Pret a Manger in St Albans

Tooooooo much wait , and the staff is not telling how much you have to wait more. Today morning , just now I went to collect the order a girl on counter said me wait one minute? After that I waited 10 minutes then I asked her how much more wait, she said 5 to 10 minutes more . She is not giving the value to our time she should tell earlier how long it will take more time. After that I left without collecting order I would not recommend NEVER EVER TOO MUCH BAD BEHAVIOUR 👎

The staff are great and the food is Prets high standards, but does the manager need to shout the made drinks out to the entire shop? Maybe keep it to a level that only the people waiting for their drinks can hear... its 7am, it's too early for such volumes!!!

Very helpful staff. Food good.

I have been going into Pret regularly in St Albans since it opened a number of years ago. I went because I liked the "vibe" in the place. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. I visited last Saturday (27th April) and, as regularly happens now, there is this one female worker who bellows out the name of someone's drink at the top of her annoyingly, screeching voice. (I just don't know how her co-workers put up with this all day?). The place has become dirty and many tables need repaired (they are rickety). Most of all, have a quiet word in that employee's ear. People go into Pret for the experience as much as the food. At the prices Pret now charged for their food, the experience is poor. You need to do better Pret.

The barista’s need a lesson in coffee making. Another PAM that doesn’t know how to do a Flat white.

An extremely busy pret but also the fastest I've ever been served even though there was a que because the staff have it down to a tee and are lovely and friendly. Thank you.

It used to be good value for money, especially the food quality. Now it is overpriced and the food is not great. You better off going to M&S next door and buy your sandwich/salad.

Stopped for a coffee and a snack, quite chaotic at the till, no available places, and what I noticed is that several tables occupied by people with nothing on the table or with laptops... Not sure how profitable is for business to have someone buying a coffee and sitting there in front of laptop for hours... Tables where dirty, cups, plates and crumbs... I visited on 1 April 24 as we visited Veraluminium park and the cathedral, and this is my opinion and impression of this Pret a Manger branch... Personal I won't return and don't recommend as I had a bad experience...

Half of my order is missing and I was charged the full price for the order. I do not recommend this place.

For nearly £5 I’d have hoped for my wrap to not be missing a third hidden behind the label. The guy shouting orders out across the room every 20s seconds is an interesting touch.

More and more of the menu is ‘unavailable’ at this branch of Pret. I’ve mostly stopped ordering from them, which if it’s their aim then it’s working.

I called them before I ordered as I had ordered from somewhere else and was disappointed with how the coffee arrived. The person that answered said that the coffee would have a sealed lid. Well it didn’t and the coffee was half empty it had spilled out and ruined the croissant as well. This is the last time I order coffee.

Their buns are so delicious. I suggest that they have a stove for people to put the buns out to heat them up, which will make them even more delicious.

Quality of food very low, staff could smile more, shop could be cleaner. If you are charging this much for your coffees at least make the experience pleasant. I probably wouldn’t bother much to leave a bad review if friendly staff. Not the type of vibes you need

Used to be a good cup of coffee, but nit any more. Wouldn't rush back.

Absolutely disgusting, but my order took this long

Half the menu is never available

All fine apart from sending wrong item

This time received full order and very fast. Thank you so much.

Everything perfect except for the air con ...too cold

Top-tasting brilliant hot chocolate with cream on top of a cappuccino by my top barista Daniel! ☕️☕️👌🏻😋✌🏻 Very nice ambience, however Xmas music is a bit inflational atm! 🎅🏻🎶🤪 hohoho! 🤷🏻‍♂️🫤

Was charged £4.80 for an iced latte, have you lost your mind?

Quick service and excellent choice of food. Very nicely made.

Really disappointing visit today Are you aware that they charge at least 25% more if you eat in ?!!!!! I was shocked that my lunch came to £12 !!! When i queried this was told its the eat in surcharge. I never been so lost for words. The macaroni cheese inflates in price from £5.67 to £7.09 Just because you're eating in on a dirty table that you have to remove the previous occupants leftovers and crumbs from, plus the luxury added bonus of a wooden fork to eat with. There's no waiter service and the food is not cooked fresh as you order. This is very poor given restaurants in St Albans offer set lunch menus for £8. I even took my crisps and cake back to work with me, despite having been charged extra to eat those in too. The macaroni cheese wasn't even enjoyable, I suspect sitting in the heated cabinet had made the pasta rubbery and the cheese was all congealed. I shall not be visiting again on this basis.

Prices raising, sizes shrinking. Shame

Order changed without informing me. Couldn’t get through to staff to change order. If seasonal menu items are unavailable, please take them off the list on this website.

Missing item (again), warm can of soft drink, and idiotically packed with chocolate right next to a hot food item and hence half melted. Also the usual half of the menu unavailable.

Item missing, not enough milk in coffee

Do not received my order. Driver bring me just sandwich but I said that I need full order. Would like full refund or full order!

Lots of seating space but can get very busy around 12:30-13:30

Just bought cappuccino here and it wasn't drinkable, its way way too bitter.. can the manager try to taste the coffee and see for themselves? Maybe retrain the barrista?

I would like you can make the opening hour longer in summer as I pass by 5:30pm every day and already closed. It is a pity!

Wow so disappointing… went in for a porridge bowl and when I asked for the small sachet of honey that always comes with the porridge, I was rudely told by Alexandra (proposing as the manager) that Pret don’t give honey. I then queried her as for years I have recieved this, to which she then changed her answer saying they don’t have any because nobody has brought it downstairs. ?? What? How can you refuse a customer honey in their porridge because your staff hasn’t brought it downstairs? So I then asked if she would give me her name as I would like to raise a complaint. She at first refused and argued that I have no authority over her and she does not have to give me her name. I replied that surly if she felt she had acted accordingly then she should have no problem giving a customer her name. She still refused to give me her surname. All I wanted was a silly little sachet of honey! That apparently was upstairs in a box somewhere. FYI Starbucks has no problem giving you as many honey pots as you like, and berries, and seeds. Why did I go to Pret!! Pret A Manger literally means ‘ready to eat’… well my porridge wasn’t.

Only went in to buy coffee so I coud use the loo. It's all very nice.bit dark bit jeez Louise it's expensive

Missing product (crossaint) No main bag as got distroyed on route. Barely no milk in tea.

Food is great - creative and nutritious. Staff always polite and efficient

I love their coffee usually but this time they gave me a coffee that was cold and wasn't a flat white anymore. I drink flat white for years and i know that this coffee was laying around for a few good minutes at least. Disgusting.

The place was cold, lacked atmosphere, serves 'drink in' in takeaway cups and is overpriced. The staff need to check out Costa next door...

One star for nice seating and facilities. One star for nice food and coffee. Lost three stars because I feel ripped off by the pricing - changes every time! Last visit a coffee and smoked salmon breakfast roll £7.50 and I protested without response, today £6.75 - used to be around £4 🤷‍♂️😣 Won’t by stop there again when a (better) coffee and cake in Nero’s is a £5 plus a loyalty scheme ✔️

A shame that it feels pretty clostrophobic and quite noisy. The staff were unwilling to warm my chocolate croissant. And there's only one size latte

Paid good money for coffee watched the so called 'brista' make a very diluted 2 shots of coffee and then shared it with at least 3 drinks not on!?

My friends and I came to this establishment to help revise for our upcoming exams. We were all paying customers and took up a table for 8 people with 7 of us sat at it. After 3 hours of us spending money on food and beverages there, with many free tables around us, we were asked to leave the premises, as we had only purchased “two drinks” - which was entirely false and based off the fact he could only see 2 drinks on the table, as all our other beverages we had discarded ourselves, in order to cause less disruption and work for the employees. We had caused no disruption and were quietly working, and had spent at least £50 in the cafe. The free tables surrounding us made it clear nobody was being denied a table due to us taking up the correct amount of tables for our party. We won’t be coming to Pret again to study in the future. I would just like to clarify that it was only one particular member of staff that had a problem, the rest of the staff were lovely and served us our food and beverages with no problems.

the subscription is a great idea, but they cut their hours so it’s useless. Not acceptable to close at 4:30. The other prices are silly

Of all the places to eat in St Albans, why would people choose Pret? A clinical and soullese bun fight. I'm sure people have their reasons...which I imagine include buying a baguette to eat at your work desk.

Most of the times they cant make you a Frappé. I dont know why is that.. never give you a reason. Maybe its more hardwork then just pouring a hot drink from a machine. Cancelling my subscription.

Really not on top of keeping the place clean and free of wrappers and used coffee cups. Needed to clean up the area before we could eat

Typical Pret, busy and noisy. Food is OK but a bit over priced in my opinion, coffee is fine. Nice location in St Albans

great service from Muhammad Ghaznavi excellent service. delicious food 🍱

Not great. Below usual Pret standard

Cold coffees in small soft drink cups. Coffees spilled in delivery bag which has made the 2 pastries soggy. Tiny egg and bacon baguette which isn’t served warm. I should’ve just stuck with Starbucks.

Sadly, I haven't received all sandwiches I have ordered. One was missing, but I was charged for it.

Excellent local sandwich and lunch stop.

They saying close at 6pm but at 5pm door close

The coffee and food are all very average. The only thing is its central location.

Coffee has taken a distinct downturn. Watery and bitter. Always served from paper cups when drinking in

They have a collection area in the pret where its a free for all when it's busy. Anyone can take your drink or take one without paying. Had a an order and when they read out the three drinks that I ordered. I went up to collect them,but someone else thought it was theirs and took a mocha. I had to ask for one,after there weren't anymore coming. Received a 'mocha' but if they call a latte a mocha then I guess I recieved one.

St Albans branch - rude, unhelpful manager Karl. Please consider improving your soup recipes to cater for people with allergies such as garlic currently none in the range do!

The hot chocolate just tastes of milk the wraps are £5 so overpriced

Disappointing. Place is gloomy and untidy. Pay extra to eat and drink in, no trays, paper cups: what am I paying extra for? Staff not that helpful

Took over an hour when the estimate was 25mins and the food was cold.

Coffee not packed properly yet again… spilled everywhere, delivery driver kindly offered to buy me a replacement coffee. AVOID ordering coffee from St Albans Pret, they don’t pack properly and don’t care if it spills, just blame the delivery driver.

Very disappointing - bad coffee

Coffee is leaking 1/3. All food is moist. My croissant flatten like a pie. I’m not always write review if situations not go too far, but this time is really bad, I don’t know is who’s fault. But that’s it

There was an issue with the coffee leaking on the sandwich. The other items were not affected.

Just had a frappe each... Very nice, Staff are so good and hardworking.. well done

only 1 of 4 crosissants were delivered. obviously out of stock but not note from restaurant.

Coffee split through bag and spilt everywhere before even delivered

Coffee is rather strong and staff not helpful if you need help and can get very crowded around midday

Needs to be a more hygienic place

Coffee is good but St Albans branch is to crowded with tables. So not as good experience as the Costa next door. That said the food is always great.

It's so annoying. Why do they lock the toilets! I'm there with my disaed son a d just can't go in a d use them..stop it! It is a basic facility if you serve food and drink, and not something to throw barriers up about.

Decent food and always quick service

Visit today -drink delivery poorly managed with long queue of people and some having to wait longer than other customers to the extent that they would have to ask where their drinks were. Not good if you see lots of people arriving after you, leaving with their drinks before you. My order of two lattes had one cup very hot and half full and the other cup full and tepid. Disappointing to the that the barista would have seen that the two drinks were not the same.

Many lines not available with some items looking less than fresh ☹️ The fridge containg the drinks was broken, I reported this to one of the assistants who was excellent, immediately got us some ice, he reported the issue to his manager who sadly did nothing. I hope the warm fruit juices etc, do not cause anyone upset stomachs.

The only thing is that one never knows what time they are going to close

I only bought a sandwich worth £4.25 a couple of days ago when I visited St Albans. Only today I looked at the receipt, I discovered that I was charged for a latte too. It made me angry. Be aware!

Generally can't go wrong with Pret. I'm a big fan of the philosophy and the food. But some of drinks served on the last visit were really sub par; I'd expect better.

Never cheap but always good quality, the best coffee shop on any High Street.

Always my go to place for coffee sandwiches and drinks. Very friendly customer service.

HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE! Was waiting at the till to collect my toasted sandwich and forgotten to collect my drink and only realised passing in front of the collection point. I asked the head barista what the drink on the counter was to which she replied “Can’t you see?”. She then asked what I’ve ordered and said “take it then” pointing at the drink. Pret’s food is nice and everyone walking in already knows that, however, the difference from other chains is made by the customer service which failed terribly at this branch.

Dissapointed my cappuccino was only half full

It's good right but also a safe option - not going to rock your world but it will always deliver!

A bit crowded, masks were worn but little or no social distancing. Coffee and sandwiches were good however.

I come here all the time and they are the only place that always gets my order right. Great deal with the subscription too.

busy ,but cleaned down tables .too noisey.coffee good.

Great staff, great location. One of my favourite places to have tea in st Albans

Although it has been extremely busy today, David has offered a fantastic customer service while I was waiting for the other customer to pay while she forgot her card. Thank you very much David!

Many tables rock on unsteady foundations, but other than that it’s a great coffee shop. Deceptively spacious, coffee’s great too.

Choice of pastries is good, and they are always fresh. Pain au raisins often still warm from the oven

Great food and drinks reliably provided by fantastic and courteous staff.

Went in today for a coffee and sandwich..I am 76 and have a back problem. there was a que of 6 people standing waiting for their coffee so I went into the empty part of the cafe I sat on my own 10 metres away from the que.first one rude individual told me I couldn't sit down..when I refused to stand up he got a 20 st bully to tell me if I didn't stand with the rest of the customers he would throw me out..wonderful customer service. I will never set foot in a Pret a manger ever again..disgraceful behaviour

Quick, usually fairly friendly -- please update your hours! This location is only open until 5pm most days not 9pm

Over priced, over crowded and badly designed. Rude staff.

Good collection of food including salads and coffees. Huge sitting arrangement, nice atmosphere, great place to meet friends in the heart of the St Albans town centre near M&s Extra charge for eating in, staff are not friendly.

Food is normally good and the coffee is surprisingly good too! Service is often a little chaotic.

Generally OK but not today. Asked for an Americano with two extra shots. Person behind the counter totally confused about what two extra shots meant. Argued with me that there was no such thing, was pretty impolite about it too. Eventually agreed to provide me with a drink containing an extra shot plus another extra shot. Bizarre and embarrassing. Photo of americano with extra shot plus extra shot included to illustrate the complexity of the order 😒

This is a great Prett with friendly helpful staff. The store is acutally quite big but you will be lucky I'm normal times to find a seat as it is pram city. All your typical Prett food on offer and conveniently located on the high steet next to boots. So if I am visiting St Albans this is always on my lunch list.

Nice and quiet place to meet friends for a coffee which very tasty

I love there defrosted cakes and burnt coffee beans . I also love the extra charge for eating in a cramped dirty environment, and my personal favourite pricey drinks for less liquid. you guys sure know how to run a business. I fill abused

My favourite sandwich eatery. I believe they are only let down by not offering sizes for some of there hit drinks. Something they had to do for the US market but refuse to offer in the UK.