BITE user comments - Triathlete
Comments by Triathlete
Another facelift for this pub Autumn 2015 and the interior has improved with a more sensible seating layout. New set of taps with 10 real ales on the bar.
It is still staffed rather light and although they do their best service can be slow.
Prices have crept up over the last couple of years. It used be that only Wetherspoons was cheaper but now prices are more or less average but a small discount to Camra members.
Beer quality is still an issue. Its very strange here, pints are poured and they look and taste OK but by the time you are halfway down the glass the beer has lost condition and developed an unpleasant taste. When the beer is poured I notice that the head is made up of very uniform bubbles not the random sizing you usually see in real ale, I'm not sure why that should be I haven't seen that anywhere else that actually serves "real ale" as Camra would define it. This pub does have very long beer lines to their tap room and I guess that cannot help.
The staff will change your pint with just the odd grumble if its not good enough but I always feel guilty about it if I've drunk a significant portion of the beer already.
I do hope they can sort their quality issues out.
One more word of warning - don't go on a Tuesday night as its Quiz Nite. The quiz master who makes constant gaffs and struggle with the queens English is amusing for about 5 mins. She shrieks the questions over the Tannoy so loudly that your head will resonate and conversation is impossible. Best avoided.
4 Feb 2016 11:49
Beer quality has been a problem here in recent weeks - by that I mean cellarmanship. Often the beer has been a little flat and sour slightly vinegary and I've sampled a couple before finding one that is drinkable.
A great shame as the beers they have are quite good. I don't agree about the prices though its nearly a pound a pint cheaper at the Three Hammers who generally keep their beer better.
7 Nov 2012 09:44
I went here last night (Tuesday).; they had 3 real ales on.
Sharpes Doombar, Breakspears Oxford Gold, and a Harviestoun Hoppy IPA
They were all in good condition especially the IPA.
A nice change from the flat dross left over from the weekend served at most pubs.
I was pleasantly surprised. I do know what previous reviewers mean about the middle class "tweeness" of the place but I can live with that. Prices were pretty well St Albans average.
I have eaten here before and it was OK but overpriced - but that was some time ago now.
19 Sep 2012 12:01
Not a patch on a couple of years ago.
Short measures
Long waits at the bar
A poor reputation with local staff
more and more pikey types in there, one day its really going to kick off
10 Jul 2012 14:05
This pub has been under new management this year - too early to say if thats good or bad. Definately an improvement on all but the last landlady.
Beer quality is variable, usually a good range but not always well kept. I went in here on Tuesday and had a very disappointing pint of Black Sheep that was probably left over from the weekend - so bad I left half of it. On other occasions its been good trouble is it should be good all the time.
Service can also be quite slow, they sometimes seem reluctant to get enough staff behind the bar. Staff are not knowledgable about beer.
19 May 2011 13:51
Continues to improve, also congratulations at getting in the Good Beer Guide!
6 Dec 2007 10:12
I hear this place doesn't even open for lunch during the week - its not long ago the place was bustling.
The previous posts were dead right the problem is the landlord. These days its pure luck if he gets back from the footbal in time to change the beers before they run out on a Saturday night.
6 Dec 2007 10:07
Cracking beer festival some great ales (particularly enjoyed the Dark Star Hophead) and decent food.
Prices definately too high and whilst it pains me I will stop coming here if the pricing doesn't improve. Thats my only criticism.
28 Aug 2007 14:30
The Duke of Marlborough, St Albans
Progress was being made.
But I visited early Saturday night of this last bank Hol weekend and there was no real ale!
This is very poor.
Any aspirations of getting in the GBG are out the window as far as I'm concerned - must try harder!
28 Aug 2007 14:22
This place has nosedived.
badly kept ale
clueless staff
feeble service
high prices
poncey food
short measure pints
appalling house clearance furniture
Theres a million reasons to take your hard earned elsewhere.
However they do have lots of pretty xmas lights - work that one out!
28 Aug 2007 14:19
Beer continues to be good! All credit to the new landlady who has really turned this place around.
Its shut for a refurb at the moment, opens today, we'll see what that brings.
29 Nov 2006 15:35
The Old Cannon Brewery, Bury St Edmunds
Tried the home brewed Gold and best both superb. What a terrific brewpub. Didn't try the food as too pricey. Car parking a bit tricky around the area if you cant get in the pub courtyard.
15 Sep 2006 14:23
The landlord had done wonders this is definatley one of the best pubs in town. Fantastic beers, never had one that wasn't spot on.
Prefer it if it wasn't a pubco pub, it makes the beer expensive if nothing else, but thats the way it goes.
15 Sep 2006 11:58
Visited here recently found it very unwelcoming and beer mediocre. The competition in this part of town is too good to waste time in here.
15 Sep 2006 11:47
Maybe the glasswasher saga is nearing the end? Have had nothing but good pints in here for the last few weeks.
Quite agree about the sign - "a hideous carbuncle on the face of an old friend" to quote some clever chap.
In the past there have been issues with the service, you know where staff look through you to server their mates next etc etc but thought it was OK at the moment.
15 Sep 2006 11:32
Fantastic real ales on, the 5 or 6 we tried were all in top condition. No load music or alco-pops, a little piece of real ale heaven!
Limited menu I believe but if its as good as the beer you wont go wrong.
25 Jun 2006 11:37
Very nice pint of Thwaites and cracking home made pub food, filled yokshire puds and great steak pies.
A real treat if you like a genuine village boozer.
25 Jun 2006 11:33
A short walk from the Canal this pub offers great beers from Copper Dragon and Black Sheep in superb nick.
I ate here a couple of times recently the Sunday lunch was spectacular as is the steak and ale pie. Its not cheap but it is good value, Icould have handled more veggies but nevetheless you had better be hungry!
25 Jun 2006 11:31
Old pub by the canalside. New governor (can't do enough for you)in a true Free House, a lttle oasis in a pretty rough part of town. Live music nights etc.
Oh yes,... the best bit, fantastic Phoenix Pale Moonlight and Coach House Squiers Gold.
Check it out in a few more months I think it will be even better.
25 Jun 2006 11:25
New manager in the last few weeks, last night he was the only pair of hands behind the bar that I could see, did pretty well on his own though.
Nice pint of Spitfire and Youngs Special.
Pretentious and expensive menu continues
Furniture still cack.
All the best to the new manager (can't remember his name) - he's from Namibia you know
18 Apr 2006 15:22
I believe these guys have problems with their dishwasher and tainted glasses are spoiling the ale. Its a shame as for a while it was really good but these problems have been ongoing for a bit too long now and the progress made is being wound back. I cant see them getting in the GBG without more consistency.
18 Apr 2006 15:15
The Flying Fortress, Bury St Edmunds
I had a beer and a lunch here. Food was OK but pricey, beer was good.
24 Mar 2006 12:50
The Carpenters Arms, Coed-y-Paen
What a beautiful little nugget! great ale, great food (no chain pub cardboard here), sensible prices, nice people, good service.
Cant recommend it enough! get down there before everyone finds out and spoils it!
16 Feb 2006 11:46
So far so good! I tried the Yorkshire Best and the Best my mate tried the IPA and they were all fine.
Oh yes, and you can get a decent plate of REAL chips for a quid whilst you are at it. Its not good for the waistline but I did enjoy it.
14 Feb 2006 17:00
A great country local with good beer and food, sensible pricing, no smoking and kids area and nice garden.
A real landlord as well, could this be a coincidence?
18 Jan 2006 10:41
Change in management Dec 2005, who knows what that will bring. So far irriatated one or two regulars that weren't allowed in on New Years eve, despite being nowhere near full at 8pm. That will help the accounts I'm sure when they don't come back.
Beer continues to be changeable but overpriced. Service is only available when the staff have finished chatting to each other Real-Al has the right idea.
Oh yes, where do they get that horrid second hand furniture, are they clearing out slums in the area?
Oh for a traditional pub landlord!
18 Jan 2006 10:13
The new man keeps great beer. Food looks like a rip off though.
19 Sep 2005 14:56
Had a couple in here last saturday (11th June) bitter very poor replaced with IPA even worse and well overhopped. I'm told they have a yeast infection - I'll come back when they have some cream for it!
Were'nt cooking any chips either so a well poor experience.
Usually a good boozer though
15 Jun 2005 20:16
Nice pub, no music/chavs etc etc.
Fullers ales always in good nick. Food is limited as there is no decent kitchen.
Great garden. Not child friendly. Tucked away down country lanes a good walk or drive from main roads.
I liked it.
22 Apr 2005 09:14
I made no plans for New Years Eve, just turned up here with a mate. No nonsense about tickets of entry fees or gorillas on the door. In fact the pub had a free buffett on for their punters!!!
The beer is the best in the area and the landlady is a true expert and enthusiast whose opinion is second to none on matters of imbibement.
Just a great pub.
21 Apr 2005 14:15
Waterend Barn, St Albans
This has been a pretty good pub for beer over the last year or two. There is usually an interesting range and because they get through loads of it, its usually pretty good to.
BUT - of late they have taken to use sparklers (see my comment later) so your beer will look fine when its poured but will be flat 10 minutes (if you're lucky) later and taste a bit sour i.e rubbish. They hope you'll assume its some other problem and wont take it back. I noticed the uniformity of the bubbles and slightly creamy looking head (give aways of the sparkler) so I asked the staff why they have started doing that and they said "because we've had trouble with flat beer". Didn't exactly fill me with confidence.
They will take it off if you ask. The staff in here are nice and its so busy they do a pretty good job generally, just such a shame about the poor cellarmanship resulting in the unwelcome arrival of the sparkler. I my experience its just not been necessary the beer here is usually good and the price is right.
I cant recommend this business whilst the sparkler persists and, of course, they cannot qualify for the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. They deserve to be there, they do a great job selling decent ale at good prices, but they have shot them selves in the foot.
For those who might not know.
SPARKLER - a small plastic cap perforated with tiny holes which screws onto the end of the swan neck of the pump. The pump forces the beer through the holes, effectively pressurising it a little. The effect is short-lived and after a few minutes the beer is COMPLETELY flat and virtually undrinkable.
The tell-tale signs are an over uniformity of the bubbles forming a creamy looking head and swirling of these tiny bubbles beneath the head as its poured. It looks a bit like Guiness.
Unscrupulous landlords use this device to make old or substandard beer appear to OK. A little cellermanship would remove the need to con the public with these devices
26 Nov 2016 10:34