Pub Crawl Five - The Arms Amble

This pub crawl will keep you fit! As the name suggests it visits all the pubs in St Albans with 'Arms' in their name.
Starting from the city centre head towards WH Smiths and go down Upper Dagnall Street past the White Swan. Cross Verulam Road and head down Lower Dagnall Street. Pass the Farriers Arms on your right (save it for later) and visit the Verulam Arms on your left. This has recently (2006) been smartened up and now serves quality meals. Sometimes people sitting down for meals can outnumber those just popping in for a beer. Regular ales on offer are normally Black Sheep and Youngs Special as well as a couple of guest ales.

Turn left out of the pub and continue along Lower Dagnall Street, this road then becomes Mount Pleasant. Continue up a hill and after about five minutes turn right into Portland Street. Here you will find The Portland Arms. Built in the 1830's this is a good old fashioned Fullers pub and serves up top quality London Pride, ESB and Chiswick. The pub style food, served until 9pm, is also rather good.

After visiting the Portland Arms retrace your steps back down the hill and visit the third pub, the Farriers Arms. This is an old basic MacMullans pub with outside toilets. Normally MacMullan AK, Cask and/or Country are available on hand pump. Sports are shown on the small tv screen and there's a dartboard to one side of the pub.

Come out of the Farriers Arms and turn left crossing Verulam Road and head back to the city centre. Go north along St Peters street past Tescos, cross the road and visit the fourth and final 'Arms' pub, the Blacksmiths Arms. Unfortunately despite the two hand pumps on display this place no longer serves real ale. Apart from showing sport on the two plasma screens there's little reason to recommend this place at the moment. It's a shame as this pub was quite good a few years ago, they even held beer festivals in the garden.

You have now completed the Arms Amble.
Unfortunately the Kings Arms in George Street closed a few years ago as it would have made a welcome additional 'Arms' pub.