Victorian St Albans

Before the Midland Railway arrived in 1868 St Albans' development largely ran north, south and west from the Market Place. The city fought to get the Midland Railway to change their original route to come closer to St Albans (at the cost of demolishing the corner of the prison) and thereby created a new commercial centre with most subsequent development to the East of the old city centre. St Albans was also on the railway line that ran from Hatfield to Watford, so it was very well connected. This spurred on commercial development, including the business of Samuel Ryder, a seed merchant, who also founded the Ryder Cup.

Starting at The Victoria 🅐, a 19th century pub with a strong sports bar theme, but no cask ale.

WALK 2 minutes. Turn right as you leave the Victoria and follow the road along to The Robin Hood 🅑. South Herts CAMRA Pub of the Year 2024 and 2025, famous locally for serving an excellent pint of Harvey's and now selling quality pies. Recently acquired a bar billiards table — the only one in the city. Be sure to check out the Harvey's Tap Takeover, starting on Thursday.

WALK 2 minutes. Turn right as you leave the Robin Hood, follow the road toward the station and across the road you'll find The Horn 🅒. Famous as an award-winning independent music venue, Kim Wilde worked behind the bar and U2 have played there - amongst many more! Check out the live music schedule, with something different on every evening this weekend.

WALK 5 minutes. Turn left as you leave the Horn and walk the length of Alma Road - halfway along, on the junction with Oswald Road, you will pass a former CAMRA HQ building that's now a residential property. At the end of Alma Road, turn right and you will see the Great Northern 🅓 across the road.

A pub that has improved dramatically over the past ten years. Now named after the Great Northern Railway, whose disused London Road Station is a few hundred metres up the road. The Great Northern reopened in 2015 after significant renovation, with a modern interior feel, plus a large garden, an ever-changing range of cask beers and two real ciders. The Great Northern Beer Festival starts on Thursday, which coincides with their regular Thirsty Thursday offering 10% off cask ales.

WALK 2 minutes. Turn left as you leave the Great Northern and follow the road back up towards town until you reach the The Farmer's Boy 🅔.

A small traditional pub, noted for its frequent bands and friendly atmosphere, offering a warm welcome and attracting a diverse mix of clientele. The recently-improved covered and heated outdoor seating area often hosts music events. As well as its regular range of cask ales and craft beers, the pub offers unusual canned and bottled beers and hosts occasional craft beer festivals utilising its outside bar. Major sports fixtures are shown indoors and outdoors (including games on BT Sport) and there is a free juke box on Monday evenings. The pub has an extended licence and is usually the latest pub to admit customers in St Albans on Friday and Saturday nights.

Multiple events taking place over the weekend, starting on Thursday with a Two Flints Tap Takeover, which continues all weekend, a Meet The Two Flints Team event on Thursday evening, live music from The Imitation Zone on Friday night, The Bear Pit Band on Saturday afternoon, and following that their popular Karaoke Night.

WALK 1 minute. Cross the road and you'll fall into the Beer Shop 🅕. A relatively recent addition to the St Albans' scene the Beer Shop has a huge range of UK and International beers in bottles and cans plus 11 craft taps and one cask, as well as a great social buzz.

Note also:

• The surviving gate of St Albans Gaol (just on the right past the railway overbridge on Victoria Street) - used in the opening credits for 'Porridge'.

• St Albans South Signal Box (restored Midland Railway signal box) - unfortunately not open during Members' Weekend.