John Bunyan, St. Albans

Blue Scrumpy left this review about John Bunyan

This pub feels like quite a remote country pub. It has lunchtime and evening sessions, reflecting a focus on food. I arrived just after 2pm with most of the diners heading home. There were just a couple of drinkers left at the bar.

The pub has a couple of rooms - a main room with the bar to the right and a smaller room to the left. It is all carpeted. Beams are awash with porcelain jugs and there are plates on the walls. There is a grandfather clock in one corner of the bar. Dogs are allowed in. Local honey and eggs are for sale.

There are 4 handpulls on the bar. The house beer is Theakston's Bunyan's Brew, which looked like a rebadged Theakston Best. Another regular cask ale is 3 Brewers Classic English Ale. The solitary guest beer was Adnams Ghost Ship, leaving the fourth handpull unclipped. Keg beers included Camden Eazy & Stout & 3 Brewer's IPA. The cider was Cornish Orchards Golden.

The 3 Brewers brewery is located nearby. I believe this is the nearest pub to the brewery. I ordered their Classic English Ale and found it in pretty poor condition. It did not seem like it had been pulled through. For a beer brewed so near to the pub and for a Good Beer Guide 2026 pub, the beer was terrible. I would have probably returned it, had it not been so late in the session and had there been an alternative I fancied.

In fairness, the landlord seemed a friendly and engaging character. He would probably have replaced it without question. The pub hosts a few biker events. I'd imagine the 20 or so picnic tables to the front of the pub and the large car park get packed at those times. Other nights scheduled were a pie and mash night and a cigar night. Hopefully the smokers are also outside!

I liked this pub. It has a fair amount of character. It was a shame the beer quality let it down badly.

On 3^rd September 2026 - rating: 6
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