Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, St. Albans

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FancyaPint?'s review...

Ye Old Fighting Cocks, sitting in the shadow of the grand Cathedral, is certainly one of St Alban's more historic pubs, even for a city filled with historic pubs. As such, visiting here seems like an attractive proposition. First off, according to the Guinness Book of Records, this is the oldest pub in England; while there are numerous challengers to the crown, any pub with 8th century foundations and a 15th century building can lay claim to a certain amount of heritage. With an unusual octagonal shaped exterior, the inside has a number of small areas, complete with those wooden beams and low ceilings expected of such a property. It's a shame then that it feels vaguely depressing here - the seats have seen better days, the exterior sign is virtually unrecognisable and overall it just feels slightly 'grubby', rather than traditional or cosy. There's a brace of ales but the food seemed on the expensive side for what was on offer. Service too was good, but we hear waiting times extend considerably on sunny weekend afternoons. So a rather ignominious rating for such a historical public house, but one which stands, especially in the face of strong local competition.

Reviewed by redcat 14 Apr 2008 Helpful? yes/no

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SianAllsopp
Reviews (1)

22 Apr 2012

Under new management, had a brilliant evening here on Friday. Great wine & beer plus live music with the barman on sax!

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25 Sep 2008

I think this is a better pub than the reviewer rates it. We often take friends there for a pub lunch. The food is basic, but generally good, and the ingredients are locally sourced. The staff are friendly, though overworked (it can get very busy). I wouldn't much want to eat in the dining room, but the older section is comfortable, and there's a decent selection of beers, though not quite wide enough for me. On a bright and sunny day, have a pint and a sandwich out in the garden. The ham sandwiches are particularly good, with thick slices of ham on a roll.