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Disappointment of the week with Bucking Fastard
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by john mcgraw
Submitted on Saturday, 4th February 2017
With picture contributions to 21062 other pubs
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Detail Pages
Horse & Groom, Hatfield
Hatfield
AL9 5AT
Served areas
Reviews of Horse & Groom (Average Rating: 8 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 Horse & Groom
Decent old inn, with quite a plain white-washed terraced façade but a pleasantly traditional - albeit opened-out - interior with several seating areas and the compact bar counter. Plenty of interesting black & white photographs on the walls. Basic patio beer garden to the rear. Good choice of real ales from the six handpumps, including Haresfoot All-rounder (£3.20) and offerings from the likes of Tring. Well worth seeking out.
On 27th July 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Horse & Groom
Hatfield congures up images of a faceless new town ,the Galleria shopping centre and the A1M route to the North,but the Old Town is an enclave with many interesting buildings gathered to one side of the stately home estate including two attractive looking pubs.The Horse and Groom is charming,with a low ceiling,some exposed beams and a real pub atmosphere.To the right of the low entrance door is a flagstoned area with an old curved wooden settle and an inglenook full of brass artifacts.Such a shame that the wood burner was just an imitation fuelled by gas which didn't warm the interior to any extent on a chilly morning visit.The left handside has more room and traditional furniture,while the U shaped bar has a fine copper top.A small flatscreen was showing the Winter Olympics on mute,while the muzak was inoffensive and quickly drowned out by chatter from the steadily growing number of customers.
Outside the Courage Cockerel sign stands proud,while the selection of real ales from the five handpumps on my trip were GK Abbott and Black Sheep Bitter as regulars with rotating guests GK Double Hop Monster,Brains White Out and a decent Nethergate Pub Boar (£3.10) .Higher marks would have been awarded if a more adventurous ale line up was on offer from better regarded brewers.The chalk board above the bar showed that brews from Tring and Buntingford had just run out,so you may be luckier than I was.
Food is served 12-2 Mon-Sat with pub staples at very reasonable prices,with lots of sandwiches and snack options.Tuesday evening in Bangers and Mash night while Saturday is Chilli evening,both free if you buy a pint and an incredibly generous deal.Hats off to the charming female crew who staff the pub.
The GBG listing is full justified,the pub could be a total classic if the wood burner was real and the ale line up featured some leading brewers. Even as it is,the H&G stands out as the best pub in the area,well worth a visit.
On 14th February 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Horse & Groom
This is a good little local's boozer with a very nice barmaid who was serving up a standard draught selection along with Abbot, Directors, Greene King IPA and Ruddles.
This is an old pub with a certain charm without being over the top and I loved the inglenook set up to the right of the bar.
I walked in during the break of a dart league match so the fried food and sandwiches were being devoured in the opposite corner to me and the memories of my darting days came flooding back. I was awoken from my reminisce by a couple of old boys shuffling their dominos so a decided to pop into the back garden for a cigarette.
From what I have seen of the Hatfield pubs this place would be my local if I lived in the area.
On 11th September 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5229 recommendations about 5197 pubs]
No known official website for this pub.
- Facebook - Horse and Groom
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Horse & Groom - whatpub.com
- Historic Pub Interiors - pubheritage.camra.org.uk
Welham Green, 2.24 miles, 43 min walk (show)
Welwyn Garden City, 3.1 miles, 59 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Car Park : No last updated 14 February 2014 by Bucking Fastard
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 14 February 2014 by Bucking Fastard
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 14 February 2014 by Bucking Fastard
- Hot Food : Yes - 12 -2 M-Sat only - last updated 14 February 2014 by Bucking Fastard
- Micropub : No last updated 08 February 2021 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 11 September 2009 by David McNally
