Pick & Shovel, Borehamwood

I last drank in this pub around 15 years ago when I worked in Borehamwood and went back to see how it had changed. The answer was not a lot, there are now a couple of TV's but everything else seems to be in a bit of a timewarp. Same layout, same furnishings, same décor and same clientele. Far from one of the best Wetherspoons, they had a good selection of ales on but it didn't look the sort of place where you'd trust either the beer or the food. Having said that I did have a decent pint of Butcombe Blonde. "

Typically plastic ‘Spoons that wouldn't be particularly memorable for me had I not worked opposite and spent the day in here a few years back on the day I was made redundant after 25 years (well there is bugger all else about in Borehamwood). The proximity of the film studios virtually next door and the BBC not far away means there is always a good chance of spotting a celebrity (I'm sure even the rich and famous have to resort to Wetherspoons at some time) or, if you are really lucky, maybe a legion of Roman centurians or Star Wars Stormtroopers may pop in on their lunch break. There are plenty of Hand Pumps although my last visit was during the ale festival so I can't speak for normal selections. It's very much a ‘Spoons by numbers but the local competition is so dismal that it does serve a more than worthwhile purpose. Note – the Elstree Inn prominently displayed on the frontage refers to the hotel above the pub, not the pub itself.