Oldest pub in England to reopen in St Albans with former staff in charge
It closed back in February, but the new management team are hoping to give it a new lease of life!
Last updated 29th Mar 2022
Ye Old Fighting Cocks in Hertfordshire, reputedly England’s oldest pub, will reopen in April under new management, as former staff take over the lease.
Former manager Martin Robinson is now Landlord of the pub, which is said to date back as far as the 8th century.
Mr Robinson has teamed up with Head Chef Ian Baulsh and Sam Walker to give the pub a new life.
The new strategy will include a rejuvenated food offering: new menus with regularly changing specials; an extensive barbecue area in the pub’s garden, which overlooks the huge lake in St Albans’ Verulamium Park; a kids’ menu; live music events; and summer ‘Fighters’ Festivals’.
The St Albans pub closed in February, after what previous Landlord Christo Tofalli called an “unprecedented for the hospitality industry” - describing the pandemic as “devastating” for the pub.
New landlord Martin Robinson says: “I am delighted to announce that myself, Ian Baulsh and Sam Walker have now taken over the running of Ye Olde Fighting Cocks."
"I have worked here for 12 years as the Manager so I have a clear vision of how to ensure the future success of this pub.
"Ian has been Head Chef for the past eight years and is excited to share the pub’s new menus and his food strategy going forward.
"Sam brings a talent for aesthetics and design which will help us to enhance our customer experience, while retaining all the wonderful features of its rich history.
“Ian, Sam and I are now excited to be taking the pub into the next chapter of its story, and very much look forward to welcoming many familiar faces back here, and hopefully some new ones too.”