The Peahen in St Albans

Nice food. Friendly staff. Great location and atmosphere.

Great atmosphere, plenty of seating, good selection of food and drink. Honestly a perfect spot and so much more modern compared to the rest of the pubs surrounding. That has is drawbacks, but here it's a perk; more comfortable, better facilities and more food!

I rarely leave negative reviews, but my experience here was disappointing. The place itself is lovely, and the service is excellent, but the food left a lot to be desired. I had the Sunday roast, and it was honestly like something you'd get from Tesco—pre-packaged and unappetizing. The meat was dry and full of large chunks of fat and veins, and the vegetables were overcooked and soggy. For a dish that's apparently popular here, I was really surprised at how poor the quality was. I’ll definitely return for a drink, but I won’t be ordering food again.

Great atmosphere for a night out!

Ordered the fish and chips the server was very nice and professionally when it arrived it was all over cooked batter and little fish, when the server called over the Manager he took the food to the kitchen and the cook, according to the Manager said that it was fine. When I told the Manager that I didn't want it he showed no interest at all and his manner was that he couldn't care less and was not bothered, I have been going to this pub for years but will not be going back and will advise my friends to do the same.

Two stars only because I was lied to. Went on Sunday at 4pm I asked if they still served Sunday roast. Yes I was told, all day!. We sat, and ordered drink and food only for the same waitress to return to inform us there was no beef no chicken...no Sunday roast ! Well, why not check before she took the order? In the end ... we had to settle for a f&c and you can guess the fish was of the frozen kind & only a handful of chips. Nice service & grt atmosphere and location but I won t ever go back to eat there.

Two stars only because I was lied to. Went on Sunday at 4pm I asked if they still served Sunday roast. Yes I was told, all day!. We sat, and ordered drink and food only for the same waitress to return to inform us there was no beef no chicken...no Sunday roast ! Well, why not check before she took the order? In the end ... we had to settle for a f&c and you can guess the fish was of the frozen kind & only a handful of chips. Nice service & grt atmosphere and location but I won t ever go back to eat there.

Sunday lunchtime didn't eat but looked lovely good selection of drink nice staff

Not a great visit unfortunately - staff were not approachable or friendly, ended up having to order through app as they didn't come to the table. Food was average at best - ciabattas arrived with 2 small slices of halloumi / steak, our meals were mostly bread. Very limited veggie options. Won't be returning

Smart bar with a lovely menu in a great place.

Extremely tasty roast dinner and very welcoming for dogs. Lovely staff.

Vibe was ok, and drinks were nice. Food was super over priced for tiny and mid portions. Would not recommend for food, even light bites.

A really good bar with a great outdoor area with games and a ping pong table. The drinks are priced well for the location and the staff are very helpful and friendly even when busy which is always a plus. A great selection of beers and cocktails and a happy hour gives a really good mix of people to the bar. The decor is really nice and the place is spotlessly clean. Highly recommended for drinks if in the area.

I booked here on a Sunday for a Sunday roast and it was absolutely delicious- the best roast i've had in a long time! Service was great and they even brought over extra gravy when asked! Could not have asked for a better meal. Lovely atmosphere too!

Arrived just after 11pm, queued quietly for about 20 minutes with a group of friends, most of us were let in. Me and my friend, who is black, get to the front of the queue and the bouncer (an Asian man with black hair) looks at my friend and says the manager doesn’t want people like you in here. My friend is dressed in jeans and a hoodie like most people entering and has been quiet in the queue the entire time. The bouncer is insistent that I can go in but my friend, for no given reason, is not allowed in and has to get out the queue. The only possible explanation for this is the manager and the bouncers refusing entry to someone who has done nothing wrong purely because he is black. Disgusting to see this behaviour, and the other bouncer (a large ginger man) tries to make up that we ‘had an attitude’ in the queue which simply isn’t true and he stopped talking after we told him we had been quiet the whole time. I’ve been to the peahen multiple times but under no circumstances will I be going again after seeing blatant racism from the bouncers, who claimed to be under management orders.

Came here after our wedding. Very happy with food and staff made an effort to make our experience special. Thanks 😊 🙏

Very nice pub and friendly staff :)

Pub not very busy when we arrived just before 5pm. Took forever for someone to take our food order. Waitress took our order without writing it down. Food took forever to come. Food arrived incorrect.

Woefully understaffed. You shouldn't be offering time consuming cocktails with only one member of bar staff on. Which is always the case during the day and early evening. As with the Saint and Sinner, it's like you're being done a favour when you're finally served. I guess it's how McMullen choose to manage their pubs, but it isn't very good for the customer

Great service by Grif, he was absolutely superb

Popped in here for a quick drink. Really nice atmosphere, excellent service and comfortable seating. Well worth a visit

My mother in law and friend had fish and chips for lunch today! Fish was overcooked and very dry! She complained to the waitress who said she would mention it to the chef! No apology or compensation offered! Not even a free drink or discount! Very dissatisfied and disappointed!

Lovely restaurant/pub for couples, family and groups. Good atmosphere and friendly excellent table service. We had 3 small plates and fries, all cooked to perfection. Highly recommend.

Young crowd, went to watch the football and had a group of ‘lads’ refusing to stop standing in front of the TV as ‘everyone was watching the football’. Wanted to start a fight with others around him. Bouncer stepped in and defused situation but bottled throwing him out. Was there for trouble when everyone else wanted to watch the game. Avoid, many other better pubs in the area which will deal with problems better.

Fantastic Sunday Roast! Plenty of flavour, extra gravy and served hot! Best enjoyed with a crisp pint

Brilliant pub - one of many in St Albans. Outstanding food, loads of space, nice interior decoration and atmosphere. Highly recommend.

My wife and really enjoyed a lovely early evening meal and were really impressed with the service. We had two excellent servers and even though the pub was really busy, as it was England v Switzerland football on the TVs, we ordered our food and drink and it was served promptly. Thanks for a lovely evening.

Delicious plates and starters. Relaxed atmosphere with charming eclectic decor.

Great service, but the music go turned up way too loud in the outside section for some reason.

Turned up, and one member of staff on behind the bar. Lots of staff wandering around in aprons randomly putting away glasses, moving things. None of them interested in actually serving a new customer who had walked in looking for a drink. There were 6 customers looking to be served. I was next to be served and in walks a member of staff who just randomly served the first person she saw. Yeah - get it - she who shouts loudest wins. But if you are a BAR/PUB vs a RESTAURANT you know who is next and you staff your BAR to serve your customers. I walked out. Won’t be coming in again. There are better bars in your location (some literally metres away) and they served me as it should be. Decide to what you are - a pub or a fancy restaurant/servery

Had a light bite. Service was good and the surroundings pleasant.

We booked a table on the 28th April for 4 people. We drove for an hour to get here and then annoyingly to find out it was closed for refurbishment, How can a website not have this information on it and still be taking bookings

Roomy pub, lots of different drink options

Wonderful pub (a lot bigger than it looks from the outside!) with great staff and a beer garden. Fantastic lunchtime deal during the week with lovely sandwiches.

Great food, highly recommend the chicken wings and the garlic prawns

The Peahen never disappoints, friendly and professional bar staff. Great atmosphere with a great range of age groups, no one will feel excluded in this bar.

Roast dinner ( chicken and beef!)! We’re both perfect… sides were very good too ( would have liked bigger portions… but maybe just me !!) drinks and service were very good too .. no complaints here … we will return soon… thank you for making our special day ( birthday 🎁) memorable… see you soon!! 🥘

Come on who is ripping off customers, treat people like they have a modicum of common sense, £3.45 for a small 5 sip hot chocolate, is this really how low you can go or can I expect you too stoop even lower to maximise profits at the expense of client base, you had one member of staff working entire bar, customers waiting a very very very long tike to be ripped off. This was the last chance to get things right, we will never ever ever be ripped off again in your venue. Wish people stopped visiting so it forces you to review your sharp trading practices of rip of culture and sub standard staffing levels.

Graydon’s service was outstanding. Special request on allergy related cocktails and he dealt with it amazingly. Thank you

The Peahem is a great place for a night out in St Albans. It has a fun atmosphere, friendly door staff, happy bar staff and sensible drinks prices.

The food is okay, but the service was absolutely great! The waiters were so nice and knowledgeable that they made brunch such a fun morning

This bar is located in a corner position in the centre of town, not far from the hotel where we were staying. We visited after dinner on a freezing cold night and were pleased to find that it was nice and warm. It is a large and well presented bar with pleasant professional staff and very reasonably priced wine. We enjoyed a bottle of good quality Spanish wine which cost £19.95. It made a good end to our evening.

Matthew was a fantastic server. Catered to all of our needs. Had the flat iron steak ciabatta with chips. Only £9, great value for money and the steak was top tier. Highly recommend.

Came in to grab some food, had the steak flatbread, it was absolutely delicious! Perfectly cooked and looked as good as it tasted. Our server Matthew was an absolute joy, super friendly guy, wonderful service. Will 100% be back. Thank you :)

Excellent food, excellent service. Recommended

We didn't eat here, just drinks. Friendly and attentive bar staff, clean bar area and toilets. It wasn't overly busy when we went in but it soon filled up (usually busy) Nice place for a drink and food.

Great Sunday lunch dog friendly

I booked a table for 14 people and right from the beginning the pea hen could not have been more helpful and accommodating. Some of the party were delayed and the staff were so patient and bought food out when we asked. Everyone enjoyed their food and despite awkward kids the staff went out of their way to make sure everyone was happy with their food. The kitchen manager took our pre order and was anxious to check everything had been to our liking. We had two dogs with us too and that was also no problem (they even have a dog menu for those pampered pooches like ours). I have rarely come across such patient and friendly staff in any establishment. The doughnut stack was a particular hit with said fussy kids!

Best bar in St Albans as usual. Food stops 9pm, Or 8.55 on our case.

Very friendly service .food good quality

£16 burgers. Half a portion of chips in a tiny little cup. Food took about an hour. No sauce in burger so really dry. Did not fulfil our need for burger fix. Serving staff were really nice though.

I visited this pub for the first time on 23/12/23 intending to have a few pints I saw that they had AK mild but it was not like the mild from other brewers dark it was light in colour and totally delicious if you have never tried mild beer before you will be pleasantly surprised

My recent lunch at Peahen St Albans was nothing short of exceptional. The inviting atmosphere, friendly staff, and diverse menu made for a memorable dining experience. Opting for the Grilled Seabass. The presentation was impeccable, showcasing the chef's attention to detail. Portion sizes were just right, allowing me to enjoy every bit without feeling overly full. The beverage menu offered a variety of options, and I paired my meal with a Rivertown Pilsner from the Hertford brewery which was recommended to me by David. The experience didn’t feel rushed at all, and he let me sample all the local beers and was very knowledgeable about each beer. Service was prompt and courteous adding to the positive impression. I look forward to returning to explore more of the menu in the future.

The food was appalling... The fish had a batter that was so hard, it could have broken a tooth! It was also so greasy & unhealthy... The tea was cold and tasteless!

Cheeky chappy Dan with the buzzcut made our afternoon roast a solid 5 * occasion. Thanks and keep on grinning x

The best roast in St Albans , the best atmosphere and service. I love this place 🥰

Went here for a work Christmas party. Everything was very good, communication prior to the event was great and everyone had a lovely time. The food was great, service was excellent and I would highly recommend this place!

This place is great. It is located almost in the dead centre of Saint Albans. At the cross roads to be poetic. I'd describe the eminence as sophisticated. It has a beautiful traditional design and offers a top class range of drinks and food. The staff are first class, service is excellent. They are welcoming, accommodating and friendly. Apart from a few know it all regular bar-flies, I'd highly recommend visiting the Peahen for lunch and cocktails or for a lively night out with friends. Try to get in early or bok a table in advance as being in a prime location and a desirable restaurant and bar, the Peahen can get very busy. My last visit was for our works Christmas party and luncheon. They coped admirably with our large mixed ensemble. Great work Peahem team. Thank you for a lovely afternoon.

We took our team of 100 people from work to the Peahen for a Christmas Party in the afternoon and it was wonderful!! A relaxed little pub that feels a lot like Christmas - the food was lovely and the staff exceptional. We had a brilliant time and very much hope to be back in future. Thanks to Sophie and her staff for making us feel so welcomed and at home!!!

Great place,good food excellent service.

Unexpected visit, food very decent, and server good fun :)

Always friendly service. Don't rush you. Clean and calm atmosphere. Cocktails are lovely. Food is good.

We went for a dinner and drinks. Nice place, good selection of drinks. Food wasn't awesome but overall good. Staff was very friendly and supportive. Would go there again.

A good range of beers on tap and excellent menu. Definitely something for everyone.

Really really busy just had one then moved on.

Fabulous welcome! Great service and friendly staff ! Food and drinks are superb. And at last a pub that cares , plastic straws that aren't plastic and they last for the whole drink ! Well done!

Atmosphere is good but food is very average; chicken and smashed avocado ciabatta was small and I estimate that it contained only about one teaspoon of avocado spread very thinly. Prices are way higher than printed in the Google Maps reference.

On Saturday 21st October, after celebrating a lovely baby shower we went to the Peahen for to celebrate the mum to Be's 30th birthday on the night. We used a Sony SLX camera to take all of the pictures, the camera then went missing on the night. We would love to get the camera back as it holds all of that day and night pictures which we cant redo.. (as well as other memories on there), if we cant get the camera the memory card would be enough. other memories on there we don't want to lose. if you can help please get in touch the Peahen, who have Sarah's details about the missing camera.

Nice pub for a Sunday roast. The vegan roast tastes good, but there’s only one choice. And the Yorkshires aren’t vegan (very disappointing) - they remove them from your plate at your request but charge extra for a replacement… Service has been good when we visited, but it was quiet both times so not sure what it’s like when it’s busier.

Fantastic Sunday roast really good food lovely staff great quality food cooked perfectly really recommend

No takeout, No where does it say the place is self serve. I don’t have data and they don’t offer free wifi to order online. had to get wifi from across the street. Absolutely no context or any signage that food and drinks are self service so we sat there looking like idiots not knowing how to order and wouldn’t even be able too if it weren’t for the free wifi across the street. Terrible service sat there looking confused for 20 minutes with not one person approaching us. yet helping all the tables around us. Food wasn’t terrible wasn’t worth the hassle at all.

Slow service but overall good vibe staff were trying as hard as they can but obviously couldn’t keep up with the orders. You should employ more people more shift!

Seems a good place to have some drinks, but food is not good, also very long wait to get the food after ordering.

Das wur wunderbar! Make sure you head down for the Oktoberfest menu. I had a the Dirty Bratwurst. It was tasty and filling. The staff were great and the atmosphere was great too.

Very popular local Pub. Good food selection and friendly atmosphere

This is a great spot for evening drinks always have have an enjoyable evening efficient and friendly staff.

Best pub quiz in St Albans,, every Tuesday!! We also get a strawberry daiquiri every time which is from a slushie machine, unreal!

Loved sitting in the beer garden on a sunny afternoon.

It was amazing experience there.. the atmosphere was awesome

A very beautiful setting the food was beautifully set out and absolutely delicious 😋

Booked a table in person for the World Cup Final on 20 Aug - when we arrived they had no record of the booking and no table for my group. It was early Sunday on the day of a huge match and they said they couldn’t serve Sunday brunch. Will never waste my time and money here again.

Great location for lunch. Service and food was good as always. The pub sits on a crossroads at the top of Holywell Hill so with a window seat a good place to see what's going on in St Albans.

I've eaten here several times and love it every time. Last time I went for a Sunday Roast, it was great. The freshly made Yorkshire pudding was delicious. Good service staff. However, in July 2023, when I just visited, t restroom is broken and use a mobile toilet instead. I hope it will be renovated soon and for sure I will come back to eat here again.

Small portions, vaguely disappointing, generic food with fancy menu descriptions. The price was acceptable. A fair range of beers with good alcohol free options, but not on tap (ie, in 0% in bottles). Good sized patio and indoor seating.

Didn't eat, but good service and beer

Beautiful building, nice atmosphere, and great choice of beers, but the food and service was very bad, flat iron steak was a small burned rump steak, and the chicken schnitzel was very small and lackluster. Kids meals however, were decent (fish and chips) Food arrived very late, and the wrong order was brought to us twice . All in all, great potential, but they could do with a bit more care and attention in the kitchen and table service..

The staff were very polite and mostly attentive. However, the food was average due to the excess amount of salt. The chicken Schnitzel was like a lump of breast and the flat iron steak was like a rump. All well cooked but not quite what we expected. The kids meal was a great portion, the battered fish was perfectly cooked.

Great pub - one of my favourites in St Albans, but bar service can be slow at times especially if ordering cocktails.

Table was dirty, staff wasnt too happy to serve us, quiz was going on, we werent participate, asked jokingly to leave the pub, one of the glass was dirty, i had to ask to replace it. Good place in the centre, but better place to visit.

Great cocktails and great burgers!

Was in St Albans for a weeklong choir residency at the Cathedral so had many opportunities to try different places. We went to the Peahen first for lunch one day and had delicious meals and great service but no time for drinks so we returned a few nights later for a more relaxed meal. So glad we did! The service was again excellent, friendly and wow 2 for 1 cocktails was great but they also had just rolled out a new menu and having a few restrictions I was given a full run down and felt very cared for and the food was delicious! Loved the 3 apps for 20 pounds as a way to try several things. The atmosphere is lively and fun :)

It's a nice place. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Good choice of beer/ale and other drinks. Came here for daughter's 21st, but sad to say the food was mediocre. About 10 minutes to get all the main courses out, which led to some colder meals. The waiter did apologise. Mine was overcooked, resulting in rubbery chicken, as was the wife's. Daughter's steak was a terrible cut of meat. The other steak was fine though. Overall quite disappointing on the food front. They did give us a free dessert to compensate to be fair. Also to be fair, we'd eaten here before and the food was good. Maybe it was just an unfortunate evening.

Burger was overcooked, as was the Sirloin. We had a cake for a friend's birthday and, when I asked if they could bring it out, the waiter asked me if I wanted it in the box or not!

This is a really nice pub with a massive beer garden. The staff are friendly and the food is good.

I love the strawberry daiquiri cocktail (but is not the one that I have in the picture) Customer service is really friendly and quick. The venue is really busy, especially during the weekends. Sometimes there is a lot of young kids around, causing some trouble but it is what it is. Nice outdoor space, especially during the summer period.

Great pub fare. Staff were super friendly and accomodating. Great place for a late lunch, clean and nice ambience. Would recommend the sunday roast as well as the Chili Jam Halloumi Fries.

Great pub in St Albans very efficient service and a good selection of beers well worth a visit

Expensive (£35 for a pudding, main course, two pints and a soft drink!), poor service (exceptionally slow, did not bring our food as requested) and average food (wagu burger was very dry and cheesecake very small). Beautiful settings and good atmosphere are the only redeeming features

Superb food, outstanding service and a very nice atmosphere.

Been here for drinks with friends before & loved it. So we all came for brunch today with friends. It was delicious & service was spot on. Thank you 😊 I am sure we will be back.