In 1975 Hertfordshire CAMRA members produced the first ever guide to cask ale in Herts. Titled “Real Draught Beer in Hertfordshire”, the fold-out pamphlet featured just 90 pubs in the county and 15 from closely beyond. Back then of the 1,000 pubs in Hertfordshire only the listed ones still kept and sold traditionally served cask ale.
Thirty pubs in the Guide have since closed, including some classic entries such as the Goose (Moor Green), Trent Tavern (Cockfosters), Bell and Crown (Hertford), Cabinet (Reed), Pinks Hotel (Shenley), Windmill (Thundridge), Barley Mow (Tyttenhanger) and the Chequers (Wood End).
But the list of stalwart survivors includes the Jolly Waggoners (Ardeley), Swan (Bushey), Woodman (Chapmore End), Bricklayers Arms (Flaunden), Rising Sun (Halls Green), White Horse (Hertford), Plough (Ley Green), Farriers Arms and Lower Red Lion (St. Albans), Cock (Sarratt) and Rose and Crown (Tring).
Since 1975 Britain’s stock of pubs has dwindled dramatically – most Herts-based readers of Pints of View will be able to name scores of pubs that have closed in the county. Whilst the changing demands of pub-goers and social/economic conditions may have fed this decrease, what it reminds us is that if we want our remaining pubs to survive then we must support them – today the majority of pubs in Hertfordshire offer at least one cask ale – let’s all make a visit to the pub a regular occurrence. And that way more cask ale might be made available. Search for cask ale in your area by visiting https://camra.org.uk/pubs.
Copies of that 1975 guide are now extremely hard to find but today it can be found online.
