Topic ID 238
For anyone who hasn't seen the notice in Bar Humbug's window; they're applying for a late licence Mondays to Saturdays until midnight.
Reply ID 1286
Obviously still counting the cost of their "lavish refurbishment" from when the Irish Theme Pub Bubble burst and had to change their name from Paddy McMurpy's Oirish Pub (or summat) and now need the money. Hope they go under. Edited by - james on 03 Aug 2004 16:09:39
Reply ID 1288
....and another thing, why do they open over the Christmas holidays? Hypocrites
Reply ID 1290
Very good James !. Humbug always looks grimey and unfriendly, more thugs and cat fights for the town center on fri/sat at 1.30am it seems. There is no upside for Hertford residents for this establishment to get a late licence, but its inevitable.
Reply ID 1298
Late license. Bar Humbug. Whats the point?
Reply ID 1315
it seems that you have not been into barhumbug. If you felt so strongly about us opening late why have you not objected?
Reply ID 1316
I have been a couple of times, when other people have suggested it as a place to meet first. After one drink we move on for reasons said earlier. My wife finds it intimidating and I can see why. It has its place im sure, but I equate the clientele to those at the White Hart and we can read about what that late licence has achieved in the Mercury every Friday. I have not objected because it would be a waste of time. Edited by - Frenchie on 09 Aug 2004 09:41:47
Reply ID 1321
I think the comments on this topic have been unfair to say the least. As a newcomer (Commuter) to Hertford, I have found Bar Humbug to be a friendly, popular, and clean bar with a mixed clientele. The food is good and reasonably priced and I have always been made to feel welcome. James, your talk of a lavish refurbishment made me smile, do you prefer the spit and sawdust appeal that some of the other establishments in the town offer? It is laughable that a bar that is posing some healthy competition has provoked such a pathetic outcry!!
Reply ID 1322
I have no problem with a late licence, my point is does Bar Humbug have the need for one, always looks empty when passing the place. Is it a late licence for a late licence sake....?
Reply ID 1324
[quote] I have found Bar Humbug to be a friendly, popular, and clean bar with a mixed clientele. The food is good and reasonably priced and I have always been made to feel welcome. [/quote] What?? Are we talking about the same place here? I've been there twice, both times against my will. It's dark inside, the tables are covered in fag ash and sticky lager, and the people in there are as rough as a badger's backside. Can fully understand why the place looks empty on a Friday/Saturday night. Having a late license means that people will only drink there by default, not by choice. Sounds like a right con to me. And SimonJ, when I say "lavish refurbishment", I was being sarcastic, hence the quotes. The refurb I was referring to was the name change and a lick blue paint outside. Hardly pushing the boat out now is it?
Reply ID 1328
Comments on the thread Frenchie, "looks grimy and unfriendly" you go by looks; don't you think that's a tad superficial? Anyhow, I guess Hertford council doesn’t agree with you, as they have just given out a certificate of cleanliness to the pub. I can see how you can say it's unfriendly; you go in for one drink and leave. You being a really social person who stays for about 30mins, yeah, I can see how you have a valid point. If as you say the White Hart clientele is to blame for so many problems in Hertford surely the opportunity of an alternative place to drink would be welcomed by you. Stan, the point, let me think, well, that would be that the people who drink in the pub would like to stay there a bit later. If they enjoyed the atmosphere in one of the other late license establishments in Hertford they would probably be there, they are not. Leaving the most inane to last, James. Your comment in regards to the refurb of the pub, I'm guessing you never really went into the pub before any work was done. If you have you would know the garden has been redone, the toilet facilities have been improved and a number of other improvements have been made. If you think you can do all this with a can of paint, feel free to refurb my house anything you like. Then wishing for the pub to go under, seems a bit harsh don’t you think, that's someone's livelihood you're talking about. The name, well do you really expect pub names to mean something? Go into the blackbirds, see the birds? Duncombe Arms, where's the arms? Stonehouse, Stonepub should be it's name according to you I guess. I could go on, however, it's the name of a pub, it not a comment on the excess of the Christmas holiday period, get over it. I've worked in many pubs, Bar Humbug not being one of them, all tables get larger on them and fag ash, it's a fact. But they get wiped down, the ones in Bar Humbug no less than any other and I’d say more than a lot. Rough as a badgers' backside, well I’ll take your word for that you appear to have a better working knowledge of animals’ backsides than I. From your comments I look forward to never seeing you in the pub, it's attitudes like yours that will cause trouble wherever you go. To anyone else, I agree wholeheartedly with SimonJ, the clientele are friendly as are the staff, the food is nice and reasonably priced. But don't take my word for it, come in, look around, sit and stay a while.
Reply ID 1329
Right then. Fair enough. I'll be there this Friday night at a peak time with an open mind and some of my hard earned cash. They've got one drinksworth to impress me, and if they fail then I'll be back here and all hell will be let loose.
Reply ID 1330
I obviously wasnt clear enough I've been a number of times (3 or 4 & not just looked through the murky window) and found it dirty and staff miserable. Each time I left because of this. Not really surprising, think most people wouldnt hang around either. Most infact wouldnt even give it another look-in. Hardly superficial.
Reply ID 1335
Just for the record, i think Mark meant "lager" not "larger"
Reply ID 1336
If the amount of interest generated on here is transferred to Bar Humbug's late licence then it will be the most popular pub in Hertford!
Reply ID 1337
I am sorry about this but i must disagree with most of you and your comments that are obviously based on experiences from many years ago. I would like to say though that, since the @lavish@ refurbishment last summer, bar humbug has become one of the nicest and frienlier places to drink in hertford. The staff are friendly, the pub is clean, and it is the ONLY pub in hertford that has facilities for disabled customers. And I personally welcome the application for a late licence, and hope it is granted, in order that i can drink till late in the only pub that can accomodate my needs as a disabled person. And i am sure i speak for the many people like myself in hertford. As far as the comment about the customers looking like the rear of badgers, i hope i dont ever meet you in the street, or else. and by the way have you looked in the mirror recently ??????? I have noticed that none of you have mentioned the establishments that you frequent, is this because you are either barred from most pubs, or just too damn old to appreciate a good modern pub ???
Reply ID 1339
Hats off to Bar Humbug for having facilities for disabled customers, i assume this means toilets? I am surprised to hear its the only pub in town that does !! Look forward to James review of his Friday visit !!
Reply ID 1340
I love these sweeping opinions on other peoples experiences. From now on I would like it known that I think Bar Humbug is the best, cleanist, most ambient and most charasmatic pub in Hertford. Its fab.
Reply ID 1354
Well i had to investigate Bar Humbug for my self tonight after reading this debate, and i must admit i was pleasantly surprised; There were only about a dozen people in there, but it was bright and clean and the bar staff were happy to engage in a little banter, thumbs up to them. A refreshing change from the Duncombe arms next door, whose staff were robotic, and whose obese manager thought it was ok for her staff to call their clientele 'bastards' because although i had, my friends had not finished their drinks at last orders. I have had a 'meal' in the duncombe arms before, but it was barely edible, and their idea of a salad dressing was to drown it in water! I urge anybody who is thinking of patronising the Duncombe Arms to give it a wide berth for their own sake.
Reply ID 1369
So James, what's your verdict?
Reply ID 1406
Went past Bar Humbug at 10:45pm yesterday and despite being open they had no customers - not one! Completely empty apart from one visible member of staff.
Reply ID 1435
Well I think it's ok. Nothing much to get excited about but a nice little boozer... wrong end of town though.
Reply ID 1437
Haven't been in yet. Not been here much at the weekends lately. Will be going in soon though.
Reply ID 1445
Good luck to them. Every application is considered on their own merit so comparisms to other pubs should be ignored. I would also say that there are many pubs in Hertford with disabled loos and to finish if you don't like the place don't go there !!!! I think the place is a great addition to Hertford and if they believe it is financially viable to close later I wish them all the best.
Reply ID 1446
I agree twojays. I regularly go out in Hertford with my friends. We are all in our early 20s and we enjoy going in a variety of pubs in the town. It depends what kind of evening you want. Bar Humbug seems to get an unecessary slating here from members that may not have ever been and judge on hear say. I admit it is not always my first choice but as twojays says I wouldn't go there if i didn't want to. It is often not the premises that causes the problems but the people who drink to excess and behave badly. If bar humbug do get a late licence then any trouble caused will probably be done so by the same people who do so in other pubs.
Reply ID 1533
The problem with Bar Humbug is that a perfectly good, if formulaic, Oirish pub lost its eccentric landlord, installed huge SKY screens and from then on, what once had small bands and a ability not to frighten grown women away from 50ft, descended into a place less than savoury. It WAS a great pub, but its bad management and lack of originality on decor and name means to most who knew it before wouldn't touch it without rubber gloves on.. Shame.. some progress!
Reply ID 1537
Never bad management - they are some of the most responsible management in Hertford and one of the very few who are keen to be responsible for the wider view of publican-police responsibility. Your post is stereotypical hearsay I am afraid.
Reply ID 1604
Bar HumBug is the best kept secret in Hertford. Quality, well priced food, good beer, friendly staff and the cleanest toilets of any pub in the town - but don't take my word for it - pay them a visit..! Norn Iron Lad