Innkeeper's Lodge & Colney Fox Vintage Inn

The Colney Fox has had a bit of a revamp and I was pleasantly surprised when I visited last week. The interior is still fairly dark and intimate yet has a homely feel about it too. They've added a couple of new booths with round tables which are a nice touch if you're getting together with a group of friends. The menu has some new additions which almost put the venue in the gastro-pub category; a bit more upscale than your standard pub fare of chips and chicken wings. We were only there for drinks but were rather tempted by the sharing platter of starters/sides. The garden has some new furniture and provides a nice space to sit on a balmy summer evening. The drinks aren't cheap: just under £5 for a J20 and a soda and lime - the latter tasted as though the the pump hadn't been cleaned out for a lonnng time but the bartender had no problem with us swapping it for a pineapple juice. I know - proper ravers we are! The location is really convenient - just off the M25 and within easy access of St Albans and Hatield. It looks as though they have extended their accomodation offering too so if you have one too many lemonades, you have the option of staggering upstairs to sleep it off. All in all, a decent little country pub with a mixed clientele, suitable for gatherings of friends, family or a mixture of both. [Aug 11]

This could be such a beautiful place. The building is fantastic and it is in a very nice location quite close to Broad Lake and its lovely wildlife. The menu is quite plain and could do with zushing up a bit, the service is quite good and the staff are quite friendly. We have been about four time now, and I don't think as yet we have had a meal which we haven't had to send back which is shame. Having said that, there has never been a problem in replacing the meal or knocking something off of the bill. For such a lovely old building it lacks a bit of atmosphere, so come on landlord get with it and make it a REALLY nice country pub where people really want to go. White wine could do with being kept in friges for longer too, nothing worse than warm white wine with your meal. [Jun 10]