The Candlestick Pub in Welwyn Hatfield

Recent refurbishment of windows and doors more cosy now great!

Lovely pub. Go here more or less every Saturday now. Beautiful location. Staff are lovely and friendly. Food is great and very reasonably priced. Would highly recommend!

So pleased to see The Candlestick has reopened 😊 fab generous roast lunch with lovely roast potatoes and good selection of veg, very reasonably priced too. Delicious puds, friendly staff with very well kept gardens and lots of flowers; cosy and clean interior and welcomes dogs; cannot fault it. We will be back and I wish the new owners good luck with the pub 😍 Edit: went to The Candlestick today, delicious and very reasonably priced lunch, toasty fire and very friendly pub, highly recommended…again! ☺️

Proper pub grub, friendly and very afichant bar staff every visit I feel very welcome worth a visit also a dog friendly pub

It was a wonderful experience in this pub! We were able to park the motorhome in the large parking lot, got fantastic food and the drinks were perfect! The service is extremely friendly, so we immediately feel very welcome! We had drinks from the region, we received great advice and got to know completely new beers. Many thanks to the entire team – we really enjoyed it with you!

Always a great welcome, great service, friendly atmosphere. Food home cooked and well presented. Caters for everyone, families, couples and even if you go by yourself always feel comfortable.

Only marked the atmosphere down because we were the only ones in there at lunchtime. But very friendly and obliging and the food was delicious

The food is OK for the price, tasty chicken curry. It took over an hour to come out. Staff are lovely l.

Great pub which had definitely improved since I first new it. Reasonable priced and a good choice of real ales etc. Lovely views from a well presented garden. Highly recommended Visited a few times since and still has good as it gets, highly recommended

Real ale, good food value for money,a real country side pub fantastic views, play area with bouncy tractor and cow

Great welcome Good food Lovely drinks Perfect service A lovely setting

If your looking for good food at a reasonable price with an amazing gluten free fish and chips this is the place to go friendly staff and great atmosphere

Haven't been to this lovely country pub for year's so decided to give it a go and have lunch there on a sunny Saturday..and boy what a treat as the food my partner and I had was exceptional and being a chef myself no a good lasagne, welcome from a lovely lady behind the bar and we will certainly be returning soon . .

Had prawn baguette could do with more prawns.

Really good food served in clean and bright surroundings. The grounds boast quite a fine menagerie - peacocks, sheep, ducks, geese, goats and I am sure others I've missed out.

This is a great place to eat, especially on those nights when you don’t feel like cooking! It’s good value for money, busy and buzzy with proper sized portions. When you ask for a mixed salad, that’s exactly what you get, no tired old leaves thrown on a plate in this pub, you get everything. There is nothing missing. The staff are really nice and nothing is too much trouble. My family have eaten here three times in the past two weeks, I think that says everything.

Great pub. Good choices on the menu. Fantastic garden.

Gin slushys were yum! Good food. All the animals are great for kids!

Great venue, great food and great staff. Outside space is brilliant, plenty for kids to do, animals a treat. Will be back soon no doubt

Meeting with friends mid-way between where we all live, this is a family friendly local village pub. Food was lovely and we felt at home.

Serves Abbott. Nuff said. Oh and the foods great.

I felt extremely appalled. This was not a manner of the food or quality of the pub, but the treatment of the ponies. There were 3 of them, all without fly masks or fly rugs, and one, a dark, ebony bay had an infected and swollen eye. There was also a lot of ragwort in the paddock, which was small and restricted. I hope this tragedy is fixed as the poor animals seemed sad and lonely. If this problem isn't resolved then I will be calling RSPCA of worse, as I feel the need for this mistreatment to be heard and managed in an appropriate way.

Real, cozy country pub. Traditional. Great lunch selection. We had steak and ale pies, mash and veg. Quiet, deep in the Hertfordshire countryside.

Food was a big letdown steak sandwich and burnt onions steak very tough. Prawn sandwich not up to standard . Plus a long wait

Very traditional choice of food but the fish and lasagne were both really tasty. Lovely place for families.

What a wonderful lunch! The food was delicious and the service perfection. When I mentioned that I love gravy the brought more for me :-) very recommended

Been a while since my last visit, since when the pub has changed hands. Arrived late lunchtime last Saturday; pub was busy (a good thing) but current management obviously targeting a different demographic to their predecessors. Abbot was well kept and, whilst the steak was a little chewy, nothing fundamentally wrong with my sandwich (served in a ciabatta) although the accompanying salad could've used some dressing and all the mustard pots appeared to be empty. And something that really annoys me, paying my tab, the landlord asked if everything was OK "steak was bit chewy" I replied but he said nothing else as he took my payment! Why ask if you're not going to follow up on the answer. Bad enough when dealing with staff, but you'd expect more from the boss! Less than fifteen quid for two pints of Abbot and a sandwich; probably won't be back in a hurry.

We had an excellent meal, very good value for money. Huge carpark, we have a motorhome and were able to stay overnight with no charge. Great place for families too as the garden was very large plus it has a little petting zoo

Had a table booked here with friends at 7pm for dinner once we arrived a party going on think they forgot our booking as they then told us electrical fault and no gas even tho fresh burgers were being bought out as we stood there. No phone call to cancel really disappointed as I suggested to meet and had friends coming from far!

Just eat here food was great and soooo hot service was great could not ask for more will be back for sure

Loads of lovely animals in the garden

Didn't eat but drinks good. Massive garden.

We love it here. Tim was a great host. Food great. Dogs loved it. Miss the ploughman's. Always feel welcome.

A cute pub with beautiful surroundings.

Great Pub, friendly staff set in a lovely area

Great food and good price, highly recommend

Served by friendly staff, clean throughout. Lovely and cosy inside. I will be having food next time, it looked amazing and really good prices. Good selection of drinks available, again at reasonable price. The outdoor area is fantastic with lots of seating.

It's a church so, food, service and atmosphere, in restaurant terms isn't relevant 😂 But it is a beautiful church with Tolkien history attached

Great hospitality! A friendly team, good value varied food options and a lovely setting. The addition of animals and activities for the kids is a great touch and makes this a true destination venue. Will visit again when in the area

Great pub, friendly staff, good atmosphere. Food was very nice. A little out of the way. Have a nice big garden with outside seating. Dog friendly. Have visited a few times still a nice place.

Lovely food, roast was a large portion, more than enough, and im a big eater. Very dog friendly 👍👍

Came here with some friends for Mother's Day lunch, beautiful country pub, such a lovely calm atmosphere, excellent service, friendly staff, fabulous roast, nice beer, lovely open fire and good value for money. We'll definitely be recommending to others and will be back! 🙂 Tracie & Paul Carter

Called into the pub for the 1st time on Friday, we liked the pub as soon as we pulled up. They have a lovely duck pond and animals, which my little nephew loved. We all said it will be lovely in the summer as they have a large beer garden. Had a bite to eat and it was very tasty, so much so we booked for Mother's Day. It did not disappointment, the roast was very good and there was plenty of it. When we finished the meal, myself and my mum was given a bunch of daffodils and a beautiful presented mini bottle of pink procecco, it really is the little things. We will definitely be back as the staff are very friendly and welcoming, by the time we left we felt like the The Candlestick had been our local for years.

What a fantastic original building/ pub the food is superb and very reasonably priced. Lamb mint pie is a must if you go, chunky chips perfect. Can’t wait for the weather to get warmer to explore the animal farm and kinds playground. A very welcoming public house.

Fantastic food, great service. We were made to feel very welcome here and would definitely come back again. Very dog friendly, they even had beds out for them. We had squid and fiery prawns to start, hunters chicken as a main, pudding was brownie and jam sponge, all cooked to perfection and extremely well priced. Thankyou for a lovely afternoon. Xx

Lovely friendly pub incredible service

Best Sunday dinner I have had in ages, great selection of meats available. As well as regular menu. Roast Beef melted in mouth, great selection of veg, comes with Yorkshire puddings, stuffing and sausages. Will be going again. Gets busy on Sundays may be best to book, we call in on the off chance and managed to get a table ( just)..

Such a cute little pub. Never knew it was there.

Friendly staff, food was worth the wait. Changed hands since the last visit. The garden will be great in the summer,with new attractions of animals.

Brilliant customer service and so friendly and welcoming. Very good hostess couldn’t do enough for us, it was my sons birthday and I forgot a cake so they made him a special pudding to celebrate. The food was great, very reasonable priced. We have 3 yappy small dogs but they were welcome and perfectly behaved.

Great pub, good beer, very acceptable pub food pretty cheap, In a wonderful out of the way location. An absolute definite for summer evenings outside, can't wait.

One of my favourite local pubs. Good atmosphere, huge garden so perfect for kids and reasonably priced food and good drink options. Incredible fish finger sandwich 🐟😂

Lovely welcoming pub with a fire being lit as we arrived. We were too early for food this time (unfortunately) but will be back again next time we are walking in the area

A friend and I were looking for a late Sunday lunch, and we found this place on Google, only fifteen minutes drive away. Despite being after 3pm, the pub was still bustling with diners and dog-walkers, the atmosphere was very traditional and welcoming. We asked if lunch was still being served and were presented with the Sunday menu. All very standard, no surprises, but no advertised veggie option for my friend. We asked about it and the bar man said that he could add a veggie item from the standard menu, so my friend opted for a bean burger. We ordered drinks and after the bar man consulted with another staff member, some other alternatives were offered and he said that the chef could make a filo pastry, spinach and ricotta slice, if that would be better. My friend was made up with this and the veggie gravy they made for him too. We waited a little longer for this (which we really didn’t mind at all), but when the meals arrived it was worth every minute. We were offered extra gravy, sauces etc and the food was plentiful and delicious. Service, atmosphere, food and drinks were all spot on. We absolutely will be returning!

We came here for a Sunday Roast. The trio of meat was lovely thick cut meat, real gravy, great potatoes and simple but perfectly cooked veg. They didn't have a veggie roast on the menu but the team offered a selection of alternatives, I ended up with a fresh tasting feta & spinach pastry with the roast - lovely. Pricing is very reasonable too. Nice friendly crowd. Quite a few dogs, all well behaved and friendly too. Lovely clean traditional style pub. Absolutely huge south facing garden that looks like it'll be gorgeous in the summer. I'll definitely be back.

Just spent the nicest evening at the Candlesticks. The room is clean and has everything you need. The dinner was superb, Nellio the owner was the nicest host, the food was amazing can not fault anything. Yes some people may not like the D.I.Y breakfast, for the price if it’s not for you just go to the local cafe for a fry up.

Food is amazing, the chicken burger was so good. Friendly staff and quick service. Such a lovely little collection of animals to pass the time for children while we were finish eating. Would definitely recommend.

What a fantastic, welcoming pub. Walked up from Welywn Garden City, with our dogs. Dogs welcome in the pub & a lovely garden. Great food & beer. Highly recommend a visit.

I had the misfortune to visit the candlestick pub yesterday for Sunday lunch; the quality of the food served as a Sunday roast was Dreadful. The Gravy was watered down and clearly from a packet, the chicken had been warmed up in a microwave, it was so pale it looked anemic with no roasted skin to be seen. we ordered a Lasagna, which was totally inedible. You hear so many sad stories of Pubs closing down daily; the owners of the Candlestick Pub have a decent clientele the pub was very busy yesterday, so a note to the owner: you have multiple reviews stating that your food is dreadful, do yourself a favor, employ a chief and make your pub a pleasurable experience otherwise you will be the third owner in two years to fall short at this pub. read your reviews and make a change before it's too late.

Didn’t have food but loved the outdoor space. Great for kids as there is lots of space for them to run around and even ponies to look at 🙂

Good old "pub" with food available if you wish, good selection of beers with good prices. Huge garden in the middle of the countryside. In the process of installing pens for various animals. Car park needs sorting though. Will be a great pub in the summer months.

Amazing pub with a wonderful walk, delicious food, great beer and very dog friendly, our pooch had a bed to sleep on and was given a treat by the landlord! Three very happy customers and will definitely be returning! Had the steak and onion rustic sandwich and would definitely recommend!

Decided to try the Candlestick for Sunday lunch, having read the recent positive reviews. Phoned ahead and was assured that we didn’t need to book and could just walk in. Got the last table inside and promptly ordered food for our group of 3 adults and two kids under 5. Waited 50 mins for the kids meals to arrive and an hour for the adults. The roasts were dreadful - broccoli so overcooked it was mushy, tasteless water-thin gravy and just one slice of well done beef. The Yorkshire pudding was ok. My kids’ spaghetti was slightly undercooked. We were all so hungry by the time it arrived that we would’ve eaten anything. Didn’t get a chance to complain as no one asked us even once whether everything was ok or how our food was. Such a disappointment as the pub is in a lovely setting. They shouldn’t accept walk-ins if they can’t cope, and the food really needs a lot of improvement. Sad to say we won’t be going back.

I’ve been coming to this pub for fifty years and it’s had its share of good and bad landlords but the current family really have made a difference. Visited last weekend and was very impressed with the food and drinks, not too expensive and the steak sandwich was lovely. They really mean business as the outdoor seating and the rugby viewing area are excellent. Well worth a visit.

BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS....LOVELY HOMEMADE FOOD.....

Excellent staff very polite..food was very nice...Sunday roast...

Wonderful location . Wonderful staff . Food is excellent and the price is such good value for money . I am so glad to see the improvements that have already been made and will be back to visit with friends this week.

We’ve been wanting to try this out for a while and very glad we did . Firstly, and most importantly, Sunday roast dinner was lovely, and ample plus it was extremely well priced. Secondly the young staff were friendly and helpful and even made a crumble pudding from scratch rather than say it’s run out Thirdly the place is tidy and clean, including the toilets. Although there’s more to be done with the building it’s clear the owners care and this place deserves a visit . More covered/sheltered outside seating would really help them as space inside is limited. Worth considering there are a couple of good circular walks you can do direct from the pub, either to work up an appetite before or burn off some calories after . So glad we have places like this opening.

So pleased to see The Candlestick has reopened 😊 fab generous roast lunch with lovely roast potatoes and good selection of veg, very reasonably priced too. Delicious puds, friendly staff with very well kept gardens and lots of flowers; cosy and clean interior and welcomes dogs; cannot fault it. We will be back and I wish the new owners good luck with the pub 😍

New landlords clearly investing in the property with a duxk pond being built. Whilst food is of good quality for the price, service remains awful with insufficient and untrained staff behind the bar. No use having a nice pub if you can't get served!

Just changed hands and it was great. Food, drink and service was good and will be back soon.

What a beautiful location, loved this hidden pub. Sunday roast was such disappointment! Terrible food, was compared to school dinner roast! The most terrible roast we have ever eaten. Such a shame as we were going to invite lots of friends. Will be sticking with white horse at Burnham green where you pay £2-3 more but the food is delishious!

Brilliant food garden is beautiful we will go back

The Candlestick is under new management and they are here to stay. A lot of work has gone into this pub to bring it back to life and give the village of Essendon a new place to relax and enjoy a nice meal whilst supping a chilled pint in the beautiful garden. The pub also has set opening times...mon-fri 12 til 11 sat 11 til 11 and sun 11 til 10.30. So you wont be turning up to a closed pub like before.

things haven't got any better here. thought we would try it again, given it is local and changed hands (again). things havent improved i'm afraid and drinks more expensive than other pubs locally. dont go out of your way to try it.

Invited to a wedding reception held here. What an amazing place. Lovely spot and staff excellent food brilliant. We had a wonderful day. Thanks all, highly recommended.

My Sisters Wedding yesterday. Good food and lovely staff. You must try it x

Thank you to the Candlestick for an amazing wedding reception yesterday. It was a beautiful venue with the most amazing staff and incredible food. They couldn't have been more helpful and supportive. The food was delivered with no errors and no questions to the right person each time. A sign of a really good restaurant. Thank you so much for making our day so special. A perfect venue for any occasion. They seated 26 with no concerns. The only sad thing was the weather meant that the champagne and canapés had to move indoors, rather than under the canopy on the lawn. Weather sadly outside their control lol. 10 stars for the candlestick - many, many, many thanks. You made it so special.

Beautiful location but the food was very disappointing and overpriced. My wife and I had the roast belly pork. It was disgusting and clearly reheated in the microwave. The crackly was soggy and the meat tough as old boots. Veg was badly presented and possibly the worst roast potatoes I've ever had. My daughters both had the burger. They liked their food, but then they are children and weren't paying the £14 for such a small burger with a few chips and salad chucked on the side with no dressing. Starters were OK, but very overpriced. Only worth visiting for the views and a drink, definitely not for the food.

Good pub, good selection of lagers and food and good service

Stumbled across this pub one evening with the family, it's off the beaten track, but a very pretty location. There happened to be a quiz on that night. It was a great atmosphere. Good choice of drinks. Had gin and tonics. Barman very friendly and good service. Had the Chicken Parmigiana which was very tasty. Will be coming again,!

Had a delicious Sunday lunch here. Glad this pub is open again. For the sunny days there's seating outside with views of the fields around. Relaxing! Welcoming and friendly service too.

Nice to see you are open again Bar manager very friendly and good at his job Will see you again in a few weeks and will try your food

Two adults and my grandson came in for Sunday lunch, very welcoming friendly staff. Listened to my fussy Grandson ls requests. Amazing roast dinners, great drinks while we waited. Followed by delicious sticky toffee pudding and strawberry cheesecake. Will definitely be back.

It was very nice I couldn’t think a place better to go to and I would recommend coming here staff is very nice and respectful food was brilliant I will definitely come back here and tell my friends about it

A complete waste of a Sunday lunch. The pork belly was inedible, undercooked veg, cold food, even when we asked for it to be reheated. The staff obviously had no idea how to handle a complaint. I doubt the new management will last long with such an attitude. Disappointingly, totally not recommended.

Was quietly enjoying my drink when a confused-looking man came stumbling in. He started mumbling something about the Scottish referendum. Thankfully he moved on fairly quickly but it was a close call. Overall great staff, 10/10

Fab sunday lunch, lovely friendly atmosphere

Nice pub with nice views over country side. Had nice meal too

Lovely proper country pub on the outskirts of the village. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, and so an ideal place to stop for refreshments while out hiking. Nice seating area out front. Staff were friendly and the ales well kept. Didn’t try the food but would next time. Highly recommended and will definitely return.

Very friendly bar staff - would highly reccommend.

Called in for a mid-week snack and pint this afternoon. Friendly welcome, lunch was tasty and nicely presented. Good choice of local ales. Bit of attention needed in the ladies but easily remedied 😉 we're looking forward to returning on a warmer day when my hubby can walk and we can enjoy the beautiful walks in this area/sit outside in the nice garden areas.

We had a lovely lunch here on Boxing Day. My husband said the Gameskeeper pie was really good and so was my fish and chips - washed down by beer and mulled wine. Friendly pub with nice service

We enjoyed a lovely walk from Essendon through the woods and stopped here for lunch on a sunny Saturday afternoon we had warm chicken ciabatta sandwiches and beef and ale pie . Which were both excellent the staff were efficient and friendly and we were made to feel welcome . The pub is dog friendly and well worth a stop whilst enjoying the surrounding countryside.

Nice pub, fireworks were nicely done.

Fantastic food. Slow cooked pork belly with dauphinoise potato. Delicious

Had a great lunch pork belly veg great beer was made very welcome It has only been open for about 3 weeks will be going again soon

Food average dog behind bar which staff where pickin up and holding on bar .

i feel bad giving it a 2, because i wanted to try this pub as heard it opened again, but it really wasn't very good.. It was cold and damp in the bar area, with an old gas fire in the middle of the room. the beer wasn't great either. sadly wont be going back

The food was MmmmMm 😘and also the pasta oh 😽😻 highly recommend the pasta 🤤🤤 bye cuties 💕💕💕 ✌️