Boho Boxmoor

The Fishery Inn in Boxmoor

Last summer the newly revamped Fishery Inn threw open its doors, after a reputed six-figure refurbishment by owners Mitchells & Butlers.

The pub, formerly part of the Ember Inns brand, had moved to the more upmarket Village Pub and Kitchen arm of Mitchells & Butlers... which surely was a good sign for our own village of Boxmoor?

Before Christmas, the Fishery Inn kindly treated me and a couple of friends to a free meal, so I could write up a review for Boho Boxmoor. Restaurant and pub reviews are thin on the ground on this site, due to the fact that I'd mainly spend my free evenings tapping at the computer instead of making good use of a babysitter's services. 

But who can turn down a free meal, a few minutes walk from home? For those of you who don't already know it, the Fishery Inn has a wonderful canal-side location and is a short walk away from Hemel Hempstead station.

The pub's refurbishment has undoubtedly improved the interior, making it a pleasingly stylish place to pop out for a pint locally. The menu is also more stylish... trendy even... but I'd be lying if I didn't say the results are a bit hit and miss. 

Some people have raved about the Fishery Inn's food to me, others have said they were disappointed. With mains costing £19 at the upper end (fillet steak with chicken paté) customers are going to expect their money's worth.

I'm no restaurant critic, but I'd hazard that their menu is just too big to deliver every time. My duck and potatoes (£15) was enjoyable, but not as exquisite as I'd expect from somewhere like Restaurant65 in the Old Town, for about the same price.

But I'm more likely to frequent the Fishery Inn for a drink and bar snacks than a sit-down meal. I'd give their bar menu, with things like calamari and white bait, an unreserved thumbs up.

The pub deserves another thumbs up for engaging with the local community. Their launch, with 600 people treated to free food and drink, is testimony to that. They run regular events and promotions ('Pie and a Pint' in early March is the latest) and have shown they understand the power of networking: they have a Facebook page and have taken the initiative in getting in touch with local blogs like mine.

They also have a wine club (which entitles you to a free bottle of bubbly on your birthday when you join), an email newsletter for regulars, and they're members of the Cask Manque Trust. And unlike the Fishery of old, the new Fishery welcomes children, with a separate kids' menu.

Hats off to them and here's hoping they have continued success in Boxmoor. 

The Fishery Inn, 2 Fishery Road, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1NA. Tel: 01442 230197 Landlord: Phil Hemingway. Website: www.thefisheryinnhemelhempstead.co.uk

Foodies' delight: Beechwood Fine Foods in Tring

I found a new favourite place this summer: Beechwood Fine Foods in Frogmore Street in Tring. With seating for 10 (which includes a sofa and armchairs) you can chill out in their bright, modern cafe area, sipping latte or Fairtrade tea and considering which goodies to add to your shopping list.

Their range of upmarket local foods includes handmade choccies by Tring-based Kiwichik, Herts-made specialty breads, homemade cakes, farm vegetables, and meats sourced in Wobourn, Bedfordshire. There are also pure foodie delights, like quince syrup, West Country meringues, gooseberry and elderflower jelly, and an enticing array of vinegars, oils and sauces.

The shop is run by Toby and Sarah Murray, and they are to be congratulated for bringing to the area what's effectively a farm shop, with so much grace and style. Toby had me completely convinced of their commitment to local foods when I dropped by - if they can't find a foodstuff from this region, their second consideration is small British suppliers who are big on taste and quality.

All their cheeses are British, including the delightfully named Wobbly Bottom Farm goat's cheese, produced just outside Hitchin. Their eggs are from Aylesbury. And a big tick for me - they sell Smith's Coffee, which is produced right here in Apsley.

One of their special features is their daily breads, and on weekends this becomes speciality breads - black olive, brie and sun-dried tomato, cheese and mustard. Do stop by if you're in Tring or just in need of a treat. Say you're from Boxmoor... if enough of us do, maybe we'll get out own branch one day?

Beechwood Fine Foods, 42 Frogmore Street, Tring HP23 5AU. Open 7 days a week. Parking is in the pay and display car park further down Frogmore Street. Tel: 01442 828812. Website to come.

First of the summer wine: Frithsden Vineyard

Simon and Natalie Tooley bought Frithsden Vineyard in 2006. A vineyard had been in operation there from 1971 to 2001, but five years on there were no grape vines left. For the couple, it meant replanting the whole vineyard and starting from scratch.

They planted grape varieties that thrive in northern climates - unfamiliar names like Solaris, Phoenix, Rondo and Seyval Blanc. The 2007 harvest yielded 400 bottles of wine; this jumped to 4,000 bottles for 2008 and 5,000 for 2009. Next year, they're hoping to produce 10,000 bottles of the 2010 vintage, which will see the vineyard producing at maximum capacity.

Frithsden produces three wines - two whites, called Solaris and Phoenix, and a rosé. Sparkling wine is produced using different methods and equipment, and it's not something that Simon - who looks after the vines and does the winemaking - has tackled yet; but watch this space. Natalie manages the business and runs the vineyard's shop, which is at the heart of their retail trade.

The Tooley's sell 80 percent of their wine through their shop in the vineyard. The other 20 percent is sold wholesale, mainly to Salisbury pubs (which runs the Alford Arms, a near neighbour of the vineyard) as well as places like The Flying Corkscrew wine merchant.

The winery's shop throws its doors open Saturday 1 May, with an open day for the whole vineyard on Saturday 15 May. English Wine Week is 29 May to 6 June and the shop, vineyard and winery will be open every day that week, with free tastings and a self-guided vine trail, all culminating in a summer fete on Sunday 6 June (12pm-6pm).

For the rest of the summer, the vineyard and shop is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 11am-6pm. You can sit on the Med-style terrace and enjoy their wine by the glass or bottle, plus coffees, teas and cakes. And you can buy bottles of wine to take away, of course. The shop also sells Natalie's own-design clothing, called Calla Lily and Littlelily (her kids' range), plus hand-crafted keepsakes and gifts.

Frithsden's harvest takes place during a six-week period in September and October. The different grape varieties are harvested separately, and picked and pressed on the same day. Up to 70 volunteers help with the harvest - friends and neighbours, or visitors to the vineyard who've expressed an interest. As the picture gallery demonstrates, it's a communal, sun-soaked affair, with a big outdoor lunch for all the helpers.

During the autumn and winter, all goes quiet (seemingly). The wine is first fermented (this takes up to a month) and then it undergoes a cold-stablisation process (up to six months). The vines need pruning and training throughout the winter. In late spring, the new vintage is bottled, the shop and vineyard reopens to visitors, and the cycle begins again. See you there.

PICTURE GALLERY: HARVEST AT FRITHSDEN VINEYARD

Frithsden Vineyard, Frithsden, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP1 3DD. Tel: 01442 878723. Website (coming soon): www.frithsdenvineyard.co.uk

ENGLISH WINE WEEK: Find out more

Top 10: Local real-ale pubs

Earlier this year I met MARK CASTRO-GARCIA in a 'lively' online debate about local pubs. Mark, who lives in Bedfordshire, is a real-ale lover, and I persuaded him to write a feature on his top 10 real ale pubs in the Hemel Hempstead area. And here they are... with No.10 teasingly left blank as a readers' choice:

1. THE GLOBE, Winfield Street, Dunstable
(12 miles away from Hemel town centre. Brewery: Banks & Taylor)
CAMRA South Beds Pub of the Year 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, as well as Bedfordshire Pub of the Year 2009

If you are willing to travel that bit further, the Globe is a real Mecca for ale lovers (one punter who reviewed the Globe on beerintheevening.com travelled all the way from south London on a train to Luton, then a bus to Dunstable! He hadn't heard of Globe before.

They have 10 real ales on tap and do a fantastic deal where you can purchase five 1/3 pints for £4.50 - so you can try all their ales in just two rounds! They have a twice yearly beer festival (the largest independent one around), serving 50 ales, ciders and perries. The next one is 22-25 April 2010.
Website: www.globe-pub.co.uk  View: Image on Flickr

2. THE HARPENDEN ARMS, High Street, Harpenden
(8 miles away, Fullers brewery)
Fullers Cellarman of the Year 2008

Four ales on tap, plus four bottled ones on offer. This pub always has sport on TV on the go, and boasts a Thai restaurant at the back. Handy for the high street and the railway station.
 Visit The Harpenden Arms website  View: Image on Flickr

3. YE OLDE FIGHTING COCKS, Abbey Mill Lane, St Albans
(7.6 miles away, brewery unknown)

This is reported to be England's oldest pub and currently holds the official Guinness Book of Records title. Also reputed to have accomodated Oliver Cromwell during the Civil War. 

It boasts a beautiful interior, very good service, and is a lovely walk down from the Cathedral, past the park, down to the lake. They have three ales on tap, nice food, and they have baby changing facilities.
Website: www.yeoldefightingcocks.co.uk  View: Image on Flickr

4. THE SILVER CUP, St Albans Road, Harpenden
(7.5 miles away, Wells and Young's)

A traditional coaching inn, with a bar at the front and decent food served at the back - it also doubles up as a 4-star AA bed & breakfast. 

With a lovely location opposite the common, they have four ales on tap with a guest ale coming soon, and is Cask Marque certified.
Website: www.silvercup.co.uk  View: Image on Flickr

5. THE WATEREND BARN, St Peters Street, St Albans
(7.3 miles away, Wetherspoons)

Two former listed barns from 1610 were dismantled and re-erected in the middle of St Albans in 1938. Being next to the Alban Arena, this is a good starting point before moving on to the annual CAMRA beer festival. (St Albans is also the headquarters of CAMRA.)

The decor and features are breathtaking, with plenty of sofas, alcoves and roaring fireplaces. They have five ales on tap, including guest ones, and at Christmas they had no less than 18 winter/Christmas ales on rotation.
Visit The Waterend Barn website View: Image on Flickr

6. THE BOAT, Gravel Path, Berkhamsted
(5 miles away, Fullers)

Four ales on tap with large premises, plenty of seating inside and outside, and a terrace offering views of the canal. There's TV and music, helpful and friendly bar staff, a weekly quiz night and barbecues in the summer.
Visit The Boat's website  View: Image on Flickr

7. THE THREE HORSESHOES, Winkwell, Bourne End
(2.6 miles away, brewery unknown)

Another canal-side pub, this one dates from the 16th century and offers three ales on tap - my favourite bar is the tack room.

They have a weekly quiz, a fortnightly chill-out music session, a monthly comedy show and they sponsor the annual firework display. They also have a 'Santa Sails to Winkwell' event every Christmas.
Visit The Three Horseshoes Winkwell website  View: Image on Flickr

8. THE LEATHER BOTTLE, Leverstock Green
(2.5 miles away, brewery unknown)

A traditional village pub, located opposite the cricket ground and boasting a low beamed ceiling and fireplace. It usually has four regularly changing real ales from a selection, including two premium ales and guest ales.

9. POST OFFICE ARMS, Puller Road, Boxmoor 
(1.5 miles away, Fullers)

Known locally and affectionately as 'the Patch', this is a cosy, family-run pub. It's a bit of a Tardis, looking like a cottage from the outside - it has two bars, the larger of which leads back onto their patio and garden.
Visit The Post Office Arms website  View: Image on Flickr

10. READERS' CHOICE

Do you have a favourite real ale pub you'd like to see on this list? It must be within 15 miles of Boxmoor, serve real ale and have a pleasant atmosphere. Bonus points for pubs in Hemel and ones that are family friendly. Add your choices to the comments box below or email victoria AT bohoboxmoor.com. Mark Castro-Garcia will pick the winner.

A big thank you to Mark Castro-Garcia for this article. Visit his blog at markcastrogarcia.blogspot.com and his website at www.yewhew.com. Mark is a fan of Boho Boxmoor on Facebook. Article © Mark Castro-Garcia 2010.

The new Red Lion Water End

Remember that old bank advert that said: "My branch has become a trendy winebar"? Well, a rather forgotten pub on the Leighton Buzzard Road has become a very trendy bar and restaurant, thanks to the team behind the Akeman in Tring.

If you're looking for somewhere special to go for a pre-Christmas night out, look no further. If you're already booked in somewhere else, cancel it and check out the Red Lion instead.

Located on the Leighton Buzzard Road in Water End, the building itself dates back to the early 1700s. It was purchased by Oakman Inns, who set up business with the Akeman in Tring in 2007; this pub went on to receive the Design of the Year award at the 2009 Publican Awards. The Red Lion is the team's third pub - they've been running it since the middle of this year, before shutting it for exactly two months for refurbishment. 

The new Red Lion has been refitted and redesigned so the bar areas remain cosy, with a roaring fire, leather sofas and oak-parquet floors. The large dining area is bang-up-to-date contemporary, with an open kitchen and an exterior wall made entirely of glass, looking into the courtyard.

It is easily the most stylish place in Hemel Hempstead, with a Mediterranean-style landscaped exterior that promises memorable evenings once summer rolls around.

Pop in for a drink, book yourself in for a meal. You won't be disappointed. The menu includes Forno Vivo pizzas, baked in a wood burning pizza oven imported from Italy. The Red Lion is open every day from 9am, it says it's kid friendly, there's free WiFi - and you can currently book for Christmas Day or buy tickets to their New Year's Eve party. Enjoy!

TAKE A LOOK AT PICTURES OF THE RED LION WATER END - CLICK HERE

The Red Lion, Leighton Buzzard Road, Water End, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 3BD. Tel: 01442 213594. www.redlionwaterend.co.uk

Restaurant 65 in the Old Town

Restaurant 65 in the Old Town in Hemel Hempstead had long been on my list to visit. It was included in the Michelin Gude in 2008 and 2009 for good food at moderate prices and the chef, Grant Young, calls it the best restaruant in Hemel Hempstead. So is it? 

After a summer holiday in Devon, which included a visit to the River Cottage farm shop and a fair sampling of Devon's own wines, I decided to dust down any long-dormant foodie inclinations and give the best that Hemel has to offer a go.

The interior of R65 is cosy and comfortable, making the most of the small premises (it seats 30). The service is good and on the informal side. And the wine list appealing. But the hands-down star of Restaurant 65 is the food. Wow. It's a bit like going to your gran's for tea and finding there's a fireworks display on.

The first time I visited, we skipped starters and went straight to main courses. These arrived in three sculpted towers - mine cod with tarragon mash and wild mushrooms; and the other two chicken with new potatoes, and pork with bubble and squeak. The chef prides himself on serving restrained portions of expertly prepared, seasonal food. And that he delivered. The fine balance of flavours make you want to savour each mouthful... the food equivalent to a wine tasting.

I've already been back to Restaurant 65, and it's somewhere I'd even go for lunch on my own as a treat. I wouldn't need to be flush either - a three-course lunch costs £20 per head, and three courses for dinner costs £28 (excluding drinks).

Give it a try, I urge you, if you want to try some exquisite food in fairly relaxed surroundings. My only criticism would be that there was no English wine on the wine list. Hemel Hempstead boasts Hertfordshire's only winery in Frithsden Vineyard, and Restaurant 65 could jump on the local foods bandwagon by including some of their whites on their list. Oh, and I never met the chef to tell him how much I enjoyed his food.

Restaurant 65 is located at  65 High Street, Hemel Hempstead Old Town, HP1 3AF. www.restaurant65.com

Coming soon: The Village Coffee Shop

Boho Boxmoor's work is done. The neighbourhood just became a whole lot cooler with the news that we are finally going to get our very own coffee bar. Gadebridge mums Claire Harris, Anita Winks and Denise Palmer (pictured) have this week opened The Village Sandwich bar at 33 St John's Road (formerly Annie's sandwich bar).

And in August they plan to follow that up by opening up The Village Coffee Shop next door - oh happy day. There will be seating for 12 and Fairtrade and organic coffees such as expresso, cappuccino and latte. There will also be homemade cakes, pastries, hot chocolates and sandwiches. 

You can get all of these items now from the Village Sandwich bar, as well as salads, paninis and baguettes. Why not pop in now to say hello to the very friendly owners and book your place at one of the seats at the coffee bar.

The Village Sandwich Bar, 33 St John's Road, Boxmoor HP1. Tel: 01442 244253. Opening times: Monday to Friday, 7.30am-4pm; Saturdays 9am-2pm.

Tiki Cafe in the Marlowes

Tiki Cafe in the Marlowes was a bit of a well-kept secret to me until recently. I popped in after hearing the staff in the Early Learning Centre (next door to Tiki) talking rapturously about its white hot chocolate. 

Tiki has a somewhat unimpressive exterior, sitting as it does amidst shops in the Marlowes rather than in the more shiny Riverside development. But step inside and you'll find a large, well-frequented cafe with - surprise, surprise - toys for babies and toddlers at the back, to keep them busy while parents sip their chai lattes, Americanos or hot chocolates.

There are kids' drawings stuck on the walls in the toys area too, and flyers on the counter for local businesses - mainly alternative treatments and kids-related courses and services. No wonder there were several mums with babies when I visited, sitting around the bigger tables with armchairs and holding what looked like ante-natal gatherings - Tiki obviously welcomes parents with open arms.

The coffee is all 100% organic and Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance certified. Tiki offers healthy snacks for kids alongside the more naughty muffins and pastries, as well as a lunch menu of paninis and similar. The staff are friendly and on the ball. It may be a chain, but the branch manager lives locally. He told me he's keen to encourage a community feel to his cafe, and also hopes to offer regular events at Tiki.

Tiki's website is still under construction at the time of writing (www.tikicafe.co.uk), but if you want to find out more, why not pop into the cafe and have a taste of the venue and the very nice coffee yourself. Tiki is located in The Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, next to the Early Learning Centre, between Bank Court and Bridge Street. VS

© Boho Boxmoor, 2009

Sanuk, Potten End

You're driving through Potten End and you take an unfamiliar turn. The road is pretty but soon you notice there are no houses and the wood is getting thicker and thicker on both sides. There, ahead, is a gap in the road, and an unlikely sign for a garden centre and a tea room. You've stumbled upon Sanuk.

Nestled within Little Heath Garden Centre, Sanuk is a most charming tea room and ethic gift shop. Order a pot of tea or a cafetiere of coffee then choose a slice of one of their delicious homemade cakes. If it's summer, you can sit outside, among the plants, under an arbour. If it's mid-morning and mid-week, you may even find you're alone.

It's difficult to imagine Sanuk ever getting too busy though. After refreshments, allow time to wander through their Aladdin's cave of a gift shop, stuffed with trinkets and tribal art. And there's the garden centre's plants to browse too. When you get home, someone may ask what you did that morning. It will be on the tip of your tongue to answer: "Oh, I found the most wonderful little place..." and then you'll stop yourself. Perhaps you dreamt it, after all? SANUK: Little Heath Lane, Potten End, Herts, HP4 2RY, Tel: 01442 864951. www.sanukatlittleheath.co.uk
(Picture shows Sanuk's indoor tea room. Photo courtesy Ian Rance.)