The Hollybush — Restaurant in St Albans

The pub advertises a reasuring host of sensible precautions, such as staff wearing face masks and requiring patrons to wear masks when not seated - nothing too over the top but enough to make you feel you could be safe having a meal there. None of this is a reality - no masks are worn by anyone. This isn't the main issue though, the main issue is there is only one way past the bar to one of two seating areas, which is about 1 meter wide and 10 meters long. It is also the section where the locals like to stand and drink, unmasked - this means you run a gauntlet of 5+ blokes, showering you with coughs, sneezes and breaths every time you enter or exit the pub or if you want to go to the bar to order anything. What an absolutely absurd thing to allow at this time in history!

It made for a very uncomfortable lunch, which is a shame as the food was very tasty and the staff were very friendly and helpful.

To the management: please either update your policy to reflect your current actions so people can make properly informed decisions. Either that or follow up on your advertised policy. As for letting people stand and drink in the narrowest and busiest section of the bar, ensuring they get to breath on everyone who has to walk past - use some common sense, it is 2 years into this pandemic, we know how it spreads so act accordingly!

As it stands, people are in for an uncomfortable experience unless they already know the pub and are happy to be very close and personal with...

Absolutely beautiful small historic pub. The building itself is full of history you can smell it as you walk through its timber interior. It has a reasonably large car park for vehicles no bigger than an estate it's a very tight gap if you drive a van. The garden is nice large size with plenty of tables and an area set aside at the rear for small children it has a basic slide and swing there. The food menu is reasonable if a little expensive for what your actually getting but it's the case everywhere these days. They have an excellent selection of beers wines spirts etc... They also take card which is great as no atm around for a long way. All in all I would say that this pub is exactly what you expect from a independent period country pub its a very popular place with great friendly staff I bet in the winter it's fabulous with a roaring fire going in the lounge. We will definitely be returning soon to what I'm sure you will agree with is...

Not the hidden gem the website led me to belive shame as the pub is lovely toilets amazing service spot on but pudding portion of Eton mess I'm afraid leads me to the three star rating also nachos were a cheese welded lump that came in one piece was replaced but pulled chicken was horrible first lot of chicken was good replaced chicken was not nice watery as if just chicken was only mixed in watery pulled pork sauce as if done in a hurry. Would I come here again probably not if it were for food but setting is lovely and tea bags of good quality but given one biscuit with first cup and no biscuit on further two cups.the prices are reasonable for home cooked food but I'm just not impressed enough to say it was great. My friend however really enjoyed hers so I guess it's down to the individual to...