The Paper Mill in Dacorum

Sat outside with a gorgeous view of the river. Typical pub drinks and food. Small portions but tasty. Live music was played later on which was loud but we sat upstairs for a next round of drinks where it wasn’t too disruptive for conversation.

Good drinks, and a good atmosphere but be prepared to open your wallet

This bar is situated on the canal in Apsley Lock It is a gastro bar Food has improved beyond recognition. My monkfish scampi was exceptional. Do ask for the homemade curry sauce. Superb staff. Will be back soon.

Went for dinner with a friend and whilst a lovely location and great live band, we came away very disappointed. Service was extremely slow and the food was shocking. Paid £22 for 5 pieces of scampi, some chips and dried peas. Great place for drinks but I will not be returning for the food. Shame as this place has such potential.

We had a nice meal, everything was a little disorganised though. The drinks were nice if a bit expensive.

listen i hate reviewing places that are bad, especially when the workers are friendly but i want to be honest. i was not impressed with the food one bit. its very expensive, gastro pub prices yet the food is nowhere near representative of the prices they charge. the steak was tough and chewy, with the sandwich pretty bland, and the scotch egg was tasteless and very fatty. ketchup and vinegar was cheap which isn’t a problem but when you put it in a heinz and sarsons bottle at a pub that advertises as ‘top’ you are left a bit confused. the service was terrible, no one comes to the table and orders are put through randomly so we were left waiting 5 minutes after half of the food had arrived despite the order going through at the same time. we were also told that they didn’t do boxes or bags for left over food and handed over a roll of foil? you cannot do that and charge crazy prices for food. The building and area are lovely but i would really find another pub with better food

Food was great. Really nice to sit by the river with canal boats, wild life and the water just flowing by beautifully. Had a few dishes and drinks in the sunshine and left happy!

Lovely pub on the canal, good decently priced food.

Definitely recommended. This is a very attractive location by the waterside with an impressive bridge to frame the scene. It was Friday evening with ample tables outside allowing people to bask in glorious evening sunshine. Inside, on the ground floor, the large, open-plan space was already lively and hopping by 7pm. We had booked a table for 5 in the restaurant area upstairs and it was pleasantly quiet. So, you can choose which scene your prefer. We were very well looked after by Rosie, who was attentive and delightful throughout. I really don't understand previous comments about being 'pricey'- these are typical prices for decent pub food in 2025. We had a very good night out, Thank you.

Tonight I wasn't too hungry so went for the brushetta . Staff we too busy chatting to each other . Never had Brushetta with salad tomatoes straight out the fridge before . Not to my liking. Staff never approach me to even ask how my food was . I did eat it . Poor service and attention to customers.

I visited The Paper Mill in Apsley with a friend who was staying at a nearby hotel. We went for dinner, but it quickly became evident that this place is more suited for drinking than dining. We sat upstairs in the restaurant area, which was pleasant enough. There were a few other occupied tables, while most people were just drinking I think only two had food. We overheard a member of staff telling a larger group that their service charge had been removed due to poor service and another table desperately trying get someone’s attention to ask for the bill who it seemed had been forgotten about. Fortunately, our service was okay, but nothing special. Upon seating us (around 8 PM), the waitress immediately crossed four or so items off the menu that were no longer available. I ordered a cheeseburger, thinking it was a safe bet, but it turned out to be a letdown. As you can see from my picture, there was barely any cheese at all. The burger itself was just basic, nothing memorable, and the portion of chips was small. For £18, it felt overpriced—especially when compared to other places that serve much better quality food for the same price. £18 is the going rate, but it just wasn’t worth it. If you’re looking for a place to grab a drink, this spot is probably fine. But if you’re after good food, I’d suggest looking elsewhere.

Nice place... very relaxed with good views.

We stopped here for lunch after a birthday adventure tour. We were very satisfied with everything. The view is very nice, on a nice warm summer day, delicious food and friendly service.

This bar was just across the road from when we were staying…what a fantastic place…we were down for the cup final walked in with our black n white shirts on and within seconds were made to feel completely at ease by the all of fantastic bar staff and locals alike… big shout out to jay and Andy for making us feel so welcome it was an absolute pleasure to meet you guys…. Food was delicious and the whole atmosphere in bar was great..very friendly…after the final we walked in late on Sunday nite and bar staff gave us a round of applause coz Newcastle had won the cup!!…which we thought was amazing would highly recommend this place to anyone…thank you to everyone in the papermill who made a brilliant weekend into an even better one.

Such a wonderful experience at the Papermill. The staff are wonderful, attentive, and welcoming. Great customer service always! Have had some really good food with fabs and also come in for drinks quite frequently. Love the cosy and welcoming seasonal feel in colder months, with the cosy lighting and the indoor toasty fire; plus the balcony over the views of the canal, with outdoor seating and benches on the downstairs terrace by the water for warmer months! Honestly the best set up for a restaurant. Have seen they also awcrio off areas for some great celebratory group events here too and have the capacity for it with so much space and seating. Highly recommend!

Just had a weekend in Apsley and had a great night here and the food was really good. I was impressed by the staff who showed how a bar should be run!! Thank you Andy, Jay and the rest of the crew. Smart, clean and friendly bar, restaurant 👍

Just went for a meeting with a friend was a cold day so was good to sit bye the open fire great service as always

This place is stunning. Food is not cheap, but it's worth every penny. I strongly recommend this place for business meetings, or for special occasions. I visited there twice now, and trust my word now - insane atmosphere, great service, quality food, in addition location with water canal and sitting outside is just far away from outstanding. Outside even when cold weather - they do.have heaters for each bench. Inside they have two fireplaces where one is located in middle.of.the restaurant and its huge! The second one is located in quitet part of the restaurant. The real score I can provide with pleasure is 5++++ from me! I would give this place and food and atmosphere total of 9.8/10 Thank you for having us there, I will comeback really soon! Mike.

The service and the atmosphere is what really makes this place. The food did not taste fresh, with stale bread, and the lack of flavour in some of the dishes.

This a lovely friendly place and the food is good. We can also take our dog in there who gets spoilt with biscuits.

Great pub and amazing views. BLT was pretty good...

Food was great also service only "bad" thing was waiting time for our food....almost 45minutes but place was quite full so maybe was the reason.

We hosted a corporate event for 25 people in the upstairs room of The Paper Mill. The venue was perfect and had a great atmosphere. The food was delicious and delivered perfectly on time. The real highlight was all of the staff. They were so helpful leading up the the event, answering our many many questions and letting up deliver our event prop the day before and even setting it up for us before we arrived. During the event they were nothing but lovely and helpful. They made our event so easy. I would highly highly recommend The Paper Mill for events.

A lovely old-fashioned feeling pub. Spacious yet cosy. The various open fires add to the cosiness. There were plenty of food choices and some good deals on bar snacks. My daughter and I were both driving, so we opted for coffee, which was delicious, and alternatives to dairy were available at no extra cost. Staff were friendly and welcoming. Would definitely visit again if I was in the area.

Lovely pub. Good location and plenty of parking. Been many times and enjoyed each time. Good range of beer and cocktails. Service has been great each time. Nice fireplace too so perfect on a cold day. But also nice outside area. Food menu is good too and enjoyed each time. Just remember to register car if you park here

Visited today but only stayed 10 mins. Sat at our table which we had reserved no welcome from any staff. 1st thing I noticed was how many dogs were in this restaurant which made my mind up to leave along with the £7.50 price tag for a pint of asahi and 2 tissues on the floor which appeared to have dog poo on them which everyone just walked round. Great if your a dog but not for humans horrible atmosphere we left without ordering.

Lovely building and a great pint of ESB today. Just a pity that they let dogs in. How are you supposed to enjoy a quiet pint while a dog fight takes place next to you?

Lively pub next to the canal serves good beer and food. What more do you want.

Excellent service from really friendly staff (who provided a bowl of water for my dog and mopped the floor when he knocked it over). Food was good and reasonably priced. Nice location by canal with canal boats.

Such a great pub, with a really good menu for all the family. We last visited 3 years ago after a visit to Harry Potter World, and based on our experience, we did the same on our visit this weekend. We tried phoning to book, but without success, so took a chance and just turned up. Despite being busy, we found a table and ordered our food. It was quick to arrive and delicious - 4 completely empty plates! Just what we needed after a day of travelling and wizardry, and on a snowy evening! The staff were lovely, and it's a really lovely pub, in a great setting.

This place is good for food and a drink 👍

Food was really great, recommend the Duck Pie, wasn't on the menu so was a nice surprise, tasted amazing. Staff are lovely and very helpful 😊 Thanks for a fabulous meal. We'll be back again soon 😋💖

The Papermill has so much heart, the staff make every visit a good one. Our go to place for early doors in the week. Great atmosphere over the festive season and family meet ups. Thanks to everyone there!

Our first meal out in four years, due to health issues. The staff seemed so happy for us. They were so helpful, bringing drinks to the table. The food was lovely, and not expensive. I had expected a sort of "corporate" atmosphere. But it was clearly a friendly local (including for dogs). Very wheelchair accessible.

Lovely modern pub alongside the canal. Cosy in winter and has great canal side terrace for warm summer days.

The place is pleasant, with a large upper floor for groups. The food is correct, although we were disappointed by the presentation of the desserts.

Great beer and food. Friendly staff.

Good service and great atmosphere.

Only person at the bar and still had to wait 5 minutes to get served as bar staff where chatting to each other which is obviously more important than serving customers

Fantastic location right by the Canal you can sit outside and check out the boats coming & going at the lock while enjoying your food and drink. Dog friendly with doggy beer ( water + bowls ) & some dog treats available for well behaved 🐕 🐩 mutt's. Nice menu,nice food...A bit on the experience side for my wallet. Fuller's beer on tap at London prices!! 🍺 ☹️ Ouch 😳 Limited car parking/time (see signs in the pub car park for more information). Wheelchair friendly with disabled toilet (baby 🍼 changing) available with a lift to first floor 🚽 & upstairs restaurant seats.

Great place to gather with friends and have few drinks.

I am only giving a 5* because of the excellent service from Daniel, what started off with a very negative start and being told in the middle of winter if we wanted to sit down with our drinks it would have to be outside and there were no tables for food by staff downstairs turned into a great experience by the excellent customer service by Daniel upstairs who said he could accommodate us for food, the rest of the evening was fantastic , great service , excellent food. You have a great member of staff with Daniel, he clearly shows to enjoy what he is doing and does it very well.

Went here for a team Christmas meal and it was super fun and delicious food. I had a naughty Cosmopolitan before the meal which was delicious!!

Ended up here on a Sunday night, planning a meal and drinks. Got there too late for the Sunday roast as was sold out which tells you the food was decent, and when I ordered a meal it was pleasant enough. Pub was less than busy, atmosphere was a little odd, cliquey, everyone knows everyone it seems. Friendly enough, nice location by the river, but drinks are pricey. Worth a stop on a nice day but wary about staying too long

Eating lunch at the Paper Mill, on a bright summer's, sitting by the canal, you could almost forget you're in Apsley.

Nice pub by the canal, food a bit expensive though.

We performed (The Chevtones)at The Papermill and the place was buzzing,great atmosphere,great pub and very helpful staff!

Great pub on the river. Really good food. Recommended but book first

They were under-staffed, and service was slow.

Louis was so helpful, flexible and supportive, everything I needed for my dads funeral wake. The buffet was great, maybe just a bit of side veg or salad options would be nice additions ar options

My husband loves this pub as it’s a fullers, I love this place for the food and lovely relaxed atmosphere. The food helps as well. We bought my Father in law for Sunday dinner up in the restaurant area, he loved it so much, we have booked for Christmas Day

Great pub with a nice atmosphere. Get in early if you want a roast

A very lively restaurant with lovely selection of dishes and catering for vegetarians with more than one option. Desserts were great too. Staff always at hand for advice, although some new staff did not know their beers yet, but no big deal!

Beautuful place, beautiful location, beautiful food. Had a lovely meal with my family, kids had a great meal. All 6 of us left full. I wish we could have stayed longer....Great atmosphere

Very over priced for what you get. I had the most expensive starter and didn't even come with bread. Would recommend, if you are not paying!

Great service and helpful staff, reasonable selection of drinks and wide ranging menu. Food was acceptable but nothing special and overpriced in my opinion for the level of quality.

Went there with a date for couple drinks and loved the place , athmosphere , location , parking . Nice and quiet by the lake! Has to be lovely in the summer time

Quiet for an evening but not bad food, if a little over-priced.

A really lovely meal with 3 generations of the family getting together. Daniel’s service was fabulous, attentive and friendly and he coped with the needs of our large party with ease. Thanks Daniel.

This pub is not only on a great spot with canal views with wild life and cozy fire place. The food is amazing especially the sweet potatoe fries wow..all is home made so defo recommend the pies.. dog friendly. Just a great place to go for food and atmosphere . I live near by and go there when i go for a walk. Its beautiful. The staff are so helpful and friendly too. There is a Mr muscles bar tender who is so funny and so friendly.. the staff are lovley. Going again next Sunday

It's ok, beautiful outside on the lock, food expensive and all of our meals were served cold. The mains were nice tasting but we all had different sized portions, the desserts were tiny & not worth £10 for 3 slices of banana and a squirt of cream in a tiny pastry case for a "banoffee pie" 🥧 ! No toffee ?! Staff good and helpful though. Thanks

Expensive but has a nice location.

Well cooked pub fare. Staff very pleasant. Had an excellent lunch

Bar staff were attentive until asked about our reserved table ( place was 70% empty) a lackluster person showed used to a dirty table. All their costs seemed to be reduced by making the customer do the running around. But they manage to bring the food to the table (clean now after requesting a lackluster person to give it a wipe). No Sunday roast (seems when you book a table you should also book the meal?) two people arrived after us and were served the roast! We settled for fish and chips which was acceptable for €20 but most places can get F&C on a plate. I don’t normally get frustrated at foodie places but they obviously prefer to chill rather than provide a service.

Jay is an excellent bar man who is extremely friendly and popular. He is incredibly welcoming to me and my family. He takes time to remember peoples orders and is always full of energy and joy!

The Papermill pub is a fantastic pub right on the canal with loads of outside space so great in summer. Jay the barman is the friendliest barman you will ever meet and a great character! Definitely a good place for a pint and a pie!

The Paper Mill offers a diverse menu that blends classic and modern culinary styles. A must-visit pub for the family Barman Jay's expertise ensures you're in good hands. His ability to engage with patrons while managing a busy bar is impressive, making the experience at the bar just as enjoyable as the drinks themselves.

popped in on Saturday with some friends for a quick drink but ended up staying due to barmen jay being very convincing on how good the food was and the fact a band was playing that night to. They didn't disappoint jay was brilliant 10 stars all-round jay your the man

There’s someone called Jay That always makes me laugh

Lovely lunch and brilliant service from Jay! Very friendly and attentive - an asset to the business!

Had a great night at this pub, drinks were lovely and service was excellent by Jay, who made our trip even better. Would definitely go again.

Had a great night at this pub, drinks were lovely and service was excellent by Jay, who made our trip even better. Would definitely go again.

Great place, been a regular for many years and although drinks are a bit pricey, it's still best pub in Hemel. Staff always friendly, especially Jay who is very professional and polite.

Just came in with my wife for a dinner date, and we had a fantastic experience! Our server, Jay, was absolutely amazing. He provided excellent service from the moment we sat down, making us feel welcomed and well taken care of. Jay also had some great food recommendations that turned out to be spot on – everything we tried was delicious. The food was fresh, flavorful, and well-prepared. We'll definitely be coming back, and we hope to be served by Jay again. Highly recommended

I go there a lot and someone called jay says hello and makes me laugh

So expensive for what it is food and drinks are crazy

I love visiting the Paper Mill for its vibe and friendliness

Had the most amazing fish and chips ever recommended by possibly the biggest most frendliest barmen I've ever met great personality made me laugh so much well recommended for food drinks and a beautiful view of the canal

We had the best meal out at The Papermill, our waitress Janet was so lovely, she couldn’t do enough for us, she clearly loves her job! We were impressed by the rapport she seemed to have with her other customers. It’s so refreshing to be served by someone happy and funny!! We’ll definitely be back 👌🏻🥂

Love my favourite place by the water after a long day at work fantastic beers choices and thanks to the big man behind the bar JAY for the brilliant food recommendations I had the fish and chips which he says would be amazing and it was top bloke will always come back 10 stars

Many thanks to Janet for making my time at the pub lovely .. really made me and my friends feel welcome just as a good pub should. Thanks Janet 5 stars from us

Served by Ben Hardman after arriving from Australia have to say 10/10 service especially with my young nephews. Would recommend for anyone with children.

really welcoming, great service, janet served me and she was lovely had a great time, will be back!

Janet is my favourite person. Every time I come and visit the Paper Mill she always brightens my day with her lovely smile and fantastic service. I couldn’t recommend her more.

Had drinks. Great friendly service from Millie and the rest of the team.

This pub has got extremely expensive. I ordered 2 drinks a wine and a single g&t and it came to £26. It would be cheaper to drink in London at these prices! I will be avoiding this pub in future.

Pub with a view of the canal and the marina Apsley. Nice place to chill.

Service with a smile always with Janet and Rosie! Always smashing it! Joe x

Had a lovely evening, my partner and I were served by Jay. Very attentive and charismatic, looked after us the entire night which was refreshing compared to the last outings we've had elsewhere. Had some excellent food and drinks and couldn't have asked for a better night. Will definitely be back and hopefully have Jay as a server a real gentleman and a credit to your business ! 5 Stars +

Came in on Tuesday night with some of the boys after a long day of work had some great beer and amazing food thanks to the recommendations from the biggest barmen I’ve ever seen lol jay was brilliant all night he had us in stitches loved the atmosphere the tables by the water to will always come back thanks jay for a brilliant night and entertainment

Popped in on the Sunday just gone with some friends for lunch was met by the barmen jay who told us about the amazing roast dinners and he didn’t fail on that the roast was amazing the drinks were really good to great choice of beer and wines thanks to jay for the recommendations on the food 5 stars allround

I went to The Paper Mill for some drinks last Sunday not really knowing what to expect and I was blown away. Great choice and service was excellent. Millie was friendly and welcoming. Will definitely be coming back again soon

Visited on many occasions normally just for a drink and meet family , staff are fabulous especially Janet always there with a smile and a biscuit and water for the dog as well as excellent table service .

Love The Papermill. Water side eating, great food and atmosphere with everyone on patio is fantastic. Love being on the canal and seeing the long boats tied up. Fantastic evening and great food!!

Great food. Lots to choose from.Brilliant staff, Janet couldnt of been any more helpful. The whole family loved the day. Really nice place. By the canal.

We had such a great evening. Janet was fantastically funny and did such great service.

Came in on a Saturday afternoon with some friends was spoken to by a very friendly but huge barmen by the name of JAY he was Brillant all night defo the the best barmen in Hemel by far great manners never made you wait to be served either 10 stars

Been going to the papermill for years lovely pub lovely staff from Louis the deputy manager who always looks after us on arrival. To JAY the best barman the Papermill has ever had he’s so good at he’s job you find people wait to be served by jay always happy and gives the pub a good vibe. The only gripe I have isn’t with the Papermill it’s fullers your proper taking liberties with the price of a pint. If not for the location & staff I probably wouldn’t pay them prices. But i suppose if it was weatherspoons prices it would be weatherspoons customers bring back carling and all is forgiven.

Had a really lovely evening at the Paper Mill thanks to Ruby who poured a perfect pint and was super friendly. Would definitely come back again :))

Harriet was so accommodating and smiley! Excellent service.. will be back again for sure!