One of the highlights of CAMRA’s Enfield & Barnet branch’s social calendar over the last three years has been our early summer minibus trip. This gives members the chance to visit pubs outside our area and which are difficult to reach by public transport. Our 2024 excursion took us into Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. We departed from Barnet at midday and, with a full complement of 16 on board, space was at a premium, especially for those squashed into the back seats! Fortunately, a recent shoulder injury entitled me to the luxury of a single seat.
After an ‘interesting’ journey, during which the driver’s Sat-Nav clearly did not take into account the width of the vehicle along narrow country lanes, we arrived at our first stop, the Candlestick in Essendon. This is a typical rural pub with a pleasant and very large outdoor area, including space for farm animals. There were four ales available, including the house beer Side Pocket for a Toad (Tring) and a refreshing seasonal ale, Hopping Special, from Greene King.
They also had Abbot and Deuchars. The unusual name comes from the days when the bar was lit by a single candle. Before closing time, the landlord would take this to collect the beer from the cellar, leaving his customers sitting in the dark! The pub is a popular stop-off for ramblers and also gives its name to walk No. 13 in a series of Hertfordshire Walks, ‘The Candlestick Loop’.
As we knew that the next pub was due to close at 3pm, we reluctantly left and made our way to the Lordship Arms in Benington. It has won a number of CAMRA awards, including Pub of the Year for North Herts and subsequently Hertfordshire for 2023. This is another traditional village pub with an impressive garden where we sat to enjoy our beers. A few of the party tried the excellent sandwiches on offer while the more frugal of us took advantage of the garden to eat our packed lunches! A total of seven ales was available, with a heavy focus on Yorkshire breweries. Along with Taylor’s Landlord and Black Sheep, Brew York, Salt (Suede Stout), Abbeydale and Kelham Island Easy Rider were available on the bar. Completing the line-up was Brewers Gold.
On we travelled into Bedfordshire for stop number three, the Brewery Tap in Shefford. Since Banks & Taylor closed, this is no longer a brewery tap as such but retains the name and had an interesting selection of six ales on handpump.
The Mighty Oak Cascade IPA proved popular but, at 6.2% ABV and with another pub still to visit, most opted for just a half. Also being served were Wantsum Dynamo, Adnams Ghost Ship, two ales from Brewers Gold and one from Cotleigh. This was excellent but I had the last half, leaving others in the group disappointed.
From Shefford, it was just a short drive to our final call, the multi-award winning Engineers Arms in Henlow. A busy community pub, the Engineers offers up to ten changing beers and up to six ciders and perries. On our visit, seven of the ten pumps were in use with two beers from New River, Lacons, Tring, Milestone, Cromwell and Lakedown. The Engineers began life as a beer house in 1830 and was later owned by Charles Wells before becoming a free house in 1993.
Among its collection of awards are Pub of the Year for both East Bedfordshire and Bedfordshire County, as well as East Bedfordshire Cider Pub of the Year. The pub is renowned by local ale drinkers for its mini beer festivals and tap take-overs.
Sadly the driver was keen to depart and so, at around 6.30, we began our journey back into Barnet, finishing at Ye Olde Mitre for a quick pint and to reflect on an enjoyable afternoon.
Mike Hodgkinson