The story
Find Frithsden, a secluded wooded valley on the edge of Ashridge Forest, and you will find the Alford Arms. This award-winning Hertfordshire pub has been in the same hands for more than 25 years, and the team are proud to call themselves stewards of this beloved watering hole. The setting is distinctly rural, with the broad sweep of the Chiltern Hills as a backdrop. Inside, the atmosphere is warm and lively, a mix of rich colours and eclectic furniture that feels genuinely welcoming rather than styled.
The kitchen here focuses on unpretentious British food done incredibly well. The menu changes every two weeks, built around the best seasonal local produce. Everything is cooked fresh, and the team are happy to cater for intolerances and allergens without fuss. The bar stocks a thoughtful range of drinks, including local ales from Tring, Rebellion, and Chiltern breweries, a spirit collection that rivals many city bars (with over 20 gins), and an entirely old-world wine list designed to keep food miles down.
The Alford Arms holds a Michelin Recommended status, a reflection of its consistent quality. The team is also particularly proud of its recognition at the FREEFROM Eating Out Awards, winning the pub restaurant gong in 2014 and again in 2016, with one judge noting they had never been so well fed and cared for as a diner with multiple allergies. The Good Pub Guide has named it Hertfordshire Dining Pub of the Year ten times, and it has featured in The Times’ list of Top 20 Gastropubs.
This is a proper pub in the truest sense. Bar tables are always kept free for walk-ins, and dogs on leads are welcome in the bar, dining room, and on the heated terrace. The atmosphere is buzzy and unforced, whether you are stopping in for a coffee, a pint of local ale, or a full meal. The team’s philosophy is simple: this is a place where you can enjoy unpretentious food and drink in a setting that feels miles from anywhere, yet is just a short drive from Hemel Hempstead.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
According to one reader, the Alford Arms sets the ’gold standard’ for pubby excellence in this neck of the Chilterns. Others concur that it's 'consistently top notch', and we reckon this born-again Victorian hostelry is a thoroughly likeable proposition with plenty of box-ticking attributes – not least its glorious location in a bucolic hamlet on the fringes of Ashridge Estate (NT). Fans are also quick to applaud the pub's tasteful farmhouse-chic interiors, hand-pulled ales and savvy all-European wine list, although the venue’s trump cards are its unwavering commitment to local produce and its community spirit – from supporting the village cricket team to doing the milk run when it’s snowing. Much of the credit for its enduring appeal must go to David and Becky Salisbury, who have been running the show and championing the cause since 1999. To eat, bubble 'n' squeak with oak-smoked bacon, free-range poached egg and hollandaise has been on the menu since day one, but everything else changes on a weekly basis. Expect a rolling repertoire of appealing seasonal dishes ranging from chargrilled Padrón peppers (grown in nearby Northchurch) or Ashridge venison bonbons with bramble sauce to an apple and pear strudel made with fruit from the Chiltern Heritage Orchard. Given the pub’s landlocked location, fish has to make the long journey up from the West Country, but the haul speaks for itself: how about Cornish crab with chilli-buttered courgette linguine or hake fillet with crushed new potatoes, buttered kale and caper sauce. Chatty, well-informed staff provide ‘first-class service,’ whether you’re popping in for a pint or contemplating the full three courses. Dogs are ‘welcomed rather than tolerated,’ too.
Location
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