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Great Northern, St. Albans

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Cask Ale Real Cider
Opens at Noon
Real ale discount scheme
Operator: Private Individual
172 London Road, St. Albans, AL1 1PQ (View on Google Map)
(01727) 730867
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Rescued from closure and reopened in 2015 after significant renovation, the pub now offers a modern interior feel and a delightful large garden. On the bar, an ever-changing range of cask beers is accompanied by traditional still ciders. The landlord of the pub spends much of his time in the kitchen and the menu of British classic dishes and Sunday roasts is highly regarded. the pub runs beer festivals and brewery tap takeovers throughout the year. A quiz is held every Tuesday with a film-specific quiz on the last Wednesday of each month. A discount is offered for CAMRA members and there is 10% off cask ales and real ciders for everyone on Thursdays. Say hello to Plato the tortoise who lives outside the back door!

Historic Interest

Originally the Alma, the pub changed its name due to the nearby (now closed but preserved) railway station on the old St Albans to Hatfield line. The pub underwent a major renovation in 2014/15 which included the removal of its old central semi-circular bar and installation of a relocated replacement at one end of the building.

Information for this venue is provided by the South Hertfordshire Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Alma
Local Authority
St Albans District Council
Last updated
Last surveyed
25/01/2026
Leasehold owner
unknown
Freehold owner
Independently registered company.
Pub ID
SHE/692
Asset of Community Value
Premium Access Required

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Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Noon - 11:30pm
Wednesday
Noon - 11:30pm
Thursday
Noon - 11:30pm
Friday
Noon - 12:30am
Saturday
Noon - 12:30am
Sunday
Noon - 10:30pm
Monday
No Service
Tuesday
Noon - 2:30pm & 5:00pm - 8:30pm
Wednesday
Noon - 2:30pm & 5:00pm - 8:30pm
Thursday
Noon - 2:30pm & 5:00pm - 8:30pm
Friday
Noon - 2:30pm & 5:00pm - 8:30pm
Saturday
Noon - 2:30pm & 5:00pm - 8:30pm
Sunday
Noon - 5:00pm
TasteMatch

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Current beers

This Pub serves 4 changing beers (A porter/stout always available.) and 1 regular beer.

Regular and recently seen

Fuller's - London Pride TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Fuller's London Pride Pumpclip
Fuller's - London Pride Session Bitter • 4.1% Spotted 6 times
Fuller's London Pride Pumpclip
Fuller's - London Pride

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 6 times recently. Last spotted 6 days ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 4.1%
Cask
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout Pump Clip-1
Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout Session Stout • 4.5% Spotted 3 times
Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout Pump Clip-1
SIBA Indie Beer Sold Here
Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout

Spotted 3 times recently. Last spotted 5 days ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 4.5%
Style Session Stout
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free Yes

Mighty Oak - Old Man And The Sea TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Mighty Oak - Old Man And The Sea
Mighty Oak - Old Man And The Sea Session Stout • 4.1% Spotted 10 times
Mighty Oak - Old Man And The Sea
Mighty Oak - Old Man And The Sea

Spotted 10 times recently. Last spotted 6 days ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 4.1%
Style Session Stout
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

LHG Brewpub - Dark Mild TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
LHG Brewpub - Dark Mild
LHG Brewpub - Dark Mild Mild • 4% Spotted 11 times
LHG Brewpub - Dark Mild
LHG Brewpub - Dark Mild

Spotted 11 times recently. Last spotted 6 days ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 4%
Style Mild
Colour
Vegan Yes
Gluten Free No

Downlands - Best TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Downlands - Best
Downlands - Best Session Bitter • 4.1% Spotted 12 times
Downlands - Best
SIBA Indie Beer Sold Here
Downlands - Best

Spotted 12 times recently. Last spotted 6 days ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 4.1%
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Hawkshead - Dry Stone Stout TasteMatch Prediction

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Hawkshead - Dry Stone Stout
Hawkshead - Dry Stone Stout Session Stout • 4.5% Spotted 17 times
Hawkshead - Dry Stone Stout
SIBA Indie Beer Sold Here
Hawkshead - Dry Stone Stout

Spotted 17 times recently. Last spotted 6 days ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 4.5%
Style Session Stout
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Tring - Mansion Mild TasteMatch Prediction

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Tring - Mansion Mild
Tring - Mansion Mild Mild • 3.7% Spotted twice
Tring - Mansion Mild
SIBA Indie Beer Sold Here
Tring - Mansion Mild

Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 3.7%
Style Mild
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild
Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild Mild • 4% Spotted 3 times
Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild
Left Handed Giant - Dark Mild

Spotted 3 times recently. Last spotted 6 days ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 4%
Style Mild
Colour
Vegan Yes
Gluten Free No

Brains - SA TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Pumpclip -1
Brains - SA Session Bitter • 4.2% Spotted twice
Pumpclip -1
SIBA Indie Beer Sold Here
Brains - SA

Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 6 days ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 4.2%
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Siren - Memento TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Siren - Memento
Siren - Memento Session Bitter • 3.8% Spotted 4 times
Siren - Memento
Siren - Memento

Spotted 4 times recently. Last spotted 6 days ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 3.8%
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild • 3.7% Spotted 11 times
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde

Spotted 11 times recently. Last spotted 5 days ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 3.7%
Style Mild
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Siren - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Siren - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout
Siren - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout Flavoured Speciality Beers • 6.5% Spotted 10 times
Siren - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout
Gold Award
Siren - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout

Spotted 10 times recently. Last spotted 5 days ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 6.5%
Style Flavoured Speciality Beers
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

RedWillow - Breakfast Stout TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
RedWillow - Breakfast Stout
RedWillow - Breakfast Stout Strong Stout • 5.6% Spotted twice
RedWillow - Breakfast Stout
SIBA Indie Beer Sold Here
RedWillow - Breakfast Stout

Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 5 days ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 5.6%
Style Strong Stout
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Settle - Ernie's Milk Stout TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Settle - Ernie's Milk Stout
Settle - Ernie's Milk Stout Session Stout • 4.5% Spotted once
Settle - Ernie's Milk Stout
Settle - Ernie's Milk Stout

Spotted once recently. Last spotted 5 days ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 4.5%
Style Session Stout
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Ossett - White Rat TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Ossett - White Rat
Ossett - White Rat Session Golden Ale • 4% Spotted 6 times
Ossett - White Rat
SIBA Indie Beer Sold Here
Ossett - White Rat

Spotted 6 times recently. Last spotted 4 days ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 4%
Style Session Golden Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Five Points - XPA TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Five Points XPA
Five Points - XPA Session Golden Ale • 4% Spotted 4 times
Five Points XPA
SIBA Indie Beer Sold Here
Five Points - XPA

Spotted 4 times recently. Last spotted 4 days ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 4%
Style Session Golden Ale
Colour
Vegan Yes
Gluten Free Yes

3 Brewers of St. Albans - IPA TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
3 Brewers of St. Albans - IPA
3 Brewers of St. Albans - IPA Premium Pale Ale • 4.6% Spotted twice
3 Brewers of St. Albans - IPA
SIBA Indie Beer Sold Here
3 Brewers of St. Albans - IPA

Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 3 days ago at Great Northern, St. Albans.

ABV 4.6%
Style Premium Pale Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

The venue's range of changing beers regularly includes the following rare beer styles: Porter.

Source: National

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Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Garden Garden
Family Friendly Family Friendly
Mobility Access Statement Mobility Access Statement
Access through front door.
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Events Events
Smoking Smoking
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Cask Ale Cask Ale
Real Cider Real Cider
At least two real ciders at any time.
LocAle LocAle
Intention is to stock one LocAle (Tring/Farr/3 Brewers/Mad Squirrel) at all times. Option for a second once bar moves to 5 handpumps.
Cask Marque Cask Marque
Beer Festival Beer Festival
One annual (summer), 2 seasonal.
Member Discount Scheme Member Discount Scheme
10% off a pint of real ale
Cask Marque Beer and Cellar Hygiene rating
Cask Marque: Beer and Cellar Hygiene rating 5 out of 5
Transport
Close to bus routes (150m)
,
All other buses to city centre stop within 1000m
Nearby Station (500m)
St Albans City
Ordnance Survey Reference
TL151068

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Explore the local area

Curated guides are specially put together for your enjoyment! These trips are crafted by specialists along with dedicated volunteers with local knowledge.

The Charter Market Quarter

The Charter Market Quarter

15 minutes 6 curated stops

Visit six local venues and journey through the Charter Market Quarter's historical sites, including one of the only free-standing medieval civic clock towers, and the site of the First Battle of St. Albans in 1455. Historically, there were 23 pubs in the Market area alone!

St Peter’s Quarter

St Peter’s Quarter

30 minutes 6 curated stops

The northern end of the Market is dominated by St. Peter’s church, one of the three churches originally built by the Saxon’s on the main pilgrim routes into St. Albans. Soak up the history and architecture of the area, as well as music history! 

Medieval St. Albans East

Medieval St. Albans East

15 minutes 6 curated stops

This area is packed with history and interesting pubs, some open, and some no longer with us. With this Guide, you'll visit six hand-picked venues in one of the oldest parts of the city.

Nearby

Beer Shop at St Albans. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 01-01-1970
Closed • Opens at 11:00am
Beer Shop
Pub, in St. Albans
1 Changing Beer
Farmers Boy at St Albans. (Pub, External). Published on 02-04-2023
Closed • Opens at Noon
Farmer's Boy
Private owner Pub, in St. Albans
2 Changing Beers
White Hart Tap, St Albans. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 01-07-2015
Closed • Opens at Noon
White Hart Tap
Punch Pubs & Co (Punch Taverns) Pub, in St. Albans
3 Regular, 3 Changing Beers
Robin Hood at St Albans. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 01-01-2018
Closed • Opens at Noon
Robin Hood
Stonegate (formerly Ei Group) Pub, in St. Albans
1 Regular, 2 Changing Beers
St Villa Bar & Restaurant, St Albans. (Pub, Key). Published on 02-09-2021
St. Villa Bar & Restaurant
Pub, in St. Albans

Cask Ale not available

Beehive at St Albans. (Pub, External). Published on 02-04-2023
Closed • Opens at Noon
Beehive
Stonegate (formerly Ei Group) Pub, in St. Albans
3 Changing Beers
Hare & Hounds at St. Albans. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 13-02-2024
Closed • Opens at Noon
Hare & Hounds
Stonegate Pub, in St. Albans
3 Regular Beers
  • CAMRA discount scheme
Garibaldi at St. Albans. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 13-02-2024
Closed • Opens at 5:00pm
Garibaldi
Fuller's Pub, in St. Albans
4 Regular, 1 Changing Beers
Victoria at St Albans. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 01-01-1970
Closed • Opens at Noon
Victoria
Star (Heineken UK) Pub, in St. Albans

Cask Ale not available

The Horn, St Albans. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 01-01-1970
Closed • Opens at Noon
Horn
Star (Heineken UK) Pub, in St. Albans
2 Changing Beers
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