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Image posted by Quinno _
Submitted on Sunday, 23rd August 2015
With picture contributions to 5000 other pubs
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Detail Pages
Farriers Arms, St Albans Central, St. Albans
St. Albans
AL3 4PT
Served areas
Reviews of Farriers Arms (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about Farriers Arms
I heard that this 'birthplace of CAMRA' pub was under threat of closure so thought I'd pay a visit. Still operating strongly with four handpumps and a good selection of beers, if a bit pricey at £4.60.
It was tied to McMullans until 2013 when they sold it to the sitting tenants. They are now looking to retire and the place is on the market. One would hope that this historic pub in an historic town will remain as a pub.
On 9th January 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Farriers Arms
I got a warm welcome upon arriving at this classic back street local’s boozer, with the crowd of blokes at the bar quickly dragging me into their conversation about the cricket, which they were avidly watching on a screen at the end of the room. I suppose in a way, it’s tricky not to get wrapped up in conversation here, as the front bar is very compact, with limited bench seating around the perimeter and most customers stood or perched on a stool at the bar. The room is bare boarded and has the servery running pretty much the full length of the back wall, with half-frosted sash windows allowing a decent amount of light in. A McMullen’s Brewery sign on one wall introduces the licensees, which struck me as a little unusual, and I also spotted a nice little burner in a fireplace to the right, a dartboard in one corner and a large plain mirror above the fire. The bar has a tongue and groove counter front and a smart, traditional bar back lined with various bank notes, pint pots and pump clips, with a few enamel drink advertisements around the door to the left. This leads through to a larger rear lounge, accessed via a notably high single step. This room has half panelled walls, exposed floorboards and a few tatty old rugs plus a selection of bench and chair seating options. Old photographs, drawings and brewery mirrors compete for attention on the walls and the room has its own, very small, bar counter in the front corner. From here you can head out to a small, colourful beer garden with just one table and a rather ‘earthy’ outdoor toilet block.
I would never have guessed this pub was in anyway affiliated with McMullen’s from the ale range, which comprised McMullen’s Country, Skinners Betty Stogs, St Austell Tribute and Oakham Citra. The latter was competitively priced compared to other pubs I’d visited that day, with a pint coming in at £3.80 and in excellent shape to boot.
This was the pick of the seven pubs I visited in St Albans on my most recent crawl and I would rank it up there as one of the best in the entire city. I found the classic local’s boozer vibe right up my street and felt very comfortable settling down in the front bar between all the locals whilst enjoying a great pint. It is perhaps a little too ‘blokey’ to appeal to everyone, but I really enjoyed the place and look forward to a return visit.
On 14th November 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Farriers Arms
Small, locals, back street bar.
Good choice of ales.... rarely seen Betty Stogs in great condition.
Found the staff very pleasant!
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2tMDBNJ
On 6th July 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]
View more reviews of Farriers Arms (14)
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Farriers Arms pages at the McMullens site - www.mcmullens.co.uk
- Facebook - Farriers Arms
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Farriers Arms - whatpub.com
- Historic Pub Interiors - pubheritage.camra.org.uk
St Albans City, 0.77 miles, 14 min walk (show)
Park Street, 2.15 miles, 41 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.
- Accommodation : No last updated 08 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 08 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 08 September 2015 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 08 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 08 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 08 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Darts : Yes last updated 08 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 08 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Function Room : No last updated 08 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 21 July 2015 by Blackthorn _
- Karaoke : No last updated 08 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 21 July 2015 by Blackthorn _
- Micropub : No last updated 21 July 2015 by Blackthorn _
- Pinball : No last updated 08 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 08 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 08 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 08 September 2015 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 14 November 2017 by Pub SignMan
- WiFi : Yes last updated 08 September 2015 by Quinno _
