St Albans is a very old city and apparently once had the highest density of pubs per head of population of any location in the UK. I’ve no idea whether that’s still the case but there are are certainly plenty of pubs still around and many of them seem to be thriving.

Our pub agenda was set using some local inside knowledge (friends who live in St Albans), the Good Beer Guide and of course the Beer in the Evening website.

Here’s a brief round up of the ones we got to. Fuller reviews of each of the pubs will be added to the reviews section soon.

The Goat, Sopwell Lane

Large very old pub with traditional feel inside. Extensive patio garden out the back and to the side. Food very good and reasonable priced. 3 beers on. St Austell Tribute – not the best pint but OK.

White Lion, Sopwell Lane

Two-bar pub with traditional feel again. Attractive garden out the back with petanque pitch(?). Excellent selection of real ale – Saltaire Amarillo Gold was superb, Harviestoun Schiehallion also good. Possibly best pub of the day.

Hare & Hounds, Sopwell Lane

Very popular pub almost opposite White Lion. Family orientated garden – ie lots of children. TV inside for sport. Germany stuffing Argentina while we were there. Excellent, friendly pub except for the average pint of Timothy Taylor Landlord.

White Hart Tap, Keyfield Street

Another popular pub with an extensive garden – shady respite from the sun. Delicious pints of WharfeBank Tether Blonde – a golden real ale. Another candidate for best pub of the day.

Garibaldi, Albert Street

Back round the corner to this Fuller’s pub that is enjoying a resurgence I believe. It was certainly busy inside – with loads more people in the garden at the side so they must be doing something right. Been refurbished since my last visit a few years ago – was the first pub I ever visited in St Albans. Reasonable pint of Gales HSB but not the best I’ve had.

Farmers Boy, London Road

Running out of time so decided to skip the Beehive, and plump for the Farmers Boy on the way back to the station. Had heard mixed reports about this one too, but it was light and airy inside with a friendly atmosphere. No sign of any own-brewed beers but the St Austell Proper Job was very tasty.

So after that all that was left was the stroll back to the station. During the day we drank real ales in six good pubs and stuck our heads round the door of a seventh and still hadn’t really walked more than about 400 yards start to finish. I wish there was such a concentration of good pubs near where I live.

Here’s a map that shows the St Albans pub locations.

Fuller reviews of all the pubs we visited will appear in the reviews section soon.