really care as I was drinking Guinness and I was glad to find a pub in Hertford that didn't have the McMullen mark stamped on it.
I spotted a plasma screen that was off due to no worthwhile sport being shown on Sky and there is also a dartboard which I gleaned must be used regularly after spotting all of the events advertised on the A-board outside.
I think that the management of this pub are hospitable and are making an effort, so if the blinkered few out there that can't see past the Greene King badge were to open their eyes they may just enjoy this pub.
On 16th October 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5268 recommendations about 5236 pubs]
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Chris Ford left this review about Black Horse
Under the new management of Chris and Kim since July 2008 the pub is once again thriving. Following a complete redecoration and new carpets throughout, the introduction of an ever changing value for money menu, and the opportunity to dine "al fresco" in one of Hertfords largest and best kept pub gardens, this venue is going from strength to strength!
Full SKY and SETANTA sports now available, though not intrusive to normal pub life, and a high standard of well kept beers and lagers, with regular changes of GK seasonal and guest ales. A great little neighborhood pub for grown ups of all ages.
On 10th March 2009
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]