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Detail Pages
Fish & Eels, Dobbs Weir, Hoddesdon
Hoddesdon
EN11 0AY
Pub Type
Vintage Inns (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
N Smith left this review about Fish & Eels
A lovely, lovely pub by the river.
Very fond memories of my visit, certainly check out if you are in the area fishing. (Although I only managed to catch an old boot)
A lovely, clean, friendly pub :)
On 18th October 2016
- rating: 10
[User has posted 4 recommendations about 4 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Fish & Eels
ORIGINAL REVIEW Jan 2011
A very good and thorough review from Steve below ,so not a lot to add.The standard Vintage Inns formula is enhanced by the three real fires dotted about the interior ,and it is noticeable that locals do use the pub to drink in,normally gathering around the bar ,and by the large fireplace to the right of the front door.There are three handpumps ,on my trip one unused,a Bombardier clip reversed ,and an acceptable Bateman's XXB on the third.The central island bar extends around a lot of the interior,and there are many dining tables with lots of space outside on the riverside terrace when the weather is good.A standard pub food menu,and table service for the food by the willing waitresses helps smooth running at busy times.
A very pleasant view over Dobbs Weir,boats sometimes tie up outside to sample the wares within.In it's previous incarnation as a Benskin's local ,I once saw Gazza sink a few pints of lager in her while recovering from injury in his Spurs days.Both he and the pub have moved on.
UPDATE
There has been an internal refurb which has been well done and the exterior furniture is now of a more upmarket variety.Sadly the muzak is still being played at too great a volume.The one really positive development for drinkers is that there is now a better focus on real ale with Harviestoun Old Engine Oil (£3.45,in good nick),Inveralmond Ossian and Adnams Lighthouse on the three handpumps and you can now add your request for the two guest beers .Talking to the friendly manager ,he noted that there is much more real ale throughput and in recent weeks they have had eight different guest ales.The drinking area is immediately around the bar,but this is also by a large fireplace,so popping in for a beer is more than acceptable.The food is on a par for this chain.An upgrade from me.
On 10th March 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Fish & Eels
Looking at the large pub that today commands excellent views over Dobbs Weir its hard to believe that the first time I saw this pub at the tender age of 7, it was a very small two bar drinking house only accessible by a single track road that crossed the river. But that was back in the late 60’s in the days when you had to bring a machete to hack your way through the brambles to reach the waterside and no-one except the few locals and intrepid fisherman came to the pub.
Today Dobbs Weir is a key part of the Lee Valley Park and has been transformed in recent years to provide an assortment of outdoor recreational facilities. And along with it, the Fish and Eels has been extended and transformed also into a large pub providing refreshments to the visiting throngs.
Being a bit of a pub traditionalist I still have a twang of sadness that this couldn’t remain the quaint place of my childhood. But in fairness my experience is that the Fish and Eels is one of the better large, food orientated modern décor Inns and has proved to be more than fit for purpose on the many times I have visited. It is now part of the Vintage Inns group and although the beer choice is not extensive or adventurous (the standard London Pride and Adnams Bitter offerings if I remember correctly), they are usually well kept. The food menu is quite extensive and sits in that area between a Berni Inn and a Gastro pub, with the mains ranging from £8 for the Beer Battered Fish and Chips up to £16 for the Fillet steaks. And there are plenty of lighter meals, especially on the lunchtime menu.
Inside the pub is comfortable with as much of the original brick fireplaces retained as possible and mainly laid to tables for dining. But a big plus is the large outside benched seating area next to the river, which is a fantastic place for a pint and a snack on a good summers day.
Yes, it can get very busy on a sunny summers weekend and I’ve had the odd gripe about service during these times, but on the whole my experiences of the Fish and Eels have mainly been good and I tend to cycle past the other pubs dotted up and down the Lee to drink and eat in this one.
On 21st April 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
LAURA GREEN left this review about Fish & Eels
This pub is very pleasant and has been newly refurbished. The food is reasonable and quite cheap.In the summer enjoy a relaxing drink outside opposite the River and watch the sun set over hertfordshire. Well worth a visit, parking available both sides of the river.
On 7th November 2006
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6 recommendations about 6 pubs]