Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, St. Albans  

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.

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