Night Out in St Albans? Yes please
Six Ways to Spend a Fun-Fuelled Evening in the City
If you’re looking for an exciting night out in a friendly place with a great atmosphere, the unique cathedral city of St Albans – home to more pubs than you can shake a stick at – is an obvious choice. Easily accessible by public transport, and with plenty of hotels spanning every price range, the city welcomes locals and visitors alike to enjoy the delights of its nightlife.
From pubs and restaurants to theatres and live music, St Albans’ evening entertainment offers something delightfully different to the norm. You might be catching up with friends over a round of drinks at one of the historic inns, strolling along the quaint cobbled streets to the next bar, enjoying a show at the Roman open-air theatre or ending the night with a bit of a boogie, there are options for all pockets and tastes.
Whatever you fancy, St Albans is a fabulous city to discover and offers a cracking night out for all. Here are six ways to spend a night to remember.
- A good old-fashioned pub crawl
Home to the Campaign for Real Ale and local brewers, beer is woven into the fabric of St Albans with an eclectic mix of pubs, old and new. From early pilgrims visiting the Shrine of St Albans to passengers on northbound stagecoach routes up from London, the city has always been full of inns that would provide refreshments to weary travellers. A particular favourite, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, is reputed to be the oldest pub in the country.
All within close proximity to one another, St Albans has a pub to suit everyone with friendly atmosphere aplenty! From The Boot, an ancient pub where real ale and craft beer are as good as the open-mic entertainment to The Victoria, a newly refurbished venue that contributes to a vibrant atmosphere, delicious beers and cocktails, and a fantastic outdoor space, the choice is huge. Dylans at the Kings Arms is the recipient of countless accolades for its top-quality food and drink, while The Mad Squirrel located next to St Albans Abbey is renowned for its quality craft beers and artisan pizza.
- Curtain up for a night of theatre
The Roman Theatre of Verulamium – built in the year 140AD and thought to be the oldest in the country – proves that live entertainment has been enjoyed in St Albans for thousands of years. Its unique al fresco surroundings really add something to the already exciting professional performance on stage. Don’t forget to grab a drink at the refreshment stand. Culture lovers can also choose from a range of other top-quality venues including the Abbey Theatre with its brilliantly written shows, The Maltings Arts Theatre which offers a buzzy mix of intimate productions and The Alban Arena where comedy events, pop concerts and touring shows are among the regular features.
- Best live music around
The city really has some of the best live music around, whether you’re looking for local artists to international stars. The Horn is Hertfordshire’s premier live music venue, having won the UK Music Pub of the Year twice and the UK Entertainment Pub of The Year. In fact, many of the country’s greatest musicians have performed at the venue, such as U2 and Paul Young. Sit back and enjoy cover bands, tribute acts and original tunes accompanied by a wide range of refreshment options and delicious bites. Many of the pubs in the city – including The White Swan, The Blacksmiths Arms and The Mermaid – have live music on weeknights and weekends. If you fancy a go at singing yourself, you might be able to find some karaoke at The Jolly Sailor – check their website for details of upcoming events.
- Hen do or birthday with the girls
A catch up and a laugh over a round of cocktails or a glass of Champagne is an excellent way to relax and unwind, and St Albans has its fair share of master mixologists. Punchin’ Palooka serves some mind-blowing cocktails, with Hemingway Spritz, Hedgerow Sling and Butterscotch Old Fashioned among the more unusual orders, while traditional crowd pleasers include Negroni, Espresso Martini and Vesper Martini. Some bars particularly pride themselves on serving craft gin produced in distilleries just down the road. The Snug on French Row offers two-for-one cocktails from Sundays to Fridays until 8pm, which includes Aperol Spritz, Mojito and Whiskey Sour. Open mic nights, comedy shows, and cocktail classes are regular features on the calendar. The Hub on Verulam, Côte St Albans and The Peahen are equally sought-after locations for an impressive tipple or two.
- Go out-out
Fancy gearing up for a late one on your next night out in St Albans? Club Veeda offers great tunes (think Hip Hop, RnB, and throwback classics), affordable drinks and comfortable booths across three floors. Havana is the place to be on Saturday nights, where DJs on rotation are the soundtrack to an evening of delicious cocktails, banging anthems, and your best dance moves.
- It’s time for wine
Must Wine on the historic George Street is a must-visit for connoisseurs of high-quality and delicious wine. This sophisticated spot allows customers to discover bottles from all over the world while relaxing in a beautifully atmospheric environment. Public and private tastings reveal the secrets of carefully selected wines, and curated events place the spotlight on different varieties and regions. The Bishop’s Cave on Holywell Hill is a wine, beer, and cheese bar where guests can savour a range of products from cheese and charcuterie boards to Argentinian Malbecs and South African Shiraz. Hazéls on Verulam Road is a new concept music-led wine bar and restaurant championing natural, low intervention wines, craft beer and cocktails with a menu inspired by classical French cookery. Featuring an oak bar, high-top tables, a custom-built vinyl library and a vintage sound system the space is warm and elegant and simply perfect to sit back, sip and relax.
Find your St Albans at www.EnjoyStAlbans.com @enjoystalbans
Where to Stay…
Accommodation ranges from small and intimate bed and breakfasts to large hotels including the White Hart Hotel & Restaurant and the Hilton’s Samuel Ryder Hotel, both in the centre of town, the stunning country style Manor hotel, St Michaels Manor, luxurious Sopwell House and the Victorian Grade II listed Torrington Hall.
St Albans is waiting to be explored, discover more at the website here here.
