Black Horse, Hertford

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.

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.

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.

Official site of Black Horse - www.theblackhorse.biz

Official site of Black Horse - www.theblackhorse.biz