The Kings Arms

The chips were nice, but the rest of the meal was bland for the price. The soup of the day had too much pepper, and the fish finger goujons had no taste. We were told food might take a while, and it did. There were better options elsewhere, so I wouldn’t return. Service made the visit worse. The first waitress seemed hostile and hard to approach. When we arrived to be seated, she dropped the menus and walked off. Her manager later asked her to take our order as I approached him, but she mumbled something and went the other way. A younger waitress eventually took our order.

The food was tasty, nicely presented and came in generous portions. Service was prompt, friendly and efficient, too. We had Christmas Eve Brunch '25 in a very characterful, historic interior, with exposed timbers on the walls and ceiling and open fires. The facade made a strong impression as well. The moccas, cappucinos, champagnes and bloody marys were lush.

I’d heard from friends that King’s Arms was a good place to go in Berkhamstead, but after being turned away I won’t recommend it. They said I was drunk, even though the only alcohol I’d had all day was one alcohol-free Guinness. It felt like the staff or security were on some kind of power trip. A really disappointing experience.

The food is great, but getting it takes a long time. There were lots of dirty tables still waiting to be cleared, and dirty plates piling up on the bar. They need more staff and someone who knows how to manage a pub properly.