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The Star (JD Wetherspoon), Hoddesdon
Hoddesdon
EN11 8TN
Pub Type
J D WetherspoonReviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Star (JD Wetherspoon)
Very attractive Wetherspoons, housed in a fine old building (dating from 1448) at the front and a substantial rear extension further back. Although slightly opened-out, the old part retains various small seating / dining areas, and it's not immediately obvious where the bar now is. Once found, you then also see the rear patio garden area. A duplicated selection of Ruddles, Doom Bar and Abbot plus Pigswill from Stonehenge (£2.10) and Titanic Plum Porter as guests from the two banks of five handpumps.
On 27th July 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Star
This 'spoons conversion of an old pub has meant the name reverting back to the original The Star,and the first impression when walking in is "where is the bar ?".However the oldest part of the pub is at the front with lots of exposed beams ,a low ceiling and a real fireplace and the refurb team have correctly focussed on retaining as much of the original features as possible,including a most interesting original plaster decoration to the right side,protected by a glass screen.There are nooks and crannies around this front area and lots of local history including photos of Hoddesdon Town FC,the first winners of the FA Vase ,together with references to the New River.Only the corporate carpet and numbered low tables remind you of a chain pub.
Up a step is a mid section mainly with high tables and chairs with a high bench seat running along one wall and an array of fruit machines,while the rear section up another step is a barn style extension with the bar along one wall and an open kitchen at the rear.More high tables here,with foldback french windows opening onto a spacious paved beer garden.I would recommend a trip to the first floor gents,well fitted out and with exposed wattle and daub in the roof space above the facilities.
Hoddesdon has always been a town where most of the pubs are boozers with a generally mundane choice of real ale,so the novelty of somewhere you can bring your family to eat,while supping a decent pint has brought the crowds in ,even at lunchtime,so free tables will be at a premium.
There are 12 handpumps across two ranks,with GK Abbott and Ruddles Best doubled up.Other regulars Adnams Broadside and Doom Bar were supplemented by guests in the shape of Butcombe Christmas Steps,Abbott Reserve,Nethergate Stour Valley Gold and Lymestone Pudding Stone which proved an excellent brew in excellent condition.The two other pumps had brews available soon,one from B&T.
The pub has only just opened and no doubt a special team are trying very hard to give the right first impression;it will be interesting to see if standards are maintained as the novelty wears off.Judging by my visit,this is by far the best option in town for real ale,and well done to 'spoons for a sympathetic refurb.If ale quality can be maintained ,this will be a shoe-in for the 2016 GBG.
On 29th December 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Star
Wetherspoons latest offering just outside Greater London is a conversion of an old Ind Coope pub called the Salisbury Arms.
As you enter the main door there are further doors to the left and right into what looks more like an Indian Restaurant than a pub with no sign of a bar and just low tables and chairs for eating.
Going forward through another area with similar furnishing the bar finally appeared at the very end of the pub with a patio on the right. The bar area had a wooden or laminate floor with tall tables and chairs. It had been open for less than two weeks so on my late Saturday afternoon visit it was pretty well rammed.
There were plenty of staff behind the bar but they seemed to be overwhelmed due to inadequate training.
The bar had two banks of six pumps with two unused, the two usual GK Ruddles and Abbot, Adnam's Broadside, Greene King Abbot Reserve, four Xmas beers and Nethergate Stour Valley Gold. The Abbot was doubled up. I went for the Abbot Reserve (£2.69) which was in good nick. It's hard to know what to make of this pub as it was so busy. I certainly didn't get to see the restored paintings that were referred to in the Spoons magazine. I'll be generous in the hope that on a return visit it wouldn't be so busy.
On 28th December 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]