Dylans at the Kings Arms

‘If you want a blueprint for what a local pub should be, this is it,’ insists a fan of this handsome Tudor building in St Albans’ Cathedral Quarter. ‘Personalities abound’ out front, the welcome is always friendly, and the pub’s interior evokes bygone days with its beamed ceilings and burnished wood surfaces. Much depends on the food, and chef Josh Searle is up to the task, delivering dishes that sit happily between dyed-in-the-wool pub cooking and grander restaurant-style creations. Anything involving steaks and chops gets a resounding cheer; otherwise, the repertoire might run from spiced Devon crab ‘soldiers’ with citrus fennel to pea and broad bean risotto with goat’s curd. One reporter also reckons the smoked potatoes with red miso and lime butter are among the most incredible things they've ever tasted. To conclude, indulge in a knickerbocker glory or a passionfruit Daiquiri sorbet. The pub also does ‘one of the best Sunday roasts ever,’ while the superb drinks selection ranges from a well-pitched wine list to cask ales dispensed from a green-tiled ‘beer wall’.