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Chat about:
Disappointment of the week with trainman
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Graham Coombs
Submitted on Thursday, 21st October 2021
With picture contributions to 5136 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (19 more images)
Detail Pages
Black Horse, Hertford
Hertford
SG13 8EZ
Served areas
Reviews of Black Horse (Average Rating: 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 2110 recommendations about 1992 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 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
View more reviews of Black Horse (11)
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- Official site of Black Horse - www.theblackhorse.biz
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Black Horse - whatpub.com
Hertford North, 0.69 miles, 13 min walk (show)
Ware, 2.81 miles, 54 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 08 May 2017 by ROB Camra
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 24 January 2019 by Komakino .
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 08 May 2017 by ROB Camra
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 08 May 2017 by ROB Camra
- CAMRA Discount : Yes - 30p per pint, 15p per half - last updated 08 May 2017 by ROB Camra
- Car Park : No last updated 08 May 2017 by ROB Camra
- Child Friendly : Yes - Until 8 p.m. - last updated 08 May 2017 by ROB Camra
- Darts : Yes last updated 08 May 2017 by ROB Camra
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 08 May 2017 by ROB Camra
- Function Room : No last updated 24 January 2019 by Komakino .
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 08 May 2017 by ROB Camra
- Jukebox : Yes last updated 28 December 2014 by Aqualung .
- Karaoke : No last updated 24 January 2019 by Komakino .
- Live Music : No last updated 08 May 2017 by ROB Camra
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 08 May 2017 by ROB Camra
- Micropub : No last updated 08 May 2017 by ROB Camra
- Pinball : No last updated 28 December 2014 by Aqualung .
- Pool Table : No last updated 28 December 2014 by Aqualung .
- Quiz Night : No last updated 24 January 2019 by Komakino .
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 08 May 2017 by ROB Camra
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 08 May 2017 by ROB Camra
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 24 January 2019 by Komakino .
- WiFi : Yes last updated 08 May 2017 by ROB Camra
