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Beer of the Week (w/e 7th March 2021) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Clive Thompson
Submitted on Sunday, 20th March 2011
With picture contributions to 261 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (1 more image)
Detail Pages
Villiers Arms, Watford
Watford
WD19 4AJ
Served areas
Reviews of Villiers Arms (Average Rating: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Villiers Arms
Tucked away down a relatively quiet side street, the Villiers Arms is a pleasant traditional pub just a short walk from Bushey train station. You enter into the bare boarded bar area with a lovely curved servery immediately in front of you, with a simple bar back which incorporates a mirror bearing the pub's name. The canopy is lined with pump clips and has a mix of objects including barrels, kettles and lamps hanging from above, but the centrepiece here is what appears to be an original Victorian gas lamp, brought indoors and lit with a presumably artificial flame - either way, it looks great. The bar area has limited seating options and has been decorated with tobacco tins, ancient looking records, huge bottles, black and white photos and a tankard and beer bottle collection. To the right of the entrance there is a small carpeted space with a nice fireplace, whiskey adverts and mirrors and a TV screen showing muted Final Score. Moving round to the left, the room opens out into a large carpeted lounge with a mix of standard chairs and comfier sofas. More old pictures line the walls as well as cigarette cards, magazine clippings and bits of breweriana. A second TV could be found in this area, this time turned off, and I also noticed a nice fireplace, some unusual light fittings and an extensive plate collection. Outside you'll find a decent sized garden as well as limited bench seating to the front.
There are three hand pumps which on this visit were dispensing Otter Bitter and Tring Ridgeway with the final pump out of action. Having received a very warm welcome from the friendly landlady, I opted for a pint of the Ridgeway which was in pretty good shape and made a satisfying end to a mini crawl of the area.
This is a really cosy, welcoming pub with a good atmosphere created by the staff and locals and I could quite happily have spent considerably longer here had I not needed to head for a train back home. Well worth a look if you're in the Oxhey/Bushey area.
On 19th October 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2545 recommendations about 2545 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Villiers Arms
A very pleasant, atmospheric local pub in a residential area, consisting of a single L-shaped bar in a Victorian house. It's carpeted and decorated with various trivia, mainly framed prints and china plates, although there is an interesting fireplace. A selection of CAMRA newsletters was available to read. The locals were a very friendly bunch, and the staff made us feel very much at home. The music from the jukebox was rather eclectic. Two ales on – I had a pint of Somerset and Dorset, which made an interesting change and was very well kept. Well worth a visit and inclusion in a crawl.
On 21st March 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2602 recommendations about 2573 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about Villiers Arms
The Villiers Arms was purchased by the long serving tenant from Punch a couple of years ago and is now being run as a true Free House. Four handpumps with ever changing beers that have always been in good condition on my visits. There is a small front bar and a back room decorated with a plethora of old posters advertising sporting and entertainment events. Above the bar sits an old lantern with the pubs name etched on it which presumably would at one stage have been outside. There are many other old bits of ephemera and other collectables dotted around the pub which gives it a nice historic and lived in feel. A large beer garden / kids play area sits alongside the pub.
On 20th March 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 742 recommendations about 678 pubs]
No known official website for this pub.
- Facebook - The Villiers Arms
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Villiers Arms - whatpub.com
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 19 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 19 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 20 March 2011 by hondo .
- Car Park : No last updated 19 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 20 March 2011 by hondo .
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 19 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
- Hot Food : No last updated 19 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
- Jukebox : Yes last updated 21 March 2014 by ROB Camra
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 19 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
- Pinball : No last updated 19 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
- Pool Table : No last updated 19 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 20 March 2011 by hondo .
- Real Cider : No last updated 19 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
