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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Detail Pages
Farriers Arms, St Albans Central, St. Albans
St. Albans
AL3 4PT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Farriers Arms
Much vaunted as the birthplace of CAMRA, this is a pleasing backstreet local with a red carpeted floor, stained wainscoting and a white painted planked ceiling. Various framed cartoons, old advertisements and maps decorate the place, the bar is central with the room winding around from front to rear. Benches and blue upholstered chars at rustic tables, venetian blinds and a nice big wall clock. There was a vase of roses on the corner of the bar.
Three on, McMullen's Country Bitter, Skinner's Betty Stogs and Tribute. Food served and good value too.
A nice place, the landlord was a bit miserable however and seemed to have a slight issue with me taking photos however it's his house so I suppose he can say what he likes. Another good pub in this town full of them.
On 18th July 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about Farriers Arms
Found this to be a nice cosy pub.Nice pale wood and sun coming through a pub window is always a plus.Not sure if its still Mcmullens as they had Tribute,Betty Stoggs,Salopian -oracle (nice) and only County bitter from Mc mullens.Very nice pub
On 12th May 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Farriers Arms
Famed for being the host to CAMRA’s first ever meeting in 1972 (commemorated by a blue plaque on wall outside), the Farriers is a cosy little McMullens pub situated a short stroll from the City centre.
The L shaped interior is divided into front and rear sections, both quite small and homely in an old fashioned way with a light airy feel enhanced by the white tongue and groove ceiling. There is a TV in one corner used aminly for sport and a noticeboard cluttered with events and messages next to an old cigarette machine. It is the sort of place for traditional pub games and the trophy laden shelf is presumably a sign that they have a decent darts team.
Ironically, given the pub’s place in CAMRA’s history, the beers are limited to the 3 McMullens ales – Cask ale, AK and Country Best on my recent visit although there were a few pump clips on the wall behind the bar but I didn’t really examine them to see if there was anything that looked like any guest beers. Quality has never been an issue on my visits.
I didn’t notice any food on offer on my recent visit but they have in the past had some good value simple snacks.
Slightly on the downside although nothing too drastic, I have sometimes found the place a bit unwelcoming and cliquey, especially when it is busy although certainly nothing too offputting. It is certainly worth an initial visit but probably wouldn’t be a place that you will keep returning to given the number of good pubs in the vicinity.
On 7th April 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Farriers Arms
Visited in May 2010
Small traditional side street McMullens pub close to the city centre.
There's a small bar area at the front of the pub, which extends back into a separate room on the left, giving an overall L shaped drinking area. Through this separate room, a door leads to the rather basic outside toilets.
The pub is traditionally furnished in a lightish, airy and unremarkable. It's music free and unspoilt, although a relatively unobtrusive TV high up in one corner of the bar was showing the Blackpool v Notts Forest play off game.
The walls are decorated with some McMullens memorabilia. There's also a CAMRA mirror and some CAMRA award certificates. Famed for being the birthplace of CAMRA, a plaque outside reminds us that Herts CAMRA branch first met here.
Beers on were the standard Mac's range - Country, AK and Cask. The Country - £ 3.00p - was in good form. The pub is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular.
This is a good honest unpretentious community local and, despite a distinctly underwhelming welcome, I'd probably do this one again.
On 21st October 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Farriers Arms
The birth place of CAMRA. Very pleasant old fashioned corner pub with a front bar and seperate drinking/bar area at the back. Very comfortable. McMullens beers on tap.
On 14th March 2007
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]