The Six Bells — Restaurant in St Albans

On the hottest day of the year so far, today, 20 March,my wife, dog and I did a leisurely circuit of Roman Verulamium park and sat down, rather wearily on the patio in the garden of the Six Bells. The first positive is that a large part of the outside beer garden is non-smoking. More pubs should do this, especially in spring and summer.

The Six Bells has a changing cast of real ales with rotating beers from the Vale Brewery in Bucks. I had a pint of pale ale followed by a best bitter. Both pints were on top form, obviously well kept and ideal for relaxing after a walk in the sun. The lunch menu is varied and tempting but do look out for the specials or you may miss out. In the end, we both plumped for the venison burger with Camembert, bacon and salad. That was accompanied by a generous portion of fries and some quite delicious onion rings.

I can say with hand on heart that the venison burger was among the very best burgers I have eaten. Huge, meaty, strongly flavoured and tender; it melted in the month. Keeping the venison company was the inspired choice of two chunks of Camembert and two rashers of lean back bacon. I scoffed the lot - as did my wife. If only all pub lunches were as good. My only regret was being too full to taste some other dishes on the menu. I will rectify that in my next visit as there's sure to be one.

Last but certainly not least, the service was first rate, the staff welcoming, going out of their way to ensure that you had everything you needed but never intrusive.

In sum, if you're visiting the park, five minutes walk away, and in need of hearty food, this is the place to go. I know...

It's a lovely quiet pub worth the walk through the old town. Gets busy on a weekend lunchtime as a consequence. Quiet early evenings attract locals who like to stand at the bar and swear a lot, otherwise it's fine.

A good time to head there is on a rainy winter Sunday afternoon, after the busy lunch service is long gone. We were there at about 1630hrs a few days ago, it's dog-friendly, as well as being cold, wet people who have just got off a walk friendly too, with a picture-perfect fireplace and roaring log fire.

There's parking as well, which is handy, as St Albans Council likes to do everything it can to penalise anyone coming into the town to shop, eat or drink in any of the local businesses.

There are some interesting walks within moments of The Six Bells, including Verulamium park, with bits of Roman stuff and the walk up to Gorhambury house and the ruins of the old house, a once immense mansion constructed in 1563-8 by the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, Sir Nicholas Bacon.

Above all, this is a genuine pub. NOT an ember inn or vintage inn 'country pub and eating' contrived, ruined pub, put together by dullards in suits (mitchells & butler) aimed at the lowest common denominator of everything and stinking of the deep fat fryer that's the centre piece of the kitchen.

It's important we support our truly great local pubs by USING them and that we don't encourage the plastic charlatans, by not using them.

Got that? Good. See you in The Six Bells.

Isn't...

I recently visited this local pub and I have been wanting to sit down and share my experience. We were greeted by a friendly atmosphere and welcoming staff. The moment I walked in, I felt like I was among friends. The decor was charming and inviting, with a warm and cozy atmosphere that made me feel right at home.

The menu was diverse and offered something for everyone, from classic pub fare to more unique and creative dishes. The food was delicious, and I appreciated that the ingredients were fresh and of high quality.

The bar was well-stocked with a great selection of beers, wines, and spirits, and the bartenders were knowledgeable and happy to make recommendations. The drinks were expertly crafted and served with a smile.

What truly made this pub stand out, however, was the staff. They were friendly, engaging, and went out of their way to make sure everyone was having a good time. They created a fun and lively atmosphere that made me want to stay and chat with my friends for hours.

I highly recommend this pub to anyone looking for a warm and welcoming place to enjoy a drink and a meal. Whether you're stopping in for a quick drink after work or staying for a full meal, you're sure to have a great time. I can't wait to go back and experience the friendly...