please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This closed in 2009 and is now Cote, a french restaurant chain. Not been there (yet).
Greg. - 30 Apr 2010 15:24 |
Visited before it closed down, I thought this was a good pub to spend a Sunday afternoon in, never had any problems with service, not that it matters now...
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ha ha ha ha ha - only just seen "behave's" response to comments....no wonder it shut down.
I can't believe you put energy in to trying to demonstrate that they didn't care about customers by attempting to show that as I left due to lack of service I wasn't actually a customer. Should have tried putting that energy into good service!
As for the 'no service here' sign, I couldn't see one and even if there is one that isn't the point. The place was quiet - someone came over to me so was already in front of me...but refused to serve me unless I moved. Flexibility in service industries gains loyalty; pointlessly sticking to rigid rules when it is not necessary just winds people up.
If only an equivalent energy that was spend in arguing with people�s opinions was put into running the pub it might still be going�
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Another victim of poor service, lame beer and poor quality, the credit crunch is good for some things, chortle, chortle,chortle....hope the new bistro goes well
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Johnmcj, you will be pleased to learn that the Vintry has now closed, and is in the process of being converted into a French bistro restaurant.
However, I feel that it is a little harsh to judge a pub on how many fit women it contains, especially, as ben85 has noted, since we seem to employ at least one. Also, I found your point about tables having body odour most inventive and very entertaining. Congratulations
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fit barmaid
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I came to the vintry last saturday (the 28/3) and i must say i was very disapointed. The beer was disgusting and over priced and the staff were appauling. They took ages to serve me and my mates as were to busy chatting to eachother, and there were no fit women in there. Tables were also very sticky and smelt of body odour and vomit. I do not recommend.
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Beer most foul.
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Same as reviewer beneath . Took ages to get served a crappy pint by a nobber. Then just a min afer the bell rang the pikey female manager waddled over and said its time to go. She really is someone who should do a different job. A useless corperate manager that know nothing about customer service and has just ruined pubs in the Uk. Was in the other eve as someone said there was some accoustic music and it was actually ok. An ok if young crowd friendly and happy. Was sad to see the horrible manager still employed.
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Got there at 11.15 on a sat eve, waited at the bar for AGES when it wasn't even busy!! barman was too busy chatting to a group of friends, 20mins later he turns to us and says 'bars closed' I could have killed him!!!So rude! Wouldn't go back.
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I gave the Vintry a good review when it re-opened last year. Sorry folks, I was wrong. It really is pretty unpleasant these days, with sticky tables and lousy service. Poor.
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There is a tragically pissed woman who drinks in here and they continue to serve her no matter how paralytic she is. I've asked the manager if she's alright and been told that they "know when she's had enough". I suspect that's when she runs out of dough as it's clearly not when she becomes incapable of speech or motor function. My previous affection for this place has evaporated, not only is the service truly shit the way they exploit this unfortunate is cynical in the extreme.
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The beers started of ok in here when it first reopened,now they serve a very poor pint of Pride.Barn of a place midweek to have hardly any punters in.I bet M&B wished they hadnt wasted all that cash and left it to the Alcopop bunch.I do also, atleast I used to know where the kids to avoid were.
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heard a rumour that this place was going to be sold and turned into a McDonalds.
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Been a few times, it looks good inside and good range of drinks but the service ruined it for me.
One time it took ages to get served when it wasn't busy. Another time I waited a while only for a barman to come over and tell me they weren't serving at that part of the bar until later in the day. He then refused to serve me unless I moved about 20ft to another bit of the bar. Unsurprisingly I left without buying a drink...I don't think they understand the word 'customer'.
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So it's "vastly improved"? Hardly difficult compared to how it was before.
I found it pompous, tedious and characterless - like many of the chinless hoorays who frequent establishments like this.
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Whilst the recent refurbishment has certainly improved the interior of this pub and got rid of the chav element that plagued it before, the service is appalling. When we were there, at a quiet time, the bar staff treated us as if customers were an extreme annoyance and continued their loud conversation with each other as they served us. Service was also very slow despite the pub being very quiet. It's a shame as it's in a prime spot and looks good inside.
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Have to agree with the previous comment, this pub has greatly improved since being renovated. Many different lagers and Fruli on tap, not a vast selection of real ales mind you.
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this wins the local award for Most Improved Pub.
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Went in here for lunch on a Saturday. Not massive portions but adequate (excellent onion rings!). Ales, continental lagers and range of wines. Young but active and organised staff. Food seems freshly prepared while you wait so can take a while. No problem with Jennings ale sampled. 1st visit & impressed.
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The service in The Vintry has got really patchy recently. It seems to be at it's worst when the pub is quiet. I went this evening and found it virtually empty but littered with empties sitting around on sticky tables. It took me the best part of ten minutes to get served even though there was only one other customer at the bar. When you charge the sort of money they do you shouldn't keep folk hanging around, it's sloppy and spoils an otherwise good pub.
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My previous rating for this pub was a poor 3 based on a couple of visits back in 2003, but hearing news of the refurb and seeing the positive comments here I called in today, not expecting too much. But it is in fact an amazing transformation and has gone markedly up market. The layout is much the same but the school canteen furniture has been replaced by some excellent reproduction furnishings and a plethora of old lampshades, one of which is the largest I have seen in a pub. There are some large decorative mirrors including two from Bass Charingtons Brewery. Outside is an attractive two-tier beer garden with loads of comfortable seating and prints on the walls. The drinks selection is excellent, there are three hand pumps (they are Cask Marque accredited) with Spitfire, GK IPA and a micro on offer on my visit. But it is their selection of lagers that really impresses, as well as the usuals like Star and Peroni there are two weisse beers, Budvar and Budvar Dark, plus Hoegaarden, Leffe and Fruili all on draught. Add to that some interesting bottles, including Duvel, and an extensive wine list and there�s something for everyone. It�s not cheap, the Franziskaner Weissbier was �3.80 and the Budvar Dark �3.20 and Sunday lunch comes at �8.90 although I didn�t try the food. My 2003 rating of 3 has now been revised to a 7 and it may go up again if I have the same experience on further visits.
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As the Vintry has undergone a complete makeover, the previous terrible scores... "Current user rating: 3.8/10 (rated by 30 users)" are now quite irrelevant. Does BITE have a facility to reset and start again I wonder?
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Seems to always have an interesting guest ale on (yesterday was Brains Mystic ale or somesuch). However, on a quiet night the throughput is low and so it was not in very good nick.
Decor is better, but the effect is spoiled by the fact that the whole bar reeks of smoke from the grill due to poor air con in the open plan kitchen.
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Remarkable! The Vintry has had a massive makeover. Looks good so far. The old user rating of 3.5/10 seems somewhat harsh now.
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Well stack me. Previously I�d have crawled over broken glass on my belly with my flies undone to escape The Vintry but since it�s refurb it�s actually quite nice. The layout�s still the same so loads of space around a big bar but the new look is good. The range of lagers is fantastic including a couple of nice white beers and the wine list looks OK although substituting some decent French, Spanish and Italian stuff for some of the Australian ribena would be welcome. I didn�t eat but the menu looks promising and the kitchen is in open sight so the grub is less likely to be straight out of the freezer and into the microwave. Be aware though, cheap it most certainly ain�t. A friend of mine has been told that the prices have deliberately been pitched high to actively discourage the return of the previous core clientele so good news for The Waterend Barn and great news for St Albans drinkers who don�t enjoy blue alcopops and zit-faced attitude.
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OK, so perhaps I was a little carried away with my previous review � so much so that I forgot how to spell chaises longues � but the Vintry has seen such a remarkable transformation that maybe I can be excused a rush of blood to the head. In the cold light of day, this is not a bad place for a drink. It may not be the best pub in the city centre (not while the White Swan, the Boot and the Peahen are in contention) and it�s certainly not the best pub in St Albans (see Six Bells, While Lion, Verulam Arms, Portland Arms, Blue Anchor, LRL, Farmer�s Boy etc.) but it�s definitely worth a look. Enjoy�
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As someone who would have walked barefoot over hot coals rather than drink in the old Vintry, I�m delighted to report a very impressive refurb. As previous posts have mentioned, the owners must have spent a fortune on the new d�cor, which ranges from solid, dark-timbered dining tables and chairs to chez longues which wouldn�t have looked out of place at the court of King Louis XIV. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming; the staff are friendly and polite; there are a few real ales and an extensive wine list which includes many, perfectly decent, wines at reasonable prices � it�s certainly less expensive than the Peahen over the road. Snacks, such as falafel with warm pitta and tzatziki, are available for �3.50, main meals for around �7.00. And, in answer to historyloony�s gripe about nibbles, packets of crisps were available last night, although I don�t know if they sell peanuts, pork scratchings etc. It�s early days yet, but I think we may have a winner here. 8/10
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The welcome and expensive makeover of The Vintry has extinguished the final Chav pub in central St Albans, for which many thanks. I think that the "new" Vintry sees itself primarily as an eating rather than drinking place, and I don't understand the reference to "21 beers" below. But anyway, here's what I saw last night, on my second visit here:-
2 real ales, 12 white wines, 15 red wines, 5 champagnes and some lagers.
An impressive and reasonably-priced food menu of snacks, sandwiches, "big food" items (all under �10), side dishes and puddings. Also hot drinks. Food is served from midday - 10pm daily.
The decor is quite impressive and must have cost a bomb. But some of the furniture is extraordinarily ornate, and could have been transported through time from the Georgian era. It looks almost too expensive to sit on! In fact, no one was sitting there. There is still a garden outside for smoking and summer drinkies.
My one gripe is that - as elsewhere - if you just want some nibbles to keep you going, the only option is a huge bowl of pistachio nuts at �2.05. They don't even offer the option of a smaller bowl, so not being a pig I left a good number behind when I left. I hope that whoever finished them off enjoyed them.
Still, mustn't grumble too much. The new Vintry will succeed, I'm sure.
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This guy was right. called in for a pint to find that all the draughts were well kept, straight from the specialist breweries.Call in for a beer and you'll be very pleased with the after effects.menue gastro too.
anonymous - 27 Aug 2007 16:02 |
What a transformation!! Reopened on 21st August 2007. A new attraction to St.Albans. Under new management with pleasant,knowledgable and well trained staff to serve you any of the 21 beers on tap! The innovative menu will put many restaurants to shame. Undoubtedly one of the best pub/restaurants in Herts. Go and try it out. You won't be disappointed or I'll buy you a pint of 1 of the 21 different beers!!
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It's reopened and is much improved, thank goodness.
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The Vintry has now had a �500,000 refit. It looks amazing! the food is amazing! please come & see! there is nothing like it in St Albans
anonymous - 19 Aug 2007 22:12 |
I walked past yesterday evening and it's closed!! I wonder why. Oh well, who cares?
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Shockingly bad, it doesn't have one redeeming feature. You can smell the Red Bull when you walk past the place, full of just 18's, a bit on the rough side.
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I am ashamed to admit I have actually drunk here on occasions when I feel like dancing - then after 10 mins I look around & see the hillbillies with there 2 front teeth missing and upon hearing the banjo playing I make a swift exit back to O�Neil�s/lower Red. A good place to go for a dance if you�re blind drunk and have lost all common sense but if not I'd take a wide berth. Plus if you ever hear a song beginning with the words 'lollipop freshen up' be scared it's the toilet troll!! I mean who buy's food of all things in a toilet - is there not a hygiene policy against that!!!!
anonymous - 15 Jan 2007 11:41 |
i work in the vintry... and the first thing im NOT going to do is defend it. the only reason i do work there is becuase they were offering jobs with no previous bar experience.
as i now have experience i shall be looking elsewhere.
a few things ive noticed since working there...
when it rains heavily the ceilings leak in a number of places including directly over the fusebox. the average IQ of the customers is around 60. the black guy in the toilet who tries to scam �1 out of everyone is NOTHING TO DO WITH US, hes is appointed by Mitchel & Buttler (who own the vintry), we cannot tell him to leave, i deeply apologise.
in march 2007 we are hopefully having a referb and cracking down on the 'chavs' that associate themselves with the pub. its been proposed that monday night is going to be a rock night to help with the chav decline as well.
hope this helps with anyone who is thinking of drinking here.
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This is what sums up what's wrong with pubs these days.I used to live in St Albans and remember this place being a bank...maybe time to go back to one.AVOID at all costs.Complete crap.Go to the boot nearby and see how a pub should be run
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Just to sat that i agree with everything already written about this place. AVOID.. it is simply the worst place to drink in town. Drunk wannabee gangstas who couldn't fight their way out of a wet bag all getting manly after a few lager tops. Same for the 'women'. I'd rather drink in east London any day
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Even in the daytime this place exudes menace. I popped out to the beer garden and felt safer. In fairness the Vintry seeks customers who are much younger than me, and I was a fool to enter. Still, I've done it now. 4/10
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Used to be a good night out...now just full of impressionable kids looking for a fight. Rude staff...surly bouncers and the obligatory bog troll in the men's.
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In George Orwell's 1984 there was a room, called Room 101, in which everyone came face to face with their worst nightmare, in St Albans there is a pub called the Vinty, that pretty much serves the same purpose!
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Hmm, I went to this pub for the first time last week (Saturday night) and found it ok. The music is varied, and as I went with friends I didn't really notice the other 'types' of people around me. It did take AGES to be served though - a good 20 minutes!
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I think the comments about this place say it all, really!
I love it when pubs full of filthy chavsters have a 'no trainers' policy. Considering how ofter the police are called to break up fights perhaps they'd be better lifting that particular policy and starting a 'no tw@ts' policy.
I guess they'd run out of customers pretty quicky, and it keeps to idiot element out of all the decent boozers in town (of which there are LOADS!!!)
One last thing, what is it with this - pay some dick a quid to give you a paper towel every time you go for a slash??!?!?!?!?
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a pub that has had problems but is trying, the place used to be very bad but a change in management has lead to some changes, one very noticeable change is the cost of the drinks, its now ridiculously cheap, �1.85 for a stella or guiness last time i went, and named drivers drink soft drinks for free, the doormen are prety strict though, thursday-saturday theres a shoes only policy, this stops a lot of folks going down there, the prblem is though as much as they are trying a visit from the local police is still far to often for many peoples liking
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THIS IS MY ACCOUNT OF A REGULAR NIGHT IN THE VINTREE:-The bouncers are actually ok-though they seem prone to a cheap hug off the girls who have just spilled out of the x keys and are looking to queue cut.The dj isnt bad he plays too much sean paul.Feel quite sorry for the guy in the bogs with the lollipops-i just feel like punching him in the throat and saying to him-' get a real job leroy!!!' everyone seems happy apart from the rude boys who walk in and have a face like a smacked arse,its like- cheer up lads! its friday!They all think they are from the bronx but they are from little places like London Colney ,they are afraid to get drunk so they sip on a bottle of beer for about an hour kissing their teeth and calling each other names like 'blood'.i also think a lot of them are injury prone cause they all seem to walk with a limp,and theyre trousers are so far down their backsides you can more aless see their anus.
Muz - 1 Oct 2004 15:28 |
wicked pub... loadsa fit girls, not so many fit men, yes theres attitude but there is good music and vintry pubbers are the coolest people in st. albans!!
F - 12 Apr 2004 23:56 |
Good for eyeing up ladies. Very expensive and poor range of drinks, but has a pool table (not fri/sat) and dj is excellent
dpiom - 11 Mar 2004 20:19 |
This pub has had a refurbishment recently and looks the don. It is more of a trendy bar now instead of a night club. Its great to go out on the pull, loadsa guys and girls. Interesting bar staff whom sometimes decide to occasionally dance on the bar. There are some idiots there who will try their luck but the new doormen have weeded out most of the trouble makers (girls as well as boys!). There is usually some level of minor trouble there, but occasionally there will be the huge fight. They don't usually last very long tho. The bouncers don't look that hard.......but there are! Apart from that most of the other customers are really polite and cheerful. Of course this bar is not for everyone, but most people really enjoy it, its only the boring people who are not open minded and have no real social lives and eat pies all day complain about this bar as it is very interactive. Thursday nights are cheap nite there- this is when all the students come out to drink, but can be a bit tricky as they are even stricter on the doors with ID then most nights, (even tho they are really strict anyway), and have stuff like rnb. Fridays are the 18-23 crowd, and saturday is the more mature group. There is also a Karaoke thats just started- I havent been yet but i hear good things. All in all i totally recomend this pub, depeneding on who you are and what nite you go out. For those who have nothing better to do then whine and eat pies all day, go somewhere else and tell people that care- because we don't!
jo - 24 Feb 2004 16:49 |
Really great nite out. Good music, atmosphere and service. They have recently changed door teams and have got rid of all the kiddies. Don't go there without ID, although the bouncers are really sweet and hunky, if you are under 18, DONT BOTHER!
Nikki - 21 Feb 2004 21:06 |
This is everything you should hate about pubs faceless staff tasteless drink bouncers??? horrendously clothed attitude boppers,moodies, first time trying to get as drunk as possible kids ...need i say more or am i being too kind?
yuk - 9 Feb 2004 16:57 |
The vintry is always fun 2 go 2! Recently there has bin some bitchy girls in there givin it all the attitude tho. ignore them and go wild and take up the whole dance floor thats wat i say!!
jordan - 6 Feb 2004 15:18 |
This is a horrible pub. Fights sometimes break out outside the place and the police can often be seen around there at weekends. The music's awful. On Friday and Saturday nights it gets so crowded you can hardly move for all the drunk people out on the pull. Sometimes they have karaoke which can be fun, but one the whole I'd say if you're looking for a good night out, don't go here.
anonymous - 29 Dec 2003 17:40 |
If your after a good night out....dance floor...bit of flirtatious fun....the vintry is the place for you. the doormen are also another reason to go ;)
Lucy nigint - 23 Nov 2003 18:31 |
vintry used to b good pub for the weekends, but now evrytime i go in i find it has been infested wiv a load of under age kids gettin cheap vodka drinks
james - 1 Oct 2003 13:18 |
Large cavernous place with a warehouse feel to it. Tables and chairs from a school canteen. Staff friendly enough. Absolutely empty on the Sunday afternoon I dropped in. Better pubs around if it's a proper pub you want.
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This pub is the best pub in St. Albans by far! Allow yourself Melanie
Louise Sewell - 4 Jun 2003 21:33 |
