The Alford Arms in Dacorum - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Excellent service and the food was great too, the soft shelled crab starter was divine, the bollognaise was good if not spectacular, overall a lovely experience and we will definitley go back

Sat outside on a beautiful day, amazing service, comfortable seating and incredible food. Dog friendly 🐾

Beautiful pub with lovely attentive staff and amazing food! Definitely a new local favourite!

Amazing service. Friendly staff and very accommodating at the last minute. Food was excellent, wine was lovely and dessert hit the spot. Thank you for the excellent evening

Great pub and friendly staff, I love this place

Just visited this pub after a long local dog walk. Service was excellent and as for the food, one of the best Sunday roasts I've ever had. Would definitely recommend this to anyone. Top marks all round!

Recently paid a visit to this pub and had an excellent experience. Set in the countryside near to villages. Booking is essential and the car park is relatively small. The food was very good, lots of taste, well presented, and served with a smile. My only slight moan was my crab starter. I could find very little,if any, solid crab. If the crab was in the sauce that came with the dish, which was delicious, was the crab bit of this dish, then I apologise. Would definitely return, keep up the good work.

Always excellent. Came here again for dinner my wife’s birthday this week . The food was excellent. Salsarah is without doubt the best waiting staff ever. What an asset to the business.

Went there recently for lunch for our 55th wedding anniversary. The weather was glorious so we sat outside on sheepskin covered picnic bench. Had a lovely cider and beer. We had four starters between as they looked very exciting to try lots of different dishes. The staff were very attentive and we had a thoroughly wonderful meal.

Experience great. Food excellent , atmosphere very charming and comfortable , staff , attentive , professional and charming .food locally sourced , interesting Tasty and beautifully presented . Hard to Improve A gastronomic pleasure , food,. Staff the whole ambiance , country location and service at its best ……..don’t miss out .

Wonderful food and the pub always makes you feel 'cosy' and at home. Staff and atmosphere so friendly and just the perfect day/evening.

Visited for dinner on a very hot Sunday evening. We had booked a table by phoning a couple of weeks previously as although the website states the kitchen is open until 9pm it does not appear possible to book a table online after 4.45pm on Sundays - our booking was for 7pm and we were not asked if we wanted inside or outside seating. Unfortunately all the outside seating had been taken so we ended up eating inside where we were one of only 3 tables so there was no atmosphere. It was very hot inside with no air conditioning and as a result we did not stay for dessert. Having said all that the food we did have was excellent and the service, which could have been a bit prompter, was very friendly.

We had dinner at the Alford Arms and we can strongly recommend it. A lovely August early evening, and even at 6.15pm the place was pretty full and buzzing both inside and out. Despite that, and with at least one large party to manage, the service was attentive, friendly and light-hearted with no sense that the staff felt under pressure. The meal - from an imaginative and creative menu - was excellent and all three courses were well presented. It was clear that, although busy, the kitchen was well in control of demand. A very enjoyable evening and good value too.

Beautiful cosy and a very friendly pub. The food is delicious. The staff is always attentive and kind

Visited this pub for the first time on a weekday for lunch (2nd July 2024). Very friendly service and they quickly found us a table which we were very grateful for. But the food turned out to be very disappointing. Very limited choices on the menu to choose from so we did not brother with starters. I had to choose a pasta dish with chicken (orzo pasta with chicken thighs) which was nothing special with extremely salty breaded chicken. The Rib eye steak was fine. The Affogato for dessert was terrible - I don’t know how they could go so wrong with Affogato but it was the worst affogato I’ve had and I always choose affogato in any restaurant that offers it so I was not able to finish it. A very disappointing place to eat. And the food is seriously over priced for what you get. I was not impressed by the toilet facilities either and one of the toilets seemed to be blocked. Won’t be going back.

No fish listed on menu available, rest was average fare. While the outdoor eating area is nice this restaurant is now a shadow of what it was 10 years ago.

Nice variety of food, excellent service

This was my third time visiting the Alford Arms and it never disappoints. Great service, beautiful setting with some lovely walks nearby and absolutely delicious food with locally sourced ingredients. We love that the menu changes monthly with daily specials so you can try something different or stick with the classics!

Lovely roasts, lovely beer in a lovely location. What more could you want? The service, that was very good too. Will be back for more very soon

First time actually eating inside inthe restaurant. Excellent, we will be back again (we are local).

Always a good experience to eat at Alford Arms on a summer evening. Great food

Service - outstanding! Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE was super friendly and attentive. We felt at home, as soon as we walked through the door. Food - contemporary, with some lovely flavour combinations. We had the pea panna cotta for starters - slightly bland on its own, but beautifully balanced when eaten with the peppery rocket and asparagus salad. For mains we had pan fried salmon in a katsu sauce (delicious!) and beef ragu (also tasty) for mains. Since it was a celebration, we treated ourselves to rum baba too - served with coconut sorbet and mango and chilli salsa. A beautifully tantalising dance for your tastebuds. I loved the sorbet - my husband would have preferred creamier coconut ice cream. Truly delicious - and needless to say it wasn’t long before our plates were empty! We had a truly wonderful meal. Dropped one star, as my husband had a stomach upset that night - which he thinks (but can’t be sure) may have been the ragu. Despite this we would definitely go back to the Alford Arms again.

Also excellent staff , particularly James who effortlessly manages very hectic restaurant dogs kids all in his stride , and certainly keeps us coming back for many years now .

Beautiful country ‘luxury’ pub. Delicious seasonable cocktails plus absolutely mouth-wateringly good food and generous portions. Set in an idyllic little spot with a lovely outside/inside dining area with fluffy sheepskins to sit on at wooden benches (plus inside dining). The lovely fella who greeted us at the bar and took our orders could not have been more welcoming and immediately gave us that, ‘we’re definitely coming back here’ vibe. All the staff were lovely too.

We popped in on Saturday afternoon, we only stayed for a quick drink and a bite. We sat outside the service was exceptional! The gentleman running outside was so happy about his work, he's truly a credit to the the place! If we had more time we'd have stayed alot longer!

Second visit and still very very impressed. First off fantastic hosts from the momeny you arrive to the moment you leave. First tme around I had the Sunday Roast beef which was amazing. Popped in their yesterday in the middle of a mammouth bike ride and ended up having 3 courses - with no reservation. First up the jerusalem artichoke sald which was simple but effective and very tasty. Next tried the crumbed sardines in a seafood broth with orzo - amazing. Rounded it off with the lemon posset. The bike ride home was slightly harder work. Off back next week with the kids.

Our favourite pub for food and lovely local walks. Always a joy to come here, keep it up and we’ll be back shortly

We were a group of six. Food was not as expected or previously experienced. The bubble & squeak main was too salty and too greasy and when mentioned was not deducted from bill even though hardly eaten. We ordered several bottles of wine but were not offered to taste them before drinking. Plates were handed to us rather than placed on table meaning the plates were cold and the food became cold before finished.

We visited here many years ago and much water has passed under the bridge since then (and I hear a fire as well!). This has been really nicely redone. The staff are fabulous, especially one, whose name we didn’t get, but she wears a bow on her plait. She couldn’t have made our lunch more agreeable. Fabulous choice of dishes, wines, and two birthday candles for my and my friend’s birthdays. A wonderful lunch out.

A member of staff outside was exactly the kind of person you’d want representing your business. He went above and beyond and his recommendations of the menu and wines were perfect. The steak and the orzo were lovely!!

We've had the pleasure of eating at the Alford Arms several times over the last few months, with good results however ... Our two most recent visits have changed our opinion. Among the numerous minor issues that collectively marred the experience: - waited five minutes for menus before having to flag a waiter and ask for them - no drinks order taken - bucket of serviettes and cutlery hastily added to the table after order was taken ... with insufficient cutlery - main courses delivered while we were no more than halfway through our starters - no one checking on our meals - upon clearing the table, the waiter asked if we'd like anything else .... we request a menu to look at the desserts .... again five minutes pass before getting up and getting it ourself - staff not allowing guests to pass through the doorway from the patio before them - general lack of attention to customer service - waitress dropping the bill on our table while speaking to another server - no eye contact, no thank you etc. The food remains good, but that's only half of the equation. We'll stick with other options for the foreseeable future.

My husband and I come here regularly and really enjoy the food, drinks and general atmosphere of the restaurant. Also now that summer is on its way we will be spending plenty of time in their lovely garden. I just wish parking was better.

Lovely country pub . Great service - very friendly. Food was very good . Good range of beers ….

Not a bad place but quite small portions and London prices. Limited selection of beers. If you’re a fan of Camden beers stop over. Otherwise probably not worth it.

Hidden gem in a nice quiet location. Ideal stop on walk in county 🙂 very friendly team and fantastic food

Delicious locally sourced food and varied drinks menu as well as friendly staff and picturesque landscape.

Overall I had a good lunch there as it's a nice pub and the staff were great. However, I found the food a little disappointing. The quality of the produce was good but I found it lacking in flavour.

Really great pub. Very popular and rightly so. Lovely mix of dishes on the menu catering for all tastes, very good and cheerful service. And the dog is welcome.. And they have treats for the dogs too!

Brilliant menus full of interesting and well thought out dishes. The chefs cooked everything to perfection. Staff were welcoming and attentive giving excellent advise on wine pairings with meals.

I used to visit years ago when I lived in St Albans - had the opportunity to revisit twice over the last few months - what a great place - the wine list is interesting and diverse - the food is fabulous - and, the staff are just lovely - the location speaks for itself - so pleased to have the chance to revisit and that, if anything, it is even better than I remember it !

We are always blown away by the delicious food, wonderfully friendly staff and the beautiful setting of The Alford Arms. We had the rustic bread with the delicious baked garlic - super tasty! Followed by the bone marrow dish - absolutely delightful and the tasty beetroot salad. For pudding, we had the brownie with marmalade ice cream… so good! We would highly recommend a visit! We will be visiting again soon!

I went there with my colleague and the whole experience and environment was warm and welcoming. Definately a good shout for an outing.

Sunday Roast was very good, prompt service, good sized portion. Massive Yorkshire puddings, 3 options on the menu plus the usual lunch menu. Good beer selection.

Nice pub, we did not eat there. Drinks okay, just normal pub, nothing special

Delicious Sunday roast on a sunny day. Easy parking with spacious car park. Picturesque village setting with stunning architecture. Superb friendly service and reasonable prices. Highly recommend.

I really liked that they had space for my baby’s pram and we were comfortable enough to enjoy our lunch. The food was tasty. I want to thank our lovely waiter who was so kind and helpful and he was smiling as well! The serving was brilliant! I also loved the warm fireplace and the cozy atmosphere!

We had a wonderful meal , And the staff were very friendly and a great atmosphere too .

This is my absolute go to. Dog friendly pub. Amazing food with a proper nod to provenance and seasonality, and exceptional and friendly service.

Lovely place. Access road and parking a bit narrow but managed

We went for lunch to celebrate my husband’s birthday and it was a big disappointment! Don’t bother going as the food is way below par for its price. Food took 25mins to hit the table and the staff was not friendly.

5th March 2024 for lunch Staff were polite and friendly Food was bland and very overpriced We are experienced diners having ate in hundreds of pubs and restaurants in the last 40 years Would never go back.

The quintessential country dining pub. Refined pub food and great beer all in a beautiful country pub. Great for a stop on a walk or catching up with friends. The friendly staff will always be happy to assist.

Nice pub but too much choice on the menu to do everything properly. Went there for lunch during the week and my husband ended up spending the night vomiting and the next day in bed after having eaten the velouté of goat cheese followed by porchetta.

We had a lovely lunch at the Alford Arms on Wednesday. The new menu had some really good choices and it was difficult to chose. In the end I, I had scallops to start, followed by Coq au Vin. Others had Porchetta and Hake fillet. All were very good and the service was excellent. There are also vegetarian options available. This is not a cheap place, but well worth it.

A brilliant lunch at the Alford arms, service was super friendly and helpful and the food was delicious! Can't wait to go back!

Gorgeous pub, gorgeous food and service.

Amazing food, great wine and the best staff! Ellen was particularly good with us - thank you! All the food is locally sourced and is incredibly fresh.

A lovely pub we ate here and celebrated my cousin's birthday a little disappointed with my choice of dish but service good and everyone had a great time!

Crispy pork belly that was worth a 10 mile hike :) We will be back to try other things as all looked fantastic.

We visited with some friends after a very muddy dog walk, and we were greeted by Ian. He was so warm, welcoming and friendly. He immediately took our drinks order and got us food menus. He then offered to move us to a table with heaters, as soon as one was free. He continued to be friendly and attentive during our visit and he really enhanced our experience at the pub - it’s the best customer service I’ve had in the past 12 months. The food was also fresh, hot and delicious. Thanks for a great experience!

My review is based upon the last 4 visits both alone and with others. The food is superb and the staff are excellent. This is an impressive pub.

Looking for a nice sunday lunch for a family birthday and not disappointed. Staff were very friendly, service was excellent, and the food was absolutely delicious. Not very often a sunday lunch tastes like you would at home, but it was superb. Was very busy but not overwhelming and clearly popular. Will definitely go again.

Country pub with a lovely atmosphere. Interesting menu. We had a great meal at the Alford Arms. I had the flatbread with halloumi to start followed by the Bubble n Squeak as a main, which was served in the style of eggs benedict with the B&S acting as the bread. It was absolutely delicious. All the other meals we had were gorgeous too. I ended up having the spotted dick with custard for pudding. My only criticism was I would have loved a tad more custard. For me what the difference between the Alford and most other so called Gastropubs was the service. It was absolutely top notch. Alovely experience all round and we will definitely be coming back.

Our favourite pub. Food, drink, and service are always excellent.

Took an hour for us to get our food the other day, people who ordered 20 mins after us were getting theirs. Waiter was obnoxious instead of helpful when asked about the delay.

Very good food, service and atmosphere. A great place to stop off while on a walk. Now does coffee and cake for £6.00.

Great little pub set amongst a beautiful part of Hertfordshire countryside, nice selection of drinks as you’d expect, but asking customers to put on used boot covers is beyond pretentious.

Great allergy awareness and attentive staff. Wonderful food at reasonable prices.

Always a good meal with a lovely atmosphere but I am not sure I like their policy of adding 12.5% tips automatically

I dropped by today for the first time. The food and the beer were both first-rate, in a pretty room with an open fire and friendly staff. Fantastic.

My favourite destination pub. Can't beat the bubble and squeak.

Always dependable for good food and beer lovely pub

Busy , friendly pub that has good prompt polite service . Parking the car is a pain . Especially in the dark winter days .

As always, great service and food.

Nice atmosphere with open fires and traditional British pub feel. Good service and high quality food. 4 stars because portion sizes were on the smaller side, and this place isn’t cheap! (Had the pheasant)

I haven’t been to this pub for 10 years. I used to love coming here and this visit didn’t disappoint. Truly excellent food (the best shepherds pie I have ever tasted and that is a big ask), beautiful starters. The choice of food is impeccable and the staff are so friendly and attentive. I will come back in a heartbeat!

Great grub, as always - Delicious early supper

Eaten here many times and it's always incredible one of the best pubs I've ever eaten in

A great pub hidden in the Ashridge Forest at Frisden.First went there just after the turn of the century... that makes me feel old! Returned there on Christmas Eve,very busy but enjoyable.

Excellent country pub, super atmosphere, great location and excellent food

I’ll be totally honest here and say the previous negative reviews almost made us rethink our booking, but I am so glad we decided to try this pub for ourselves rather than rely on the few because we had a fabulous lunch. It was our first time going here and we received such a warm welcome. Every table was taken on a Monday which just shows how popular it is. The food menu is varied and has some wonderful ingredients. Our starters and mains were all delicious and enjoyed by the whole table. Don’t let the negative reviews put you off - try it for yourself, draw your own opinion and I promise you’ll come away with only positive words!

Consistently great fun, lovely atmosphere with really friendly, knowledgable staff and super food, with a regularly-changing and predominantly-British menu from a flexible and imaginative chef. Two favorites always present are bubble and squeak with hollandaise sauce (as starter or main) and a flavourful pork sausages and mash with gravy. Oh, and the fried courgette chips! The rest of the menu is consistently interesting with some delightful highlights. Charlotte, who is brilliant, concocts a couple of seasonal inventive cocktails which are difficult to resist. The current winter one involving home-made chilli syrup and whisky, is superb! The large and loyal set of well-travelled regulars, from town and country alike, wouldn't bother returning time after time if it wasn't an all-round superb pub. The only criticisms I can think of are that there are few real ales and no non-smoking outside tables. Nevertheless, the outside seating has, alternatively, lovely views beside the ancient village green or, well-screened-from-the-wind, parasol-covered tables with sheepskin rugs on the benches and overhead heaters. In the cosy bar the roaring fire is a magnet for two and four-legged drinkers. Very popular with walkers as a beautiful stop. Decidedly dog-friendly. NB: Food is always starters/mains/puddings -no sandwiches - which can be taken in the bar/restaurant/terrace. The restaurant - through an arch - is comfortable, nicely decorated and not isolated; still feeling part of the action. One feels comfortable bringing aged relatives and children alike. Clean and nicely-equipped loos! Whether here on a sunny summer's day or a blizzard-swept winter's evening, I defy anyone to be disappointed with this gastropub!

Not sure what is wrong with the other reviews as we had nothing but exceptional service and amazing food when we booked a table on a Friday night in December. Although for some reason the website only allowed us to book the outdoor seats the staff did everything they could to get us a table indoors. Since walking in the door everyone was smiling and the staff seem to really enjoy their job. The menu varies and uses locally sourced food so don’t be surprised if some of the menu is not available later in the day especially on a weekend. There are specials not on the menu and the special burger looked amazing! However we stayed with the menu. I didn’t take a picture of my Bubble and Squeak starter but needless to say that dish alone felt like a meal. The perfectly poached egg and creamy hollandaise sauce was absolute heaven. Next it was onto the main course. I opted for the turkey and a side of the chilli cauliflower whilst my partner thoroughly enjoyed the Mac and Cheese with a side of thin fries. The fries are beautifully cooked a light colour may make you think that they are undercooked but believe me that is far from the truth. Perfectly crispy and tasty and enough to satisfy two stomachs. Back to the roast turkey dinner and that was also very good, the roast potatoes instantly took me back to those at my grandparents. The type that has a thick crispy coating and perfectly fluffy innards and dipped into the Red Wine gravy was a sensation. I could have a mug of that gravy sat by a warm fire it was that good. Having finished the second course I was quickly running out of space in my stomach, Ian our server brought over the desert menu to tempt us and Christmas pudding was soon ordered! The pudding was delightful and light. The brandy butter had melted around and mixed in with the small jug of cream liberally applied. This finished me off and even the next morning I am still full. I cannot praise the Alford Arms enough. The staff are brilliant watching the camaraderie between the staff was entertainment itself. We will certainly be back to this hidden haven.

Not sure what is wrong with the other reviews as we had nothing but exceptional service and amazing food when we booked a table on a Friday night in December. Although for some reason the website only allowed us to book the outdoor seats the staff did everything they could to get us a table indoors. Since walking in the door everyone was smiling and the staff seem to really enjoy their job. The menu varies and uses locally sourced food so don’t be surprised if some of the menu is not available later in the day especially on a weekend. There are specials not on the menu and the special burger looked amazing! However we stayed with the menu. I didn’t take a picture of my Bubble and Squeak starter but needless to say that dish alone felt like a meal. The perfectly poached egg and creamy hollandaise sauce was absolute heaven. Next it was onto the main course. I opted for the turkey and a side of the chilli cauliflower whilst my partner thoroughly enjoyed the Mac and Cheese with a side of thin fries. The fries are beautifully cooked a light colour may make you think that they are undercooked but believe me that is far from the truth. Perfectly crispy and tasty and enough to satisfy two stomachs. Back to the roast turkey dinner and that was also very good, the roast potatoes instantly took me back to those at my grandparents. The type that has a thick crispy coating and perfectly fluffy innards and dipped into the Red Wine gravy was a sensation. I could have a mug of that gravy sat by a warm fire it was that good. Having finished the second course I was quickly running out of space in my stomach, Ian our server brought over the desert menu to tempt us and Christmas pudding was soon ordered! The pudding was delightful and light. The brandy butter had melted around and mixed in with the small jug of cream liberally applied. This finished me off and even the next morning I am still full. I cannot praise the Alford Arms enough. The staff are brilliant watching the camaraderie between the staff was entertainment itself. We will certainly be back to this hidden haven.

A very nice evening with 2 friend. Good service and food - with the exception of the Bubble and Squeak which has very little cabbage in it and was really just a potato cake with bacon and egg. Everything else was delicious.

Superb food and exceptional service. Love the atmosphere, decor, outside seating option for walkers and dogs is great. I would just say that this is in a tiny corner of a small village where parking is at a premium, so come early to find a space.

Foods very nice dessert beautiful I had apple crumble bought back memories

Went to the Alford Arms this afternoon with my wife for a cheeky afternoon tipple. The chalk board left of bar had a new range of winter cocktails, I had the Rum Apple Pie, James the manager made my drink and I have to say that it was absolutely bloody marvellous. We intend to return very soon on foot to sample the rest of the list. First class cocktails at a wonderful country pub.

Delicious food on a cold Sunday evening, cosy atmosphere with the fire, good wine and staff friendly and attentive

A local favorite that was such a pleasant surprise. Small and popular, reservations are a must and well worth the planning. What felt like an upscale restaurant hidden under the guise of a pub. 🤫

Came on a busy Sunday and was pleased to get a nice quiet table at the side, as it was our anniversary. Toilets were prestine. Did have to ask a couple of times for water and extra sauce / gravy. But it was busy so that does happen. Food was good quality. We enjoyed a local walk and would visit again. Suzy

One of the best sunday roasts I've had in a long time, a must try! I had the pork but the pie also looks very very good!

Brilliant. Service, food and wine all wonderful

I've visited this lovely pub several times over the past few years. Each time the hospitality and service has been great. The beers, wines and food are very good and I recommend it whole heartedly. The food is fulsome and a few lighter options on the menu would push the food mark to 5 stats, but that is a very minor criticism. I will be back, many times I suspect.

What a lovely restaurant, tastefully decked out inside. Great food and excellent staff made for a wonderful evening. Would definitely recommend for a couple or for family and friends.

Great food very busy so service understandably a bit slow. Parking always a but of a problem car park is small so normally park up in the road

We came here last year and had a great experience. Came back for a roast that was cold and disappointing a few months ago. Had a meal this weekend that was equally disappointing. Not sure what’s happened in a year or if the first time was a fluke. Nice cozy pub but I won’t be rushing back for food. Service is attentive.

Overall, a really great experience - varied and interesting menu, good drinks list, tasty food and attentive, friendly service. The only negative for us was the presence of several dogs, occasionally barking and, in one case, sitting up at the table in the restaurant. We're with Jay Rayner on this issue - not being able to dine without canine companions would put us off returning.

We had a lovely evening, good food and amazing service.

We have never had great food here but our friends wanted to celebrate a birthday here so we went. Food was bland and tasteless. Our friend who’s birthday it was and my wife left their pasta dish. Calamari starter was nice but spotted dick desert was dry and tasteless. We had to ask for more custard as there was only a smearing on the bottom of the plate. It’s a shame because the service was very good and location is lovely. That was definitely the last visit for us unfortunately.