Uk Barblog

The Bell (St. Albans - Hertfordshire)

The Bell

The bell is not a pub in the traditional sense but quite bar like similar to the oneils or yates wine lodge of a kind but i cant put my finger on which chain owns this venue a there is only an oneils down the road. The place has a red glowing neon sign outside and it instantly enticed me inside and led me to one of the available couches within. Comfortable yes indeed but the couches looked like a few too many bums had been on seats as they were falling apart a bit. There was light indie music and MTV broadcast around the bar, Fruit machines sat either side of the bar where the service was fast as the staff friendly. it was surprisingly quiet for 7pm on a friday night but quickly picked up. A little expensive for st albans at £2.60 a pint.

Overall a breezey 6/10. I'd definitely head back, they made me feel quite welcome.

Ganbaldi (St Albans - Hertfordshire)

Garibaldi

Or should that be "Going-Baldy", at this place you get the balding men with the piercing eyes as you enter and collect you overly expensive pint. You sniffle in the corner under the watchful eyes and they hurt you with there gaze at every sip, thats before you notice that the pile of dog-hair on the carper hides your shoes when you make your way to the toilet only to find the dirtiest smelliest outhouse you could ever counjour in your nightmares. Hurrying out we realised that we had actually had worse experiences in places that used the "eye technique" to welcome strangers but not worth another visit.

A scary 2/10.

Hogs Head (St. Albans - Hertfordshire)

Hogs Head - the blacksmiths arms

IS it just me or is this chain exactly the same country-wide?? The place is very wooden and lively even early in the evening but its full of teenage mothers, sleazy 30-something-men and expensive drink. At about £2.80 a pint these feel more like London prices than St. Albans. Even the cheap corkys shots are £1.50 each. The seating fills up quickly and the music is dirty urban crotch music. The unfriendly bar staff proceeded to present us with the wrong round before we left. Would definitely be much better with a group of lads who fancy a game of pool and a pint but steer clear if you are shepherding a school of people sporting expensive handbags and high heels!

Overall a 3/10.

the Waterend Barn -Lloyds Bar (St. Albans - Hertfordshire)

the Waterend Barn (a Lloyds Bar)

Opened February 2005 this place is an old historical building that was purchased by the Wetherspoons group and established as a qulaity Bar and Restaurant. The Pub has tables outside dimly lit in green and inside is a big hall of excited youthful crowds that are packing into the bar for there pints. The serving times are short, the drinks are pretty cheap for the area and the atmosphere is very friendly, the music accompanying being of assorted young tastes. The effect of brick, fireplaces and large leather sofas makes this place feel very comfortable and inviting. the toilets too are served by a cortious gentleman and the bouncers are also accomodating.

Overall I give this Lloyds bar an 8/10. One of the nicest in the area. The 2million pound revamp was well worth it!

The Cross Keys (St. Albans - Hertfordshire)

The Cross Keys (Wetherspoons)
An oversized wetherspoons with long wating times at the bar and bar staff that will gladly spill a pint or two upon you while you sit and chat with friends. Its been some time since i actually went to this pub and i hope its lots some of its rowdy charm and blatent underage crowd drawing tactics. Its another meatmarket and brings down a happy village but then for cheap drinks in a strangely expensive corner of hertfordshire-who can say no?

Overall 4/10.

Batchwood (St Albans)

Batchwood Hall

this club-in-a-mansion-in-the-middle-of-nowhere sounds exotic and it is. The music is commercial and RnB like with a fairly cheap entrance- at about £5 and cloakroom.  The entrance winds round to the right onto the first Bar (where bottles and beer are overpriced) and to the right again is a veranda where a BBQ occurs of summer. You would now be in the main hall with staircase either side of a stage leading upstairs and loungers and armchairs along the back wall. There is another bar in the top corner and one down past the bottom of the stage on the left. There is a champgne/cocktail room straight ahead with different music and tiger-skin armchairs. Upstairs is an 80's and Rock room which appeals more to my tastes making this place very very busy but with short bar waiting times. The downbside is it is a nightmare to get to, in deepest darkest st. albans, but its all about the thursdays.

Overall 8/10 if you can get there and have the money for an expensive night out.

O'Neills (St. Albans)

O'Neills
Formerly The Philanthropist & Firkin and formerly to that the public library, and for this reason it is a pretty badly laid out O'neills if ever i did see one. I have been to far better. They have bright lights and lots of novelty characters on the walls. The seating isn't fantastic but its in a good location in the Heart of st. albans. The music is always cheery and busy every night. Its not a special pub by any means and I got bored after my second drink, so I was off.

Overall 4/10.

Pitcher and Piano (was Casa Bar) (St Albans)

Pitcher and Piano ex. Casa Bar



This place gets way too packed too quickly especially on a friday and saturday night. It takes ages to get served and the drinks are particularly well priced for an out-of-london bar. The crowd is not friendly either and there is sometimes jazz playing live at the back- so thats not bad. It has a dance floor and comfortable seating-if u can find anywhere to sit, as well ass dimly lit corners. But i couldnt afford to stay long.

Overall 5/10 , i keep getting dragged back- but not by choice.