‘You can drink deep of the history of St. Albans’; so begins Roger Protz’s excellent book, which is part history, part pub crawl. From medieval inns to the venerable Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, Mr Protz, renowned beer writer and long time resident of St Albans, sketches a portrait of a city that, even today, boasts more pubs per square mile than any other in Britain. Packed with facts and anecdotes, plus photographs by Will Lewis, Mr Protz offers both affection and authority in his research, although an index and/or chronology would have been useful, given the sheer volume of pubs mentioned. Special praise is offered to cask ale institutions such as the Farriers Arms, home to CAMRA’s oldest branch (South Hertfordshire) formed in the 1970s. Page size: 17cm x 24cm; 96 pages. ISBN 978-1-3981-2511-7. £15.99. Published by Amberley Publishing and available on-line.
Graeme Boyd