The Saracens Head

Old Amersham is a fantastic location, and this is a great place to stay with a lovely pub and friendly staff. Breakfast was excellent too. It seems haunted as well: our television switched itself on just after midnight two nights running. Spooky 👻👻

The pub has a good range of beers, a great team, and a superb breakfast. My bed was very comfortable, and it’s a good spot for a weekend stopover. I’ll come back, just not to room 8 until the bathroom has been refurbished. The shower temperature control didn’t work, the toilet was very hard to flush, and there was mould in the bathroom.

We really enjoyed the Sunday lunch. The beef was so tender we didn’t need the steak knives, and I loved the cauliflower cheese. I skipped the parsnip puree at first, but after trying my husband’s, I think I could have eaten it too. The new chef is doing a great job. It’s a traditional pub with good food, and it was nice to see locals having a drink and watching rugby. Service was attentive without being over the top.

I’ve been here a few times with friends to watch football and it’s usually been alright. Today, though, as I walked in, I heard a group of men making “Paki” comments and Mohammad jokes. I’m a coloured guy, and hearing that was upsetting. If the owners hear this kind of racism, they need to put a stop to it. Anyone comfortable with that behaviour can keep supporting the place, but fellow coloured people may be better off avoiding it. I was born and bred around here, and this area has always had its share of people who hide their racism and get bolder when they’re drinking with a group. It’s a shame to be writing this in 2025. I thought we’d moved past this.