Pubs in Watford, Hertfordshire*

The place to go for a lazy afternoon, pub quiz or last call

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Pubs

• I think it's been a while since someone contributed to this, since a lot of the pubs mentioned here have shut down. No longer do we have: Bar Risa, the Isobar, The Artichoke, the Rat and Parrot, the Old Westminster, or the Hogshead. They have been replaced by, respectively, Walkabout, Lloyds (Wetherspoon), nothing (rumour has it that Destiny wanted to expand but the council wouldn't grant any more bar licences until somewhere else shut, allegedly), some rather horrible vodka bar, a place that I can't remember the name of, and a loud and messy place called Bar Me. All the pubs on Watford High Street attract, shall we say, a 'fresh faced' crowd of vomiting idiots. Notable exceptions are the Horns at the top by the library and Taylor's down the bottom end past the big McDonalds. Both pubs have a refreshing music policy of encouraging live and local bands with acoustic nights and the like, with Taylor's probably taking the younger share of the audience. In a similar vein is The Flag just next to Watford Junction. It's been a long time since this pub's spit and sawdust rocking heyday, but the management periodically get interested in promoting good nights of comedy or music and it looks like the place may be going through a bit of a renaissance at the mo. Cheapest pints outside of a Wetherspoon during the week too. Apart from those three pubs though, going out for a drink in Watford just isn't a fun experience. In fact, why are you even reading this- you're not actually thinking of visiting this chav infested dive are you!?
• A lot of bars seem to have changed names / owners. Ice-o-bar is now a Walk About (with great service and lots of live music). Next Door is Lloyds which caters for a slightly younger crowd, but generally seems to be the busiest place on a Saturday night. Bar-Me opposite Lloyds is a meat market with over priced drinks, but if that's what you're looking for go for it!
• Bar Me is the best bar in watford by far with great music (chart, rnb, garage) Rather strict on ID now...which is good!
• This is a serious update! The old westminster is now Maximos, the rat and parrot is now revolution, the alley cat cafe is now aura, Hogwash is Barme, Red bar is now a resturant,scruffy murphys is bodegas and Bar Risa is now Walkabout! Its changed a lot since some of your enteries! Walkabout is the best bar in Watford!
• watford being watford, the favourite haunt is a bog-standard Wetherspoon's chain pub called the Moon Under Water, and under water is precisely where it belongs, expect to wait up to half-an-hour to get served on busy nights. next door is the much nicer, can't remember the name, think it involves a parrott or something, Maximos is further down, not a huge fan but my sister seems to like it, up the high street first off is chicagos (only bar in town NOT to be infested with under-age pikeys) obscene bar prices and awful music keep me away from here, then theres O'Neills, vaguely horrible, Lloyds (another Wetherspoon's chain and, predictably, the place where all the pikeys love to go after the Moon) always too rammed, and for some reason they have the music so loud you can't talk which would be fine if the music was anywhere near reasonable, next door is what used to be Bar Risa which i believe now to be Bar Oz or some similar chain of Australian theme bar, haven't been since it changed hands, on the other side is Bar Me, which also has crap music and overpriced drinks but as far as i can tell has the best atmosphere of any place in the high street which is its one saving grace, theres a couple of other bars i haven't tried and don't look anything special, theres a Yate's as well if you want a fight, then at the top of the high street is the Pane and Table which isn't too horrible, at least has a no garage policy and vaguely comfortable seating. WARNING: Watford is slightly behind the times, trainers are not allowed ANYWHERE as far as i can tell, not even funky ones ie not classic's style, and the local hooligans get confused and therefore violent if you wear anything that was not created by Mr Sherman.
• For the grown ups, try Bodegas, Aura or Revolution. You can hear what your mates are saying, the tunes are cool, they know how to mix a mean G&T, and while not ludicrous, their prices deter the kiddie drinkers.
• Lloyds Bar. allows in the "fresh faced crowd" that don't look fresh faced but actually are. don't even TRY The Moon if u don't look 18, cos they'll just KICK U OUT!!!!!

• Champions opposite Homebase on St Albans Road is great, live bands on Tuesday nights from the local Colleges and DJ Pete spinning his records on a Friday night, plays lots of sports, pool tables for 50p a game NO game deposit necessary and good cheap food on offer most times of the day. It does get busy on Tuesdays and a little noisy at times. You have to go there to check it out though!
• The Salthill has gone.. replaced by 0l... a steak restaurant downstairs, and, ahem, a lap/pole dancing club upstairs. Scatily clad girls wander around the high street at midnight trying to get drunk blokes to enter (pun intended). Watford, terminally?, in decline.
• New Drum & Bass night starting this wednesday 4th June @ the classiest, newest venue in Watford The Pane & Table. Free entry all night, drinks offers, quality mixing and headliner Dj's on rotation . The only venue in North West London to offer such a deal. Dress smart.. Dont Miss.............
• Bar Risa is the worst bar in town, stay away!! Panchos is good for cocktails but they always play the same music and it can get extremely crowded. The moon is by far the best pub/bar in town, with cheap drinks and you can actually hear yourself think. Maximos is another good bar, with a nice atmosphere. Rat and Parrot (next to the moon) is also crap. Chicagos is alright, but better during the week (especially mondays). Don't bother with Destiny or Area, unless you're out on a monday (destiny) or wednesday (area).
• Rat and Parrot has the best cocktails!
• The Estcourt Tavern at the top end of Estcourt Road used to be a wonderful pub. Warm welcoming and friendly to list but a few cliches. But that has all changed! Since the new manageress took over two weeks ago, the place has turned frosty. Now get this, this is her view and I quote "I don't want 'regulars' in my pub" and "I will not associate with the customers, I don't like them". Unbelievable! Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was sure that the backbone of any pub is it's "regular" trade. STAY AWAY FROM THE eSTCOURT TAVERN, IT'S CRAP!!!
• See music THE HORN'S OPP' THE LIBARY. Start your nite there and you may stay.

• A list of the best pubs in Town Aura Pane and Table Bodega QL There used to be Hog Wash- but they changed to some sad Party Bar!!! ALL ARE GUARANTEED FOR GOOD HOUSE MUSIC SETS OR EQUIVELENT - NO GARAGE MUZIC!
• 'The Old Westminster' alas is no more. It has been refurbished and renamed 'Maximo'- a cafe/bar. Still has a really good atmosphere and has been packed every time I've been in or walked past on a night out.
• The Flag without a doubt. All the pubs in the cafe quarter play the same music and cater for the same crowd - Pissed up teenaged garage loving slags (male and Female)
• ALL THE PUBS SMASHED UP BT LTFC
• Chicagoes on a Monday night is the place to be. Doorman all very nice ;0) Lloyds good value for money even if you can't get a seat. Bar Risa full of LEGENDS on a saterday night!
• A great pub in Estcourt Road by Sutton Car Park in Watford called Reid's Bar has just been taken over by new owners. Within 6 months they turned it from a nothing pub to a great friendly pub with lots to do and great food. So if you are stuck for a mid-week drink, or somewhere to watch the footy, or even somewhere different to go, this is the place!!!!!
• Bar Risa the loudest and best bar in Watford.........
• Rat & Parrot, Cosy, Yates, Relaxed, Red Bar, O'Neils, Llyods Bar
• Depends what your after, if your a student, elderly or mentally disturbed then 'Moon's' is the place for you. If your 20 something and like good music and a friendly atmosphere then either the 'Rat And Parrot', 'O'Niells' or 'Bar Risa'. If your a teenage rebel who professes to be a true clubber but your CD collection amounts to no more than one Backstreet boys album and an S Club 7 EP then 'Iceobar' or 'Yates's' for you. For the more maturer of you (the 30 somethings, Bored Housewives on the pull or family trying to prove you still have 'IT' then 'Chicago's is the place for you.
• Recommend the Moon Under Water for a cheap piss up. If you're looking for a bit of sophistication try Maximo's, a great new bar, where the old West used to be.
• Only theme bars at the top end of town with splattered paving stones outside smelling of urine and vomit. Some grotty ones the further down the bottom you go with the same pavement decoration and smell outside.
• The Hogshead is nice but expensive. Good for watching footie. The Firkin by the station is good and big. The Southern Cross does a good pub quiz on a Thursday night but the questions are *hard*.
• Red Bar, on the High Street. A trendy, mock Soho bar comes to Watford. Not typical of Watford, therefore quite good.
• The Moon Under Water is one of the best pubs in Watford. Even thought there's music, it's prices are extremely good - it's 99p for a bottle of Smirnoff Ice tonight - you'd pay 3 1/2 times that in Destiny!
• Yates! Best Pub for miles!!!
• O'Neills is the place to be any night of the week. Great looking bar staff who are friendly and fun. Great atmosphere all the time and lots of Rumpleminz!!! Get lashed and have a boogie without the usual attitude you get from other bars in Watford.
• Load of Hay, Pinner Road. Essentially a gay pub but a real mix of every persuasion!
• The nearer the pond the trendier and more expensive they get. Rat & Parrot is good mix - a bit trendy but you can still have a chat. Moon Under Water is a standard Weatherspoons. The Hogwash & The Old Westminster - music's too loud to hear yourself speak. Ice-o-bar - very hip and linked to Jongleurs Comedy Club. Yates Wine Lodge - good for a punch up. But my favourite for a great night out(drinks expensive though) is Chicagos - good music, good atmosphere and always packed.
• There are 121 pubs and rising in the borough of Watford 2 "super-club" status Nightclubs - The Awesome Destiny, and the Ultra-Modern Area
• The Rose and Crown is now called the Salthill. But don't go there unless you (a) want to start a fight (b) want to be beaten up. The "bouncers" and barstaff don't care less. Anyway it's crap.
• Pub crawling from the High Street down towards Bushey Arches and then through Oxhey, Bushey and Bushey Heath was always a long and interesting experience. The old licencing laws used to make it more of a dash than a crawl. Bushey has a heritage museum which supplied me several years back with a book called "From The Wheatsheaf To The Windmill" which gives the history of many of the pubs on this route, past and present - highly recommended!
• There's a good bar called "Chicagos" this attracts the slightly 'older' crowd as it plays great 80's music along with videos. It is also generous on the measures, so it should be as the drinks aint cheap.
• Watford is full of bars/pubs so popular with the younger residents.
• Rose and Crown.
• Yates, Bar Risa, Ice o Bar, ONeills, Oflahertys, The Old Westminster is great - load of music and a good laugh,. Chicagos, the Artichoke, - any more - absolutely loads!

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