Blacksmiths Arms — Restaurant in St Albans

Great and convenient location. The manager could do with a bit more cheer - seems absolutely miserable every time I see him and it's a bit of a mood dampener. One thing I DO NOT recommend is to make a reservation at the pub. I made a reservation for a party of 10 and specifically requested to have it outside and with a good view of the football. On the day, they did not even have the reservation in place for me and it was not pleasant seeing a new and inexperienced barman be left - totally alone and without guidance - to sort this situation out. They couldn't find a place for me outside and we had to make do with two completely different tables hastily cobbled together, and without a good view of the footy.

Love the bouncers, they're top lads who put you at ease.

Mostly the barstaff are fine, but they clearly need a more thorough training regimen for new staff and to ensure they do not throw their new staff in the deep end so to speak.

They need to sort out their online booking - actual table reservation pipeline, especially seeing as I had to put down a £20 non-refundable deposit to make the reservation (the money HAS to be spent at the bar). They need to make sure someone actually reads the special requests box and actually reserves the proper space!!!

Manager needs to cultivate a more positive and approachable aura around him even if, ESPECIALLY if things at the pub are busy and hectic.

As it is, there are better pubs nearby. Check them out.

EDIT FOLLOWING RESPONSE: I can not take calls because I am deaf, hence the online booking. The information I put in the special request box was clear enough, and your lack of reactivity to it is inexcusable.

I am quite frankly shocked to see you lie about my arrival time. I remember that day well and ensured that I arrived on time because I was organising a lads' meet up. I guess you are "playing" to the online audience, but as a local I am outraged at this type of attitude from you.

I did not talk to you that day, but I frequent regularly and see you often. A serious, stiff guy. On the day, the inexperienced staff kept asking you questions about my booking. Gave me the same vibe as this argumentative response. If you only improve one thing based on my feedback, make it...

Where can I start , I’m waiting at the bar for a short while , not overly busy , people either side of me getting served , it’s ok I’ll be my turn next ...someone gets in, gets served ...ok you can let that sly because there is always one idiot that has to push in ... person other side of me gets served ...so I open my Phone to check my amazon orders , it’s funny because I can’t see that I ordered the Harry Potter cape of invisibility but I obviously did ...I’ll leave a good review for that because it obviously did the trick ...however back to being served or not ...there is a group of lads ordered jaegerbombs ...stag do maybe spending money ...sod the little fella ordering a couple of drink..so I’m still waiting waving my debit card about like I’ve taken a barrel load of disco biscuits in the 90s .. still the people either side of me getting served ...I’m next mate I say ....a cry which is not heeded by the staff... someone that looks like Ed Sheeran if he had taken a year off to dedicate all his time to eating quavers in cola for breakfast everyday Is serving ...maybe he’s going to serve me ...nope he’s having a little rest...propping himself at the bar looking like he’s signed himself up for the London marathon but 50 meters in realised he’s made a big mistake ...then goes off to serve the stag do again.... young couple either side of me can see the frustration in my face one of them remarking that I look so dehydrated that I look like a skeleton with malnutrition... their laughter gets the attention of the barman the other side that he happily serves them very quickly like tinkerbell with the runs ....so I exit to the garden back to my seat...empty handed only armed with my debit card ....then I spy the manager ...but that’s another story that involves disappointment and anger ..much like that dump I tried to have...

This pub is most definitely NOT dog friendly! It is a lovely pub with a good atmosphere - but we were left disappointed by the service and messaging. We had been able to buy drinks, sit down outside (it was almost empty) and chat for about 10 minutes before we were told it was not dog friendly after: (1) 8PM from one staff member; and (2) 8:30PM from another staff member due to a “licensing issue”. I had checked the website beforehand to confirm it was a dog friendly pub. There was no mention of this timing issue on the website! I have since rechecked the website and again cannot find such a specification. We were not even allowed to finish our drinks and instead given plastic cups! Another customer even remarked that the pub was empty and the dog was not causing an issue. We took our drinks in plastic cups to the Peacock who were much more friendly and welcoming - even with drinks from another pub. I’d suggest that the website is updated to be accurate and that common sense is applied next time - being able to finish the drinks would have made a world of different to the service and we would have been much more understanding.

[EDIT AFTER READING THE RESPONSE: to clarify, we left as soon as we were asked to - we were not asked multiple times. We were respectful and understood the pub’s position. It is nonetheless misleading that it is not on the website as you have confirmed. However, given this, it does not surprise me that your own staff do not know when this restriction...