As the first in a series of blogs exploring cask ale hotspots in the Mid-Chilterns area, we’re taking to the West-Hertfordshire market town of Tring.
This week’s Ale Trail starts in Wigginton, on the outskirts of Tring. Our trail then meanders onto Tring High Street, before emerging out of the town and on to its other outskirt settlements, Bulbourne and Marsworth.
Each pub features a description from CAMRA’s online national database – WhatPub. WhatPub allows members to view pub information and score visits. WhatPub scores directly influence branch ‘Pub of the Year’ awards as well as entries into the Good Beer Guide, so be sure to score your favourite pubs today!
On with the trail..
1. The Greyhound, Wigginton
The Greyhound in Wigginton can be found on Chesham Road in the Tring-outskirts village of Wigginton (HP23 6EH).
WhatPub says:
A traditional family run village inn situated in the sleepy village of Wiggington. Offers a warm and friendly welcome to all visitors. Four beers, two usually from local breweries. Freshly prepared top quality food is served daily. Groups and families are always welcome in the bar, restaurant and beer garden. Three large en suite rooms are available.”
2. The Robin Hood
The Robin Hood is Fuller’s pub that is located at 1 Brook Street (HP23 5ED).
WhatPub says:
A classic community pub situated in the centre of the pretty and ancient market town of Tring. Your hosts, Terry & Stuart, will welcome you into this busy pub with a warming stove and cosy feel. A Fuller’s pub with six hand-pumps carrying one regular guest ale from within the classic Fuller’s range. Great food is available and on Sunday evenings you can now enjoy Tip Khao Thai food an exciting difference to the classic pub menu with an outdoor patio area for better weather. Charity functions are a regular event and this pub has been responsible for raising a good deal of funds for local charities over time.”
3. The Bell
The Bell is a recently reopened pub on the town’s High Street (HP23 5AA), now owned by Farr Brew.
WhatPub says:
17th Century coaching inn with original beams. In addition to the main bar there is a back bar with a pool table and a large courtyard garden. Home cooked food.”
4. The Castle Inn
The Castle Inn is a recently reopened establishment situated on Park Road (HP23 6BN).
WhatPub says:
Situated on the southern fringe of Tring, 200 yards from the Rothschild Zoological museum, this is a friendly Victorian corner pub. It is a one room genuine drinkers’ pub with three hand-pumps serving well kept local ales (the guest is invariably a Tring beer). Comfortable, upholstered bench seating, TVs for sports viewing and two darts teams make this a thriving local. There is an attractive rear open courtyard with some covered seating; no food is served.”
5. The King’s Arms
The King’s Arms find itself in the heart of the ‘Tring Triangle’ area of the town, located on King Street (HP23 6BE).
WhatPub says:
1830s back-street local, popular with all age groups. Painted externally in striking fuchsia pink it was run by the same family for 31 years until it was taken over by the Muirhead family in 2014. It offers a changing range of five real ales and one cider. Two real fires are welcoming in winter, and outside is a secluded heated patio with canopies. Home-cooked food is based on an imaginative international menu. Children are welcome at all times.”
6. The Anchor
Just a four minute walk from our previous stop is The Anchor, located at 73 Western Road (HP23 4BH).
WhatPub says:
Situated ten minutes walk west of the town centre this welcoming pub, refurbished in 2012, has a spacious bar with tall tables in the two front bay windows, and more conventional seating at the rear. There are pictures of local scenes and unusually, wine crate sides on one wall, TVs for sports viewing, and the bar sides are faced with reclaimed door and floor timbers. Fresh filled rolls with local bread from the bakery opposite are available on the bar. Burgers etc. are available.”
7. The Grand Junction Arms, Bulbourne
The Grand Junction Arms is an Oakmann Inn’s pub located in the outer-Tring hamlet of Bulbourne (HP23 5QE).
WhatPub says:
This canal side pub boasts a clean, spacious and modern interior with local artwork displayed for sale. Extensive home-made menus serve all tastes with daily specials and Monday night is steak night. Music sessions are hosted on the first Tuesday of each month and Sunday night is curry and quiz night. A large family friendly garden sits beside the canal with a wild flower orchard. During busy periods a downstairs bar serves the garden, notably during bank holiday music festivals.”
8. The Angler’s Retreat (Marsworth)
The Angler’s Retreat can be found at Startops End (HP23 4LJ), in the Buckinghamshire village of Marsworth, near Tring.
WhatPub says:
A good base to use when investigating the Tring Reservoirs. A fish theme is in evidence in this one bar local where rooms can be had. The 4 beers area mixture of local and small nationals. The garden with an aviary and even a parrot in the bar guides you to a very rural experience with good cheap food to complete your stay. Conservatory and garden make it seem even bigger. Tring Brewery is the LocAle beer.”
9. The Red Lion, Marsworth
One final pub and another that calls home to the village of Marsworth. Found at 90 Vicarage Road (HP23 4LU).
WhatPub says:
Genuine 17th-century village pub close to the Grand Union Canal. A central bar serves three areas: an upstairs lounge, a small snug to the left of the entrance, and a public bar with an open coal-burning fire. A games area hosts darts. Five or more well-kept beers are served on hand pump and the kitchen serves generous portions of home-cooked food. There is a beautiful garden to the rear.”
TIME AT THE BAR
That marks the end of our nine-pub ale trail, featuring local cask beers, rural outposts, foodie hotspots and more.
We hope that you will join us on the next ‘Ale Trail’, to be set in Hemel Hempstead. Come wander with us through the branch’s largest town, home to Mid-Chilterns CAMRA’s very own Hemel Old Town Beer Festival.
For now, we’ll raise a glass – to the wonderful pubs of Tring!
CHEERS
*Disclaimer: As with all entries in this series, drinkers are advised to research transport options and pub opening times in advance. Trails are simply ‘spotlights’ – additional local ale outlets may be omitted. Visiting every trail pub in a single day may not be practical/achievable.
