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Picture of The Rats Castle
Image posted by Clive Thompson
Submitted on Sunday, 19th May 2013
With picture contributions to 266 other pubs
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The Rats Castle, Fleetville, St. Albans

246 Hatfield Road
St. Albans
AL1 4UN
Correct details

Served areas

Reviews of The Rats Castle (Average Rating: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Steve of N21 left this review about The Rats Castle

Whilst walking the Alban way from Hatfield I emerged from the path onto Sutton Road in an area of St Albans called Fleetville, and the little grey cells stated twitching in recognition of that name. Then a glance up the road to the large red brick pub building on the corner of the Hatfield Road had them go positively into overdrive. And then when I got close enough to read the distinctive pub name, the penny dropped.
During the spring and summer of 1978 I spent a very enjoyable eight months in the GEC Marconi Fleetville training centre, which was located across the road from the pub on the site now occupied by the large Morrisons supermarket. During that period myself and the other students largely used the pub as our lunchtime canteen.
The then industrial area of Fleetville is unrecognisable from my experiences of that time and the fact that a former Engineering Centre, dedicated to churning out qualified electrical and mechanical engineers, is now a large supermarket has to be a metaphor, if ever there was one, for the decline of the British manufacturing industry.
In an area completely changed over the last 45 years It was fantastic to find “The Rats” still here and still functioning. Back then it was a three roomed pub with the smaller plain dark wood public bar accessed by the door on Hatfield Road and the larger, smarter saloon bar and a small central snug bar from the door on Sutton Road. It was an Ind Coope pub during that wonderful summer and Benskins Bitter was the house beer and we consumed copious amounts in the front public bar ( as the ‘Guvnor of the time did not want rowdy students disturbing his regulars in the saloon over a lunchtime). Yes it did have a reputation as a bit of a rough house, especially at the weekend when the local lads were in, but then we are talking about the period at the height of football hooliganism, race riots and your friendly local SPG.
Now it is just one large room that wraps around the central serving bar, but you can still make out from the beam supports in the ceiling where the original room partitioning was. It is unchanged from BF’s review from 2012 so cannot say when it was knocked through, but today the front section is more lounge like with the more comfortable seating and the back is more public in feel, with its pool tables and darts board. Large screens throughout however does make it difficult to sit anywhere without being in view of one.
There are three hand pumps on the bar but only one was in operation for my Sunday lunchtime with Tring Ridgeway. A reversed Marston’s Pedigree clip was on another and the third was unbadged. I found the Tring Ridgeway to be a very average brown bitter, but as I had to wait for the barman to change the barrel, I took this to be the fault of the beer, not the pub. The clientele were very much of the mature male variety, of which I obviously fitted in nicely, and were friendly and happy to engage in conversation. As no one else bothered the ale pump whilst I was in I’m assuming one ale on the go is probably about right for the regular clientele.
It seems like it is still operating as a good community pub and although it may not be the smartest of boozers, it never was. Hopefully the next generation of PuG reviewers can visit in another 45 years when I am long gone, and still find “The Rats” here.
As for the history and it’s name, the pub has been here since 1929 when Benskins acquired what was then known as Primrose Cottage in 1927 and turned it into a pub, opening two years later. The unusual name comes from a field opposite that housed a Toll house in the late 19th century. When the Toll House was closed and became derelict it was infected by rats and became known locally as The Rats Castle and the field as Rats Castle field.

On 25th October 2023 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Clive Thompson left this review about The Rats Castle

Despite its unappealing name and a bit of a rough reputation in the past this is quite a nice pub. Community orientated and it's clientele seemed to be mainly from the older local population. The area at the back has tables that looked to be set for food but I didn't see any being served on Saturday afternoon. Pool table, dartboard and Sky TV, other TV's showing horse racing were also evident. Three handpumps, two from caledonian and Youngs Gold. PS. I wish they would put an apostrophe in Rat's Castle.

On 19th May 2013 - rating: 6
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about The Rats Castle

I popped in here early doors after work,and there was a reasonable crowd gathered within.Either side of the front door there are two large banquettes,with a raised section to the left under a screen showing horse racing with an attentive audience.The bar itself runs halfway down the left hand wall,while the pub opened out towards the rear with two pool tables,one in a window alcove,and a darts board.The section at the rear had a long bench seat ,tables and chairs and was generally a quieter area,although there was a Sky Sports screen here on mute.There is a small outside area for smoking but with an awning with a table football machine.
Besides the usual keg suspects ,there were two handpumps dispensing Caledonian 80 shillings and a well kept Raspberry Fool at £3.10 on my trip.Happy hour discounts are advertised. When operational the juke box plays at quite a volume,while on certain days there is live music.
A lively place but clean and tidy with carpeting throughout.A pub reflects the community in which it is located but I wouldn't go as far as saying that the pub name is a reliable description of the customer base.

On 2nd May 2012 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]

External web links for The Rats Castle

No known official website for this pub.

Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Bucking Fastard
St Albans City, 0.94 miles, 18 min walk (show)
St Albans Abbey, 1.98 miles, 38 min walk (show)
Park Street, 3.14 miles, 1 hr 0 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The Rats Castle, St. Albans
25th Oct 2023, 10:24
Review submitted by Steve of N21 amended by Steve of N21
 
25th Oct 2023, 10:21
Review submitted by Steve of N21

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.

  • Darts : Yes last updated 02 May 2012 by hondo .
  • Jukebox : Yes last updated 02 May 2012 by hondo .
  • Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 02 May 2012 by hondo .
  • Pool Table : Yes last updated 02 May 2012 by hondo .
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 02 May 2012 by hondo .
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