A History of The Plough, Elstree

Like many of the public houses in Elstree, the Plough has a long illustrious history. The earliest known records date back to 1637 when it was known as The Swan according to a copyhold of the manor of Titburst and Kendals. Its latter name ‘The Plough Inn’ was first recorded in 1753. A victualler billeting record dating from 1756 lists the site as having one bed and one horse, by 1797 the building appears to have expanded, a deed of sale notes “houses, outhouses, edifices, barns, stables, yards, gardens, orchards, and ways”. During the 18th and 19th century, Elstree was a major stopping point along Watling Street, a coaching route that linked London to the midlands. The area prospered from the regular passing trade; at one time there were five coaching inns operating within the area. Around 1816 the site was taken over by Clutterbucks Brewery of Stanmore, who owned a large estate of pubs around Middlesex and Hertfordshire at the time.  In the 1823-4 Pigot & Co Directory, the pub is listed as being a stopping point for Bryans (London – St Albans) coach service. During the 1830’s it was rebuilt under its present guise, as a double pile construction with symmetrical elevations, fronted in yellow stock-brick and a low-pitched roof, a design typical of the late Georgian period. In the 1839 Pigot’s Directory, two coaches regularly stopped off here including The Safety and the Accommodation, St Albans bound services called between Monday – Saturday at 8am and 9am, while for London bound services, the Safety called at 4pm, and the Accommodation at 6pm respectively. In the Post Office Directory 1851, only one coach was noted passing through the village, from Shenley to and from London each day (except Sundays). 

By this time the pub was run by a farmer William Jones and his wife Susannah, who also owned a 99 acre-farm on site. The pub was first listed as a public house in the 1866 Post Office Directory. The Jones ran the site until 1886 when they were succeeded by Wakely Whiteley. The local coaching trade had declined by then following the onset of the railways. The pub became a popular location for charity dinners, and beanfests. A number of running and cycling clubs based around Middlesex frequented this site for their meetings and lodged here. Whiteley was also friendly with the local sporting scene and helped organise regular bird shootings on the grounds. In 1890, William Halsley took over, he was succeeded by George Dickson four years later, who ran the pub for the next 32 years with his wife Jane. Under Dickson’s watch it became known as The Plough Hotel, the pub became a hub for the local community, various local societies held regular functions here including The Aldenham Harriers, Elstree & Borehamwood Cricket Club and the, Elstree & Borehamwood Horticultural Society who also held their annual Autumn Shows on the grounds adjacent to the pub from 1909. This was facilitated in 1906, when Dickson obtained a licence for public music and dancing, which allowed for the construction of a long room for larger functions. Dickson was also involved in the local community, in 1896 he was elected to join the then newly formed Elstree parish council, moreover he was also a long-term member of Watford and District Licensed Victuallers and Beersellers’ Trade Protection Association, formed to assist fellow publicans in the local region. For a brief period in the late 1890’s he became chairman, and on various occasions he hosted quarterly meetings at the Plough. 

In 1898 the N13 became the area’s first regular bus service running between the Plough and Elstree & Borehamwood Station, this was followed by the 306 in 1925. The local film industry in nearby Borehamwood was emerging and the pub soon became a popular haunt for actors and film crew from the studios. In March 1919, Dickson resigned from the council, and a farewell dinner was held at the Plough in his honour. In 1923, Clutterbucks were taken over by Cannon Brewery, then Taylor Walker seven years later. Dickson passed away in October 1926, his wife continued to run the pub until July 1929. A retirement party was arranged by members of the local film industry, which included the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, Madeline Carroll, Carl Brisson, Donald Calthrop and Jameson Thomas. She was succeeded by Ernest Cox who was assisted for a time by Ernie Palmer. During his tenure, he gathered a collection of signed photos of famous movie stars who visited the pub, which were then lined up on the walls, at the time it was one of the largest collections of signed photos in the country. Among its notable regulars included the actor John Longden, and Alfred Hitchcock, each day after filming at BIP, he joined his film crew for drinks at the pub, they soon became renowned for playing practical jokes on the owner and his staff. In 1941, the pub was taken over by Kathleen B. Love. After the war, it was used for regular meetings for the Elstree Rotary Club, and the during the 1950’s, the St. John’s Club held their regular Christmas dinners here. Among her bar staff was cellarman Bernard Prescott who later became sales chief for Banks & Taylor Brewery of Shefford. 

Taylor Walker merged with Ind Coope and Ansell’s in 1959 to form Allied Breweries. Following the establishment of CAMRA in the early 70’s, after sustained local campaigning in 1979 cask was reinstated at the pub, Benskins Bitter and Ind Coope Burton Ale were sold at the handpumps. The same year, the newly merged Allied Lyons revived the Benskins brand and subsequently kitted out all their Hertfordshire Ind Coope pubs in Benskins red and gold livery, along with their pennant trademark. In 1983, they established the annual Heart of Gold competition, the following year it was won by the Plough’s then landlord Anthony Tarsey who raised £4000 for charity, he was later succeeded by Dave and Barbara White. In 1992 the pub was refurbished, the food menu was expanded, offering steaks and Sunday lunches, a family conservatory was also constructed to the rear of the property.  Two years later, Allied merged with Pedro Domecq S.A. to become Allied Domecq, and the pub joined the Big Steak chain of steakhouses. Early in 1997, they instigated a £150m expansion of its brands Big Steak, Wacky Warehouse, Firkin and Mr Q across their pub estate. In February, it was announced that the Plough would join the Wacky Warehouse chain with the rear of the building converted to offer soft play facilities. Their plans were soon disrupted when they discovered that the area they leased was intended as a paddock for horses. Allied Domecq tried to challenge this in the courts, but were unsuccessful. In 2000, the pub ceased being part of the Big Steak chain. It was extensively refurbished with a function/ sports room added. By the early noughties, a reporter from the Watford Observer described the place as cold and unfriendly, akin to the waiting room in the TV series Casualty. The pub closed in early 2004, it was subsequently purchased by Tony Chan who converted it into a Chinese restaurant called The East which opened on 21st March. It continued to operate for nearly a decade when at a hearing held at Watford Magistrates Court in November 2013, Chan pleaded guilty to 13 hygiene related offences, while East Inn Ltd pleaded guilty to a further 15 offences. The East closed shortly after this inquest, the site subsequently became Kiss Kiss, an Italian restaurant, before that too closed ultimately in 2017.

After six years of closure, Heineken owned Star Pubs who managed the freehold announced to the press in April 2023 that they were planning to renovate the site and restore it back to a working pub again under its former name The Plough. That August, Star Pubs obtained permission from Hertsmere Borough Council to take down the old signage and renovate the exterior. Further approval to restore the pub garden was given later that November. Works were initially expected to be £600,000 but went up to £1,300,000. Building work was scheduled to take place later that year but was delayed due to ongoing negotiations with the council. The following year the leasehold was acquired by Steve Haslam of Aim Pubs. In October 2025 renovation works began, the interior was expanded by 25% to create a split trading space accommodating both a bar and a dining area, while the garden was restored with a terrace, raised patio and outdoor screen added. On 27th May, the Plough reopened for business, beginning a new chapter in its long continuing story.

Beer Review: Vale Gravitas

Name: Gravitas

ABV: 4.8%

Brewery: Vale

Style: Golden Ale

Location: Brill, Buckinghamshire

Aroma: Notes of honey, grapefruit and lemons, with a whisp of grassy hops thrown in.

Colour: Golden yellow like a rapeseed field, with a one finger ivory coloured head.

Taste: Rather refreshing, a dry bitterness accomapnied with a biscuity malt. Conterpointed by a hoppy element that adds a bittersweet touch, along with notes of summer fruits and a gentle spicy aftertaste. Smooth and creamy in mouthfeel.

Verdict: A rather pleasant and easy drinking beer, all the more remakable given its strength. Balanced and pleasantly hoppy, though its malt backbone is a bit lacking in flavour which lets the side down. The bitterness is noticeable, while the hops make up for much of the flavour profile going on here.

Rating: 6/10

The 3rd Dulwich Beer Festival

On a oppresively and unseaonably hot afternoon in late May, myself and a friend headed down to the Dulwich Beer Festival, now in its 3rd year it is one of the newest festivals on the scene, first established by the good folk of South East London CAMRA in 2024. Each year since its inception they have held the festival at the Dulwich Hamlet FC stadium on Champion Hill which has been going strong in various guises since 1912. The festival has gradually increased in size over the years, with now over 50 cask ales available, along with the obligatory cider and perry bar, and the curious inclusion of a mead stall. Many of the beers at the festival were locally sourced from London breweries, which is hardly suprising as the likes of Portobello and Southwark breweries are the main sponsors. We arrived shortly after 1:30pm, and the venue was abuzz with activity, filled to the rafters with punters mingling in every corner. It was the final day of the three day festival, yet the organisers were struggling to cope with demand, and there was less than 20 cask ales left, even at this stage in the day. Whilst I browsed through the brochure, I disovered to my surprise that the organisers managed to acquire some additional beers not mentioned in the catalogue, and unfortunately they were not able to update the printed brochures in time. Although this instance frequently occurs in beer festivals up and down the land, the barman serving me could have been a little less brusque when informing me about the late changes to the program. 

For my first libation of the day, I went for some Harcourt Red (4.8%) a red ale from Brockley Brewery, which is incredibly just over 3 miles from the venue. It was distinctly fruity yet equally bittersweet, with bags of roasted malt suggesting a rich and varied malt bill, while notes of caramel gave it an underlying sweetness reminsicent of toffee apples. This was cut through by the grassy hops in the background which dovetailed with the other flavours to create a pleasing experience. Although blood red in colour, it felt more like a premium bitter in its setup. I've sampled this beer on several occasions in the past and it has never let me down, as usual it delivered in quality and would be a hard act to follow. Alas, I narrowly missed out on some Hedgerow Pale (4.5%) - Portobello, although I was graciously offered on the house the yeasty dregs from the bottom of the barrel, it was a gloriously medley of hops and fruit salad, where sweetness led to a intensely bitter aftertase, it was such a shame I couldn't have more. With the supply of pale ales fast drying up under the intense sun, I quicky snapped up some Ernest Single Hop (5%), a pale ale from Southwark Brewing Co., located in the northern fringes of the borough. It was a case of buyers remorse, as the Ernest hops struggled to impart their flavours, whilst the malty backbone lacked any punch making it oddly sessionable given its strength. While there were some citrussy grassy elements out in the heather, it lacked body and substance, while the aftertaste left a bland taste in my mouth. This was not helped by the temperature of the barrel, as the beer was served warm which made it hard to appreciate the flavours. I found this to be the case for a number of available beers upon sampling, clearly the cooling system was breaking down under the strain of the heat. By now the heat was rising, and we were beginning to wilt under the glare of the Sun. The dark ales by now few and far between, so I went for some London Porter (5%) - Kernel, I've been aware of this beer for quite a while now yet I've never managed to sample it. A throwback to the classic London porters of yesteryear, this is a beer packed with history as it is based on a 1896 recipe from Whitbread; sticking to tradition the brewers used a large proportion of brown malt blended with black malt and East Kent Goldings for additional flavours, making this beer a truly authentic Victorian porter. I was met with a rich and complex roster of roasted malt, with elements of coffee, dried fruits and dark chocolate giving off to a lingering bitterness, while a whisp of charcoal gave it a smokey undercurrent and a rousing finale. The mouthfeel was medium bodied, verging on the creamy, which intensified the flavours with every sip making it thoroughly moreish. It is easy to see which this beer is so highly lauded, judging from the high level of craft that goes into the brewing process. For the final beer of the day, I sampled some Saxon Strong (6.5%) - Mighty Oak, oddly the only non London beer I sourced that afternoon. A barley wine on the lower reaches of the scale, the heat from the barrel killed off any chance to appreciate its depth of flavour. I could detect some profound bitter notes coming from the hops, dovetailed by a underlying caramel like sweetness from the malt. Yet I was unable to appreciate the background hints of dark berries, toffee and wood as mentioned in the program blurb, as the intensity of the heat made the beer increasingly inedible and hard to drink. In the end I had to waste some of it, which is something I thought I never had to resort to. By this time the combination of starchy chips and a succesion of warm beers was starting to pay havoc with my digestive system and I had to call time gentleman please on my trip before it took its toll any further, we left the venue after a measly 90 minutes.  

While the festival was clearly popular, it was a miserable experience made worse by the hot weather. There was a poor selection of beers, made worse by the lack of a delayed barrel release policy, which I thought the organisers would have got the hang of by now in their third year of running. For the beers that were left, the cooling system was breaking down to such a degree that many of the beers were served warm, making it hard to appreciate the flavours and equally hard to digest. The choice of venue was also poor, while there was plenty of seating in the stands, there was only a sprinkling of picnic tables by the bar which quicky filled up, so on the whole it inaccesible to the less mobile. This wasn't helped by the one bar layout within a narrow area which quickly led to overcrowding as the admission numbers intensified. If this festival is to continue long into the future, a change of venue is strongly advised, as this stadium is clearly not the right setting to hold a beer festival as it grows in size. On the whole it was a complete shambles from start to finish, this festival is not worth ticking off on the ol' bucket list, you'd be better off down the pub instead. 

Beer Review: St. Austell Big Job

Name: Big Job

ABV: 7.2%

Brewery: St. Austell

Style: DIPA

Location: St. Austell, Cornwall

Aroma: A heap of pungent tropical fruit assaults the senses, followed by a medley of grassy hops that quickly dominate the proceedings. There are elements of pine, and fruit drops thrown, with a whisp of white rum that is vaguely intoxicating, and speaks of its high strength. 

Colour: Golden with a one finger ivory coloured head. 

Flavour: A dry bitterness is immedietely noticeable, followed by a rush of flavours that leads into a battleground of tropical fruits such as mangos, paypaya, lychess and guava, contested by a potent citrussy elements that draws the tastebuds collections. After the initial assault, there is a chewy, almost caramel like flavour to the malt, a syrupiness remiscient of marmalade, whilst the aftertaste is exceedingly hoppy and warming.

Verdict: Intense flavours pummel the senses, bold and punchy, its leaves a lingering effect long after each sip. The brewer's craft has been placed over overdrive here, yet the flavours are well balanced, rather than tacky, everything from the malt to the hop elements is proportianlised and works well together. This is one beast of a beer. 

Rating: 8/10

The Prestel Factor

CAMRA’s website is nearly three decades old, yet years before the Internet became a reality, CAMRA was already making baby steps towards the world wide web. A decade before the introduction of the Internet, there was already a similar ‘web’ based system doing the rounds called Prestel, commercially launched nationwide in September 1979 by Post Office Telecommunications (BT Group PLC), a division of the Post Office, it was markedly the world’s first public viewdata service. Prestel was the brainchild of Samuel Fedida (head of the Computer Applications Research Division), who hit upon the idea following the failure of the data-intensive Picturephone system of developing a viewdata service that used simple text and images which required only a low bandwidth. He originally envisioned for the Post Office to play an active editorial role, but management sought to encourage other organisations to generate content instead.  Similar to the Internet, Prestel offered a wide variety of content, ranging from the stock market, central government departments, national and local news, sports, travel, horoscopes and consumer motorist advice. A number of major organisations established their own dedicated IPs like British Rail, RAC, Sealink and Reuters, retailers including WHSmith and Currys, as well as charities like Save the Children. Users could access Prestel using an adapted television set, via a keypad or dedicated keyboard, while home computers users could also adapt their sets using an acoustic modem. Initially, most people viewed Prestel as an expensive gimmick aimed towards business, this changed in 1981 when BT reduced the quarterly subscription fee for home users to £5, along with the prices of equipment. Unlike the Teletext system, it was fully interactive and unlimited in size, the service expanded its capabilities with the launch of Mailbox the same year, which enabled instant messaging between different terminals, and in time users could also do online shopping, home banking, book holidays and tele-software, tropes that were later synonymous with the Internet. 

Less than two years after Prestel became available nationwide, in April 1981 Hertfordshire became the first county in the country (outside of the central terminals in London) to launch its own localised Prestel service. It was known as HERTS288 (also its front-page number), which was set up by a consortium comprising of the County council and several district councils to provide a community information service. Initially seven district councils signed up to the scheme, but this was later expanded. At the touch of a button users could find information on educational and recreational facilities, local businesses also brought space for advertising pages, the first to buy space was the National Reprographic Centre for Information based in Bayford. In late 1982, HERTS288 approached CAMRA about setting up an electronic guide for Hertfordshire’s top real ale pubs. CAMRA went along with the idea and subsequently established a Prestel page that would centre around Hertfordshire’s top 100 pubs with the entries taken from the 1983 edition of Real Draught Beer in Hertfordshire. The pubs were arranged by town and grouped by district, some pubs (and breweries) had full information pages which consisted of an address, a brief description of the venue and beers currently available, like The Barley Mow pub in St. Albans and Victoria Brewery based in Ware, who were among several businesses that purchased pages of advertising respectively. After several months of development, the service was launched at a joint meeting of four district CAMRA branches on 19th April 1983. Along with a Top 100 pubs page, the site also offered a news section detailing upcoming beer festivals and other local events, while a Pick of Pubs feature provided an interactive element for users, it was envisioned that users could vote their approval and disapproval of a pub by filling in a response frame (form) by including the pub name and rating out of 10, quality of beer, quality of food, general impression and service, along with additional comments. The information was then sent to Dave Burns who was the editor of the service, markedly if they received more than three detrimental reviews for a pub, CAMRA would send an official round to the pub in question to assess its continued suitability in the guide, if it failed to reach expectations then the pub would be removed from the top 100. This particular feature was demonstrated in an episode of Food & Drink broadcast on 5^th May 1983, a rare use of computer technology in a program that normally showcased the UK’s culinary and beverage industry. 

 

Over the next few months, there were sporadic mentions of CAMRA’s Prestel service in the press, from a report in the Hertford Mercury and Reformer to several brief mentions in issues of the Hertfordshire Newsletter, the branch magazine for CAMRA in Hertfordshire at the time, its final mention appeared in Issue No.68 published in December 1983, as part of a year-long retrospective of highlights. Despite the fact that Prestel service was available to users nationwide, it appeared that CAMRA’s Prestel platform only appealed to a small local audience and no other branches outside Hertfordshire adopted the scheme. This was reflective in the slow uptake of subscribers of Prestel, around the time of CAMRA’s launch on Prestel, there were only 18,000 subscribers, 2500 of them business. Home users were put off by the high prices, a monochrome Prestel television set cost £650, more than triple the cost of a conventional colour TV at the time. Although the number of subscribers increased later that decade, so did the subscription fees, and by the early 90’s the service was gradually wound down due to financial issues before being discontinued in 1994, just as the Internet was in ascendance. While CAMRA’s brief flutter with Prestel was merely viewed as a blip at the time, it was a window into an interactive future that would expand the organisation’s reach. In November 1996, CAMRA’s website launched on the fledgling Internet, succeeding where their dalliance with Prestel failed a decade earlier; it ushered in a new era that would revolutionise the organisation.

 

Beer Review: Great Newsome Liquorice Lads Stout

Name: Liquorice Lads Stout

ABV: 4.3%

Brewery: Great Newsome

Style: Stout

Location: South Frodingham, Hull, East Yorkshire

Aroma: Jammy notes of plum, followed by a whisp of liquoriche and the familliar notes of coffee, burnt toast and roasted malt associated with stout.

Colour: Dark ruby with a one finger ivory coloured head.

Taste: A potent sharp bitterness assaults the senses, leaving a lingering coffee like essence followed by a mellow fruitiness in the backgroud, the liquoriche seems subdued, almost non existent, though the lack of sweetness makes it seem tart. Mouthfeel is thin and watery.

Verdict: It fails to live up to its expectations, the use of liquorice is more of a marketing gimmick, when it cuts to the chase it fails to make itself heard, while the other elements seem light on flavour other than the roasted malt. The mouthfeel is also a letdown, leaving it a watery mess without any discernable character.

Rating: 4/10