Pubs in St. Albans: Verulam Arms
Located in the heart of the Abbey Conservation Area on Lower Dagnall Street, this neighbourhood pub has recently undergone extensive renovation. Gone is the smoky but friendly boozer’s pub of the past – these days is more gastro than it is pub.
The renovation has made the Verulam quite the looker – neutral paint on bar and walls, wood floors exposed, spot lights, candles on the tables and chalk board menus.
On those chalkboards you’ll find an extensive and quite interesting menu including such delicacies as locally shot game. They also always do at least one vegetarian item – the photo here shows their vegetarian Sunday roast.
Real ale is, as you’d expect, served but they’d probably rather you buy a bottle of wine these days, particularly on their weekly Jazz evening (phone for day and reservation). The staff is young but friendly and professional. The bar is now managed by the same manager as the Boot in town and is non-smoking except for in the small beer garden at rear.
Verulam Arms is located at 41 Lower Dagnall St, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4QE [map]
Tel: 01727 833323
Popularity: 1% [?]
We went here on Sunday, expecting a choice of Sunday Roasts – including a vegetarian option. Unfortunately there was one special on (beef) and their standard menu, which simply looked like it had been cribbed from every other pub menu in St Albans. I ordered the Peppers with Roasted Vegetables, which was very disappointing. The kitchen clearly weren’t expecting any vegetarians in that day(!) and didn’t have any roasted veg to hand, so what I got looked suspiciously like boiled veg – really not very nice. My partner had the Fish and Chips, which he said were fine, but nothing to get excited about. The staff were trying hard but there seemed to be lots of confusion about taking orders, operating the till and generally serving drinks. A vanity project for someone with money to spare? I certainly won’t be going back.
We’ve been since and would say the experience you had, at least as a vegetarian, is similar to my own. They do try, they really do, but I think the Ver just hasn’t thought about vegetarian visitors.
Hi just found this website,whilst looking for the verulam. We went there today for sunday lunch and had an amazing lunch. Things have obviously shifted up a gear as they also serve a nut roast as a Sunday lunch alternative. The infamous pepper was on the menu but as was an interesting wild mushroom pancake!!
My report back is that this was clearly the best sunday lunch i have had in a very long time let alone in st albans!! HIGHLY recommended and all home-made-even the Yorkshires!!
My Uncle Jim used to own the Verulam Arms over a decade ago. Visited it just the once but from what I remember it was a nice little pub.
Dawn,
I suggest that you try eating meat.
Andy.