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Disappointment of the week with Gann
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Detail Pages
The Goat, St. Albans
St. Albans
AL1 1RN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Goat
St Albans has no shortage of pubs hidden away in its back streets and the Goat is another such example, perhaps a little larger than most thanks to its comfy front lounge and bar areas and sizable rear dining space. There are two front rooms either side of the entrance, but things have been opened out sufficiently that the distinction between each is fairly notional. Some sofas can be found to the right, arranged around a very pleasant looking fireplace, whilst the left side is carpeted and has long, comfy looking banquettes around the wall in what might be the best place for drinkers to try and find a seat. The opening up of the pub has resulted in the servery now effectively becoming an island, with access from all sides. The bar counter retains some nice old wood panelling on its frontage, with a gantry above designed to match it, but much of the bar back appears to have been remodelled in a more modern style. Moving into the rear part of the room, you find yourself in a darker, split-level space that has been filled with tables and chairs plus the occasional pew, giving it a more formal feel than that of the relaxed front rooms. The walls are either wood panelled, or else painted in dark shades, which, when combined with the lack of natural light back here, makes for a bit of a gloomy space. The lower, front part of the room is pretty sparsely furnished and broken up by some crumbling brick pillars, with plenty of standing room closer to the bar area. The rear section has nice flooring and some dark wood beams running across the ceiling, whilst the walls have been decorated with a mix of old paintings, local photographs and some items of sports memorabilia, such as a framed Paulo Di Canio shirt, tucked away in one corner apropos of nothing. A door to the rear right leads out to a beer garden with picnic benches, jumbrellas and a few decent sheltered areas – it seems there were once stables out here and the old archway leading to the rear can still be seen to the right of the pub.
I was a little surprised to find they had more ales than customers on my midweek evening visit, with Wells DNA and Origin, St Austell Tribute and Adnams Ghost Ship occupying the hand pumps. An engaging barman took my order as I entered and brought over a pint of the Ghost Ship (£4.70), which was in decent enough shape.
This is quite an interesting building that I enjoyed having a bit of a snoop around thanks to the lack of other customers, but it was the missing punters that also showed up some of the pub’s flaws, with perhaps too big an interior to generate a proper pub atmosphere and a fairly uninspiring ale selection likely to lose condition without sufficient demand. I was happy enough in here for a quick pint but this didn’t have enough about it to put it into the ‘must revisit’ category.
On 18th August 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Goat
The Goat Inn as it is called is situated a short walk from the middle of St Albans.
Once inside the bar faces in an oblong shaped room to the front,which is split into two areas by a wall,the room is carpeted and the seating is normal tables and chairs plus two settees,there is a bar billiard table to the front and lots of board games on a shelf.
The room to the rear is oblong shaped and carpeted,the rear area of this room is up two steps.
There were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Wells Eagle IPA,which went down very well,the other real ales were Youngs Special,Redemption Big Chief and St Austell Tribute.
Decent background music was playing.
The pub was almost empty on my mid Saturday afternoon visit,which was a shame.
This is a pub i could settle in for a session.
Pub visited 24/6/2017
On 10th September 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Goat
As previously mentioned this pub tucked away on Sopwell Lane has a bit of the ‘tardis’ effect going on and is significantly bigger inside than it looks from the terraced frontage. It is two main bar areas either side of a large square serving area, and as both front and back sections have sets of handpumps on all full circuit has to be done to see what’s on.
The back section stretches back a fair way and has several distinct seating areas before leading out to the spacious enclosed garden. In fact it stretches so far back that you can enter the pub via a back alley way from the parallel Albert Street. But the front bar section is the most characterful with its bar billiard table and large collection of assorted board games.
Like the others had to go for the Redemption Big Chief and it was in fine form
On 23rd August 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Goat
Little change here in the intervening years. To add to the original review, there’s a dart board, Sunday quiz night and live music evenings. The bar billiards table is still in situ (but needs re-felting) and the huge selection of board games persist. Interior getting pretty scruffy (as opposed to ‘lived-in’). Interesting fact is that the pub was a brothel, many years ago. Four ales on from the Youngs list; St Austell Tribute, Youngs Bitter, Wells Bombardier and Redemption Big Chief (in good shape). Surly barmaid and no other customers. Desperately needs some oomph injecting - could be one of the best in SA but seems content to coast in the ‘worth going to on a crawl’ list, somewhat.
July 2009
Traditional multi-roomed island bar pub which had four ales on (St Austell Tribute, Crouch Vale, Deuchars and Pedigree) plus a cider (Westons). My Crouch Vale was good and I enjoyed a game of bar billiards in a genteel atmosphere - genteel because it was very quiet indeed. Odd, given the White Lion a few yards up the street was pretty busy and it was high afternoon on sunny Sunday. Also spotted a large selection of board games to choose from, some books and a TV (switched off). Small side patio. The Temperance Ladies in the Gents made me smile. I rather liked it here and will make a beeline for it next time I'm the town - and would hope to see some more customers! Rated 7
On 1st August 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Goat
I quite liked this one, it has a good community feel about the place,a two bar pub which boasts a Bar Billiards table, always good to see. The Redemption Big Chief was the pick of the beers and was very good,the other beers were toward the ordinary end of the spectrum , Youngs Bitter, Tribute and Bombadier.
Its a pub I would happily call into again.
On 28th July 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Goat
Decent old side-street pub, with a relatively plain façade but plenty of character within the various rooms of differing sizes arranged around the central bar area. Traditional furniture and decor throughout, and bar billiards table and a dartboard also noted. Four reals on handpump when we visited: Youngs Ordinary, Tribute, Bombardier (£1.90, half) and Redemption Big Chief. Only had time for the briefest of stops on this occasion, but would certainly go back again when I have more time available.
On 27th July 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8092 recommendations about 8092 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Goat
I liked this pub, the two young barmaids, were very welcoming and friendly and my Redemption Big Chief was in great shape. The large rear lounge, was comfortable looking and mainly set out for dining. A pub worth seeking out, especially if they serve up a decent Thai meal.
On 26th July 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Goat
A good sized, traditional pub just off the High Street, it no doubt misses out much in the way of passing trade and casual visitors, and was in fact almost deserted apart from our group on a recent Friday afternoon visit.
It consists of a couple of bars along the front of the pub, the left hand one being more of a public bar with bar billiards and a darts board. There was also a large plasma screen on the wall, although fortunately this was not in use on our visit. An extensive selection of board games were piled up near the bar and there was also a small shelf of books. Décor wise it’s quite traditional with a few tiles on the floor around the bar, and red patterned carpet elsewhere. There was also some wood panelling on the walls.
To the right was a smaller bar that felt much cosier, with thick beams on the ceiling including a few strings of fairly lights, and a large brick fire-place. A small TV was mounted on the wall above this which looked slightly out of place perhaps, but this too was turned off. A further bar was at the rear, although I did not investigate this other than checking that the beer selection was the same as on the front bar. Food is apparently offered, and although I did not see a menu I did notice a board advertising some Thai options.
Beers on tap were Tribute, Bombardier, Youngs Bitter and Redemption Big Chief. Ciders meanwhile were Old Rosie and Stowford Press.
On 20th July 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1947 recommendations about 1860 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Goat
A tardis pub with a much larger section behind the island bar,handpumps on both sides but do walk around before choosing to see the full range.On my trip that meant a real cider,St Austell Tribute,CW Bombardier & Youngs Bitter and the excellent Redemption Big Chief which seems to be a regular and sufficient for me to always call in !
The decor is worn but welcoming with lots of wood panelling and traditional furniture.Sunday carvery and evening Thai meals are available and there are some benches in a rear courtyard for good weather.One of several small terraced pubs in this part of the city,worth visiting on any crawl.
On 5th June 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
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john gray left this review about The Goat
Another low beamed traditional back street pub with an older clientele. Tribute, Bombardier.Eagle bitter and Big Chief which was good.Dull and quiet.
On 28th February 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]