Food - The Alford Arms
September 19, 2014
I always find that if you go out for a Sunday Roast they will either be really fantastic or so overcrowded and disappointing that you wish you'd stayed at home and cooked. We've been lucky recently and discovered a couple of amazing pubs that no matter how busy, you will have one of the best roast dinners with the biggest yorkshire pudding you've ever seen. And you'll be so glad you went out for a roast instead of slaving over a roast all afternoon then washing up pans for days {even with a dishwasher!}. First up is the Alford Arms in Frithsden, Hertfordshire that's in the Top 20 Gastropubs in the UK and won Hertfordshire's Dining Pub of the Year 2014 award in the Good Pub Guide.
A couple of Saturday's ago, not having much planned for the rest of the weekend, not wanting to go to the supermarket and seeing some sunny weather forecast we decided that we'd go for a roast and a walk somewhere nice. One of our favourite pubs is in Hampstead {post on that later on} but not wanting to travel too far we decided on the Alford Arms nearby in Frithsden, just outside of Berkhamsted {Hertfordshire} having had a fab meal there last Autumn. Like the last time we decided to go there, it was a last minute decision and they were fully booked in the dining room. But they also have quite a few tables either in the bar or outside which you can just turn up for. Last time we sat in the bar by an open fire which was lovely but it was a glorious sunny day this time so we sat outside in the sunshine.
I had a quick google to find a route we could do for a new walk and found this perfect one. Handily, it's circular from the pub and 4 miles long through beautiful fields and countryside, good for working up an appetite before hand or walking some of your lunch off afterwards. We did it before hand and tried to time it so we would be at the pub for around 12 to grab a table outside which are first come first served. It worked out well in the end and it wasn't actually as busy as we thought it might be outside. The bar area does fill up surprisingly fast though with those in the know about the best roast around.
There were some nice sounding starters but we just shared some olives that looked tempting on the bar when ordering our mains. Prices are reasonable for the quality and amount you get. We both chose the roast English sirloin of beef which was £14.75 and comes with the huge yorkshire in the photo, roasted carrot mash, potatoes and seasonal vegetables. I always love it when you don't just get the standard boiled carrots and peas that can be so boring. Roasted and more unusual veg like kale are always much more delicious. We had to ask for more gravy at the end but it's definitely up there with one of the best roast's we've had in a long time.
The puddings were h e a v e n l y.
We shared a local plum and chocolate brownie sundae with plum sorbet and a raspberry sticky toffee pudding. You can find their Sunday menu here. I'd definitely recommend a visit, either prebook before you go or turn up around 12 to get an unreserved table in the bar or outside. We're going to try their everyday menu next time we go. It's dog friendly too if you want to take any four legged friends.
There are so many walks around Berkhamsted, I'll do a post on one of my favourite places to take the dog at Ashridge soon but for now here are a few photos of the route we did last Sunday around Frithsden, Nettleden and Gaddesden.
Got to love a relaxing Sunday in the countryside.
R <3 xx
R <3 xx
1 comments
We love the Alford Arms too and we are very glad to hear that you enjoyed the iFootpath walk. It looks like it was a lovely day - great pictures too. Thanks also for the link to the website. We have hundreds of more walks - many of them pub walks and many in the same area... You can see a full list of walks nearby with this link.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ifootpath.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=42&postcode=hp1
Did you use the PDF or our App to follow the route?