ReviewThe Albion was apparently one of the less desirable pubs in Ampthill. That was until the pub on Dunstable Street closed in October 2009 and underwent a major refurbishment overseen by new owner Everards and, Bedfordshire’s Banks and Taylor brewery. Everards own the pub, but lease it back to the B&T Brewery based in Shefford, as part of Everards Project William scheme, where they turn struggling or closed businesses into thriving ale houses.
Now open again for business, the Albion has been turned into a top real ale pub with no less than 12 handpulls serving a selection of B&T’s own brews, Everards’ Tiger Best Bitter and a range of guest ales on regular rotation. There are also usually three cask conditioned ciders and imported draught lagers from Holland, Germany and the Czech Republic.
According to the B&T Brewery web site blurb, they have tried to capture the atmosphere of a traditional Victorian ale house that befits the pub’s age, and in my opinion, they have done a pretty good job.
It’s a fairly unimposing pub from the outside but once inside it’s hard to believe that the traditional Victorian drinking house décor is just over a year old. The main section of the pub is divided in three sections. Of these the front and middle sections are plain wood floored and the back section is carpeted. All three sections are decorated with pub mirrors ( an impressive Trumans one in the back bar) and collections of pub memorabilia. This includes a fairly impressive beer bottle collection on shelves near the ceiling in all sections.
Then there is a small separate room beyond these sections, which is known as the sports room due to the multiple sports team pictures which adorn the walls. And then finally, an outside courtyard area underneath a large Jumbrella where the walls are decorated with old pub signs mainly Banks, GK and Charles Wells houses.
The square bar has sides on the front , middle and back bar sections , but it is still impressive that they can squeeze in 12 hand pumps on these three sections including the three Cider polypins, as well as some standard Guinness and Lager pumps.
On my inaugural visit this week , three B&T beers and two Everard Ales were complemented by seven ales from other regional and micro breweries, including a pale ale, a strong mild and a couple of summer ales, providing a balanced choice and the couple I tried were well kept. Good service from behind the bar and a knowledgeable landlord who is keen on helping with the choice.
Was certainly worth taking the detour from the M1 to visit this one after seeing it advertised in the local CAMRA newsletter and for sure I will be back.
For the ale aficionado this appears to be heading towards being the perfect pub, and hopefully after a few more visits, I’ll be able to rate it as such.
