Saracen's Head, Kings Langley

by Ashley Cotter-Cairns
(UNOB Towers)

Bags of character: The Saracen's Head in Kings Langley, Herts, UK

Piss Artists: Scream For Beer, part of our huge collection of beer t-shirts!

The Saracen's Head in Kings Langley was my 'local' pub for many years, even when I moved away from the village. My grandmother lives a mere minute's stagger from the Saracen's and many a happy night has been spent there with Douglas (Japan Delegate), JB, Marcus (the Diet Coke drinker) and various other friends, family and foes over the years.

The Saracen's Head in Kings Langley is a classic English pub. The building is hundreds of years old, a former coaching house on what used to be known as London Road (the old A41), which runs through Watford, Berkhamsted, Aylesbury and on into the countryside.

Indeed, Kings Langley was listed in the Domesday Book; a resting place for kings, as the name implies, being 45 miles or so from central London. There once was a castle on the hilltop, but the only remnant is a single flinty wall. The Rudolph Steiner school occupies what used to be the castle site.

Given its age, you'd expect The Saracen's Head in Kings Langley to have bags of character and in that respect it won't disappoint. It has beautiful old beams and plaster walls, weird crooked doorways and family owner-landlords who look a little like Hobbits.

For the genuine Lord of the Rings Shires experience, you can't go wrong here.

The beer has less character, though The Saracen's Head in Kings Langley is a Free House. This means they can serve anything without remaining tied to one supplier of beer. Great in theory, but in practise they don't offer a lot to inspire true beer heads.

Last time I was in they had the usual Stella, London ESB, something Czech (Zlato or Staro, I can't remember which), a cider (possibly Scrumpy Jack or Woodpecker), maybe even Carling. I admit that this is quite disappointing and something they ought to address.

It's a truly great experience to drink there on a damp winter's evening, with the fire burning and the only distractions from your own conversations those of the locals around you. In summer you can sit on a bench outside and watch the world go by.

There's something especially English about The Saracen's Head in Kings Langley. It's comforting to drink in a historical place where tens of thousands of countrymen (and who knows, maybe even kings) have drunk before you. They could change the pump lineup and it could become a real ale destination. It's that kind of home-from-home place and I love it.

Comments for
Saracen's Head, Kings Langley

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Dec 28, 2007
Rating

Saracens
by: A.Bentley Esq

Great pub, warm and welcoming publican, offering great Value for money on both the drinks and the wide ranging and extensive lunch time menu.

Nov 02, 2007
Rating

The Saracens
by: Mike Hunt

Warm and decent pub with good beer

Sep 16, 2007
Rating

Saracens Head
by: Anonymous

Good Pub and Good Beer, and yes, I think it's got a reasonable selection of beers.

Sep 06, 2007
Rating

Comment from a former regular
by: Anonymous

My wife and I used to drink there fairly regularly as we lived just around the corner.

Your comment about hobbits made us fall about and I agree about the pump line-up too.

While the pub itself was full of character, I'm afraid I always found the male bar staff a bit surly. Somehow, I always felt like an outsider even after having been a regular for several years.

We moved away to another part of the country back in 2003 so it was a real treat to come across your review of our old local in middle-earth.

Aug 26, 2007
Rating

The Saracens Head.
by: Anonymous

Ashley Cotter-Cairns needs to do more research.
1. Kings Langley is just over 20 miles from Central London not 45.
2. There is no such beer as London ESB (He does sell two Fullers beers though, Fullers London Pride and Fullers ESB)
3. Are you compairing Scrumpy Jack, Woodpacker and Carling. If so (you article is a little unclear) how can you compare two ciders (Scrumpy Jack & Woodpecker) with Carling (A Lager)
4. Hobbits are friendly, short, plump little things with short pointed ears.

Aug 25, 2007
Rating

Why pick on the Saracens Head ?
by: Anonymous

Who is Ashley Cotter-Cairns. I've drunk here for many many years, and Ive never heard of you.Here's to the hobbit, mine's a pint.

Aug 25, 2007
Rating

Why pick on the Saracens Head ?
by: Anonymous

Quote 'Don't offer a lot to inspire true beer heads' Get real, this pub has been recomended by CAMRA (Campaign for real ale) several times. He serves London Pride, ESB, Ridgeway,John Smiths as his bitters, and numerous lagers. He also serves more 'real beer' eg bitters, during the winter including winter warmers and beers bought on the market at Christmas time's.
By all means critisise, but please, most pubs don't have as many beers as The Saracens Head does.So pick on them instead

Aug 03, 2007
Rating

top boozer
by: Anonymous

A top local boozer, even if the Hobbit landlords are a bit on the grumpy side. I spent many an addled night there before moving away and I can honestly say, it is the best pub in the area.