Fifth stop on this St Albans’ visit: I had visited before and so recall there was a Welsh landlord. Indeed, on this visit there was Cardiff’s Brains Brewery’s tap takeover with four of their real ales on and more to sample from Brains’ own pop-up bar inside the pub down one end of it, including Brains’ Dark which I had a sample of, and where bottles of Brains' selected ales were for sale. A good few in this ancient and picturesque backstreet pub for our mid-afternoon visit but prompt friendly service from the main bar. Still with the contingent from the Enfield & Barnet CAMRA branch who had not failed to disappoint on this trail so far from The Beehive. After this visit it was time for me to leave them going forth and so as to wend my way to visit the St Albans Museum and Gallery for the specially convened Inns & Alehouses Exhibition put on as part of the St Albans’ City of Ale festival and where I would get to pull for the first time ever three original handpumps and no doubt salvaged from some poor pub no more or no longer serving real ale.

4th visit of the outing: this grade-II listed and said to be dating from the 17th century or even earlier, like The Farmers Boy, was off-piste. It is though practically on route and looked a gem to visit from looking up WhatPub. Situated in a conservation area not far from the cathedral, and it is hard not to imagine most of St Albans is not in such a designated area. It very much follows a Welsh theme as the current guvnor is clearly originally from that neck of the woods and hence two cask from Brains plus another two cask but not local ones. Met with a warm welcome and served without delay on this early afternoon visit despite appearing to be the busiest drinking hole yet on this trip.

Early evening and by far the busiest pub of today, we found a table towards the garden extension and enjoyed our beers.

Afternoon visit on a warm and muggy day, I had not been here before and was expecting it to be a food house with the dreaded pastel grey interior but thankfully it is a good pub with friendly bar staff and customers. Top up given with good grace.

16:15 Half way between the White Lion and the White Hart Tap. I felt it would be rude not to go in. No one else in.