Shortlisted: Seven Fantastic Hitchin Pubs That Locals Love!

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Last updated on October 7, 2022 by Wandering our World

From the cobbled streets to the Tudor buildings, you could be forgiven for thinking you’d stepped back in time when visiting Hitchin. This historic market town dates back to at least the 7th century and with its old buildings, beautiful walks, and many sights, it’s easy to enjoy a weekend here.

Regardless of what you choose to do with your time when you visit Hitchin, if you’re like us you’ll want to enjoy some top quality food and a delicious pint at the end of a day exploring. 

Well if so, you’re in the right place!

To help you out, we’ve put together a list of some of our favourite pubs in Hitchin.

So whether you’re looking for some live music, brilliant food, a place to take your dog or a beer garden to soak up the sun, at least one of our Hitchin pubs below will suit you perfectly.

Sit back and relax, while we guide you through Hitchin’s pub culture. 

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Drazen Zigic

The Seven Best Pubs In Hitchin For Food, Beer and Fun!

1. The Half Moon

If you enjoy a warm welcome they don’t get much better than the friendly welcome you get at this award-winning pub.

It’s certainly not the biggest pub in Hitchin, but that only adds to the cosy feeling at The Half Moon. As does the industrial-style red brick wall and fireplace which is ideal for enjoying a drink by a roaring fire on those colder days.

There are regular bar snacks to go along with your pint – and what a variety they have on tap! Alongside your usual drinks selection there’s a total of ten ales on offer, with the two house ales being Adams Southwold Bitter and Youngs Bitter. The other eight rotate giving other brewers a chance to showcase their talent.

Occasionally they hold special food days at The Half Moon too, and that could range from a Greek BBQ day to Tacos! So be sure to check out their Facebook page in advance so you can see what food will be on offer, alongside the other fun events they have like pub quizzes and live music in the evenings.

And if you’re lucky enough you may end up visiting during one of the two beer festivals they hold each year!

On top of that, this is one of the most dog friendly pubs in Hitchin, and they also have a lovely big beer garden for those warmer days. For good ale, entertainment and fun events, this is a fantastic choice.

Address: 57 Queen Street, Hitchin, SG4 9TZ

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/AnnaStills

2. The Highlander

This is an English pub, named The Highlander, that serves British food with a French twist – we do love a bit of a crossover!

Open Wednesday through Sunday, things here feel a little rustic and informal, and with some of the building’s 300-year-old history being uncovered by a recent restoration project, there’s certainly an atmosphere at this place.

During the summer be sure to take advantage of their lovely secluded beer garden and patio. And when the winter months hit there’s an open log fire to add to the already warm atmosphere here. Dogs are welcome too.

The food is fantastic for pub grub and clearly great care is taken by the chef to produce some incredible food at fair prices. Opt for the classic Fish and Chips, Vegetable Tagine or Risotta Du Jour through the week, but on Sundays go for the Full Roast with all the trimmings.

Their fully stocked bar ensures there’s something for everyone drinks wise, and if it’s wine you’re after you’ll be pleased to see they have an extensive list.

Ale wise, Greene King IPA is regularly served along with three changing handpumps offering the best of locally brewed delights.

Artisan gin and some very good single malts help complete what’s on offer and to top it off, while this is a fairly quiet pub, once a month there is a live jazz evening!

Address: 45 Upper Tilehouse Street, Hitchin, SG5 2EF

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/CBCK-Christine

3. The Victoria

Are you looking to be entertained? Well The Victoria has so much to offer in regards to food, drink and entertainment, that it’s going to be hard to keep this summary brief!

There are two buildings that make up The Victoria, the main bar area which has a modern look, and a separate building named The Barn which is atmospheric, historic, and is often used for live events – we’ll get to those in a minute.

But first, the food. Thursday to Saturday you are able to select from the Bun Lovin’ Criminals menu which is filled with meat and meat-free mouth watering burgers absolutely packed with flavour along with buffalo wings and sriracha fries.

Whilst Thursday to Sunday there is the Dirty Pizza Co. menu which offers seasonal pizzas, some local collaborations with vegan options, and a whole lot of flavour by using the freshest of ingredients and cooking them the proper way.

Of course it’s not all burgers and pizzas. There are other options as well, and Sunday Roasts to enjoy.

With such amazing food, you’ll be wanting something to wash it all down with. So be sure to grab yourself some Greene King IPA especially if you’re enjoying your food in the fantastic covered beer garden.

What sort of live entertainment should you expect? Well The Victoria has quiz nights, live music, stand up comedy and even cabaret! Before your visit it’s easy to see what events are coming up by looking at their events page – that’s definitely worth a visit as some events do require tickets.

If you’re looking for one of the best pubs in Hitchin for entertainment, it’s hard to beat this place.

Address: 1 Ickleford Road, Hitchin, SG5 1TJ

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/William87

4. BB’s Bar

Need somewhere to watch sport during your visit to Hitchin? If so we have the perfect venue for you, filled with real ale and some delicious food to sit back and enjoy.

BB’s Bar is family friendly but when live sports are on there’s no doubt the atmosphere can get a bit lively! But if you want something a bit quieter be sure to head through to their beer garden which has some very comfortable seating. 

Open every day of the week, there’s some classic pub meals to enjoy here, with the likes of Fried Chicken, Hot Dogs and Burgers available. Things get better during the weekend though with Pizzas on offer alongside Garlic Bread and Dough Balls.

There’s two bars within BB’s, with the majority of drinks being served from the main bar, whilst the bar near the back has taps with a variety of ales. Most of the time you’ll find Fuller’s London Pride and Oakham Citra available and if cocktails are more your thing be sure to take advantage of their two for £10 deal.

Address: 12 Bridge Street, Hitchin, SG5 2DE

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Mikhail Rudenko

5. Hermitage

There’s not much in the way of ale here, but there is a fantastic bar and restaurant set within a former ballroom, stooped in so much history you’ll easily see how Hermitage made our list of the best pubs in Hitchin as soon as you walk inside.

Open 7 days a week, this is one of the best places in Hitchin for breakfast, lunch and dinner or for just passing a couple of hours with a drink in hand. 

For coffee lovers, they even have a coffee and bagel bar open daily. For breakfast there’s some classic British options with fry ups, scrambled eggs and of course, you can treat yourself to a Bloody Mary while at it.

The main menu is designed around supporting British independent producers to reduce Hermitage’s carbon footprint. And if you’re like us you’ll be pleased to spot Buffalo Wings under the starters and Sticky Sweet Chilli Ribs on the mains! Of course there is a range of plant based, vegetarian and gluten free options also, to ensure there is something for everyone.

And to make things a little more interesting, you’ll have a front row seat to witness your food being prepared thanks to their open kitchen.

A beautiful wine list has been created by Heritage to accompany your meal and if you’re looking for something with a little kick there’s a large cocktail menu bursting with flavour.

The weekends can get a bit more lively with live music from acoustic to funk, and often the house band Indi and the Vegas take to the stage.

For fantastic food, exquisite cocktails, and a place to enjoy from morning to night, Heritage is a great option.

Address: 20-21 Hermitage Rd, Hitchin, SG5 1BT

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Alessandro Biascioli

6. Radcliffe Arms

One thing we’ve learnt is that Hitchin loves pizza.  And as we also love pizza, it’s a match made in heaven!

The Radcliffe Arms happens to be the perfect pizza hangout, especially as they do 2 for 1 pizza on Mondays. Theres more than just pizza though, so be sure to try the Loaded Nachos, Lasagne or Moroccan Lamb Kebab if you want to try something you don’t get in every gastropub.

Visiting on a Tuesday? Then why not test your knowledge in their popular weekly quiz or visit on Friday to take part in ‘Friday Fizz’ where you can grab a cut price bottle of prosecco. Lastly, Sundays are reserved for traditional roast dinners, a staple of British culture.

To go along with the incredible food and events there’s four regular ales available, and we would recommend either the Brewpoints DNA Amber Ale or Origin Pale Ale as they both go down a treat.

There’s a range of draught beer, cider and delicious wine to complete the drinks menu too. And to make things even better there’s a large beer garden where dogs are allowed! As pubs in Hitchin go, this is a fantastic all-round option.

Address: 31 Walsworth Road, Hitchin, SG4 9ST

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Foxys_Forest_Manufacture

7. The Coopers Arms

Just a short walk from the town centre in Hitchin and you’ll find this historic pub, The Coopers Arms.

On a cold day, settle by the fire with a drink and enjoy the charming, relaxing atmosphere in this traditional English pub.

Or on a warmer day sit outside and enjoy the sunshine, with a real ale in hand and some traditional British pub grub in front of you.

The menu is packed with classics, so even if it’s cold outside there’s comfort food to keep you warm. The Cottage Pie or the Sausages and Mash are great options here, or opt for the Chilli for some extra warmth!

This is also a family and dog friendly pub, but things can get a bit livelier at times with the occasional pub quiz and live music during the weekends.

Address: 81 Tilehouse Street, Hitchin, SG5 2DY

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/JMLederer

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  • Wandering our World

    Hi and welcome to Wandering our World! This article was written by one of the Wandering our World team - a team of travel enthusiasts who live around the globe.