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The Carpenters Arms, Harpenden
Harpenden
AL5 1BD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Carpenters Arms
Probably one of Harpenden's better pubs, but that isn't saying much. The Carpenters Arms has a very small single-bar interior, where all tables were taken early on a Thursday evening. It was just about warm enough to sit outside. So quite a few locals and their dogs had spilled out onto the outdoor patio areas to the front and side of the pub, which are partly covered.
Courage Best is a regular beer here and so is Adnams Southwold Bitter. Adnams Broadside & Ghost Ship were also on, with Marston's Pedigree completing a fairly mundane real ale selection for a Good Beer Guide pub.
On 25th April 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Carpenters Arms
The interior of this pub certainly is small,the front door opens into a lounge split into two haves.On the right is a wooden table in the bay window,a coal affect gas fire,a display cabinet with die cast model cars ,a circular high table and a modest bar with four handpumps.The bar is surrounded with bar stools.To the left,at lunchtime, is a dining area with room for five dining tables,many reserved signs in use, with some beams dividing the two areas.
Most people come here to dine from a reasonably priced menu of home cooked fare.Mains were between £7 -£9 and cheaper light bite options are catered for.There are occasional evening meals,contact pub for details.
I thought the real ale selections was unadventurous for a GBG listed establishment with GK IPA,Courage Best,Banks's Mild and Adnams Southwold Bitter on my trip.However ale quality was top drawer which may explain it's favour with CAMRA.
There is an attractive front garden with benches around the entrance,and more extensive seating (some undercover) to the side of the building.
The small,carpeted cottage interior felt twee,and with very limited (lunchtime) seating for drinkers it didn't appeal as a place for a session.Possibly in good weather the outside drinking areas come into their own.
On 11th April 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about The Carpenters Arms
Quite an attractive pub with a small gated beer garden out front. Friendly staff and customers, willing to have a chat. Four pumps with some changing guests if the clips behind the bar are anything to go by. Probably wouldn't make a special journey but I suspect it's one of the better pubs in the locality and it was a good place for a beer after missing my bus.
On 4th October 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Castro-Garcia left this review about The Carpenters Arms
Great pub! 2nd only to the Globe in Dunstable...similar atmosphere, about half the amount of ales on tap (5), but the added bonus of the fact that they serve food here
CAMRA South Herts Pub of the Year 2001 and 2004
On 13th June 2009
- rating: 10
[User has posted 22 recommendations about 22 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about The Carpenters Arms
Abbot, Youngs Special, courage, Adnams Bitter, oh dear, but thankfully also Harveys Best. Looks very inviting from the outside as you approach and, indeed, enter to a convivial local conversational humm, but WHAT a bad layout! Just 8 people between the door and the bar made it impossible to get near to even view the pumpclips, necessitating a circular approach around a pillar and between seated customers to the left. Admittedly, having finally ordered we did get a table & even upgraded to the larger table in the bay window when it became free (sorry locals, you've gotta be quicker than that!). Probably a nice pub when very quiet but, otherwise, rather cramped, and they need to wake up that beer selection. The suggested taxi service was very prompt (early), £4 back to stn.
On 22nd March 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]