The Horse and Groom, Hatfield - pub details
Address: 21 Park St, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 5AT [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 22405) - calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras
Hatfield (0.1 miles), Welham Green (1.9 miles), Welwyn Garden City (2.8 miles)
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> Current user rating: 6.7/10 (rated by 15 users)
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other pubs nearby:
Hatfield Arms, Hatfield (0.1 miles), Eight Bells, Old Hatfield (0.1 miles), Steam Inn, Hatfield (0.1 miles), Red Lion, Hatfield (0.2 miles), Town Inn, Hatfield (0.5 miles) - see more nearby pubs
user reviews of the Horse and Groom, Hatfield
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 10 shown - see all reviews
| Nice, friendly, good ale and ideal for proximity to Hatfield train station. I went in this pub while waiting for a train, having spotted it just behind the (much worse looking and with no ale) Hatfield Arms. This pub is indeed a lovely place and within a stone's throw of Hatfield rail station, but not obvious unless you know where to look. Local "Hopfest" from Red Squirrel brewery, Caledonian Flying Scotsman, Black Sheep, London Pride and Doom Bar all available. I tried the Hopfest and Flying Scotsman - both in good condition. This pub seems much better than any other pubs in Hatfield, though I must admit this is the only one I've been in, though have walked past the windows of many others, and they didn't look a patch on this one. Corrosive - 16 Jan 2012 22:00 |
| A pub that shines like a shaft of light when all around is darkness - to paraphrase a favourite Monty Python sketch. It's true, this is the best pub not just in Hatfield but for miles in most directions. Sadly the Horse and Groom has been a well-kept secret for decades frequented mainly by diehard locals. That's because its location down a quiet side street in Old Hatfield near Hatfield House, makes it almost invisible to out-of-towners. But since being taken over in July by Ben Gill who managed the Fairway in WGC for years I have a feeling that this ancient pub's limited popularity is about to widen. The cozy oak-beamed single bar Horse and Groom has been a pub since the 17th century although the building is much older. What now separates it from any other pub in the area is not just the impeccably kept cask-conditioned beers, but the revamped menu of freshly made classic British soul food courtesy of Gill Wood, who has masterfully managed the kitchen for 14 years. Ben lovingly tends five hand pumps (soon to be six) currently pouring Greene King Abbot Ale, Fullers London Pride, Sharp's Doom Bar, Caledonian Flying Scotsman and Black Sheep Bitter. Watch out for Fuller's ESB in the next few weeks. In the five moths that Ben has managed the pub I have not had a hint of a bad pint - and I visit the pub almost every day. I marvel at the way that these carefully kept living beers can subtlely change flavour over the course of a few days as the barrel swiftly empties. And so to the food: the lunch time menu is classic pub fare made almost exclusively from scratch. How many pubs in Hertfordshire can claim that they make their own steak and kidney, steak and Stilton or steak and Abbot Ale pies on the premises ? I can't think of one. Other favourites are scampi, liver and bacon just like mother never used to make, jacket potatoes and enormous sandwiches on baguettes. My favourite is stuffed with two locally sourced sausages and fried onions. Creamy cole slaw completes this most satisfying lunch. Portions are all very generous and prices most reasonable. Just when you though it couldn't get any better, from Tuesday November 1 the pub is offering free sausages and mash from 6-10pm when you buy a drink costing 3 pounds or more. Who said there's no such thing as free dinner. The atmosphere is friendly and inclusive. Even if you've never been in the pub before you are not made to feel like an intruding outsider. And if you want to get swept up in conversations as varied as the best way to cook alligator or the current price of silver, the bar is the best place to be. Worth driving quite a few miles to visit. There's usually parking outside or in the car park behind the pub. Palmplant - 27 Oct 2011 17:20 |
| in here the other night with Mrs, had nice drop of real ale. And sat by the fire, this pub has loads of charm.Will be back next week. Thanks to barstaff for a right old chuckle!!! good on you... jake1978 - 23 Dec 2010 16:51 |
| I dropped by during a football match which was showing on a screen in the corner. This didn't cause any problem though because the patrons were a very mixed bunch and not all watching football. A couple of ladies dart's teams trooped in and were in good form . I sat by a blazing fire with a nice pint of Abbots and stayed for a couple more. I liked this pub a lot mainly because of the mix of people and the easy atmosphere. I'd definately go again if I was in Old Hatfield. FLUEBADGER - 17 Feb 2010 16:28 |
| 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. Strongers - 11 Sep 2009 21:05 |
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