Datchworth, Hertfordshire, since 1543
The HornsHistoric village pub in Datchworth
An independent freehouse at Bulls Green, Datchworth, serving pub food, Butcher's Burgers, real ales and Sunday roasts. Enjoy the dog friendly beer garden beside the village green, or book a table inside beneath the old beams.
The welcome
The pub you hope is still there when you round the corner
Thought to date back to the reign of Henry VIII, The Horns has been doing the same job ever since. Somewhere to meet, to eat well, to sit with a pint and a newspaper, to bring the family on a Sunday and the dog on a Tuesday.
There is no house style handed down from head office. The beams are the ones the carpenters put in, the fire is a real one, and the food comes out of our own kitchen. It is an individual village pub, not a chain.
- A real fire
- An open fireplace makes this a place to settle in on colder days.
- Kept properly
- A freehouse, so we choose the beer ourselves. Cask ale looked after by people who drink it.
- Dogs and children
- Both are welcome throughout the pub. Bring them along after a walk round Bulls Green.
- Boots off the lanes
- We sit on the walking routes around Bulls Green and Datchworth Green. Come as you are.
The kitchen
Proper pub food, cooked for the table
Come in for hand battered fish and chips, butcher's sausage and mash, steak and kidney pudding, a chickpea and spinach curry or a pie of the day. Start with soup or whitebait, linger over a pudding, or make a Sunday of it with a roast. And yes, our own Butcher's Burgers are here too.
Sunday lunch fills the pub every week, so it is always worth ringing ahead. Tell us about allergies or dietary needs when you book and the kitchen will look after you.
Kitchen hours
- Monday to Thursday
- 12pm to 2.30pm, 5pm to 9pm
- Friday and Saturday
- 12pm to 9pm
- Sunday
- 12pm to 5pm
The bar
Stood at the same counter for generations
The bar is the heart of The Horns and it always has been. Come for a pint after work, settle in for the evening, or stand at the counter and talk to whoever is next to you.
Cask ale
As a freehouse we pour what we like and what our regulars ask for, kept in good order and changed through the year.
Gin, whisky and spirits
A back bar built up slowly, with English gins alongside the classics and a decent measure poured every time.
Wine by the glass
A short, honest list chosen to go with the food, with plenty available by the glass rather than only by the bottle.
Our story
Older than the parish church clock, and still keeping time
The Horns is thought to date to around 1543, with original Tudor features still visible today. Oak beams and open fireplaces are part of the building, not a decorating idea.
1543
The building goes up
Experts think the building may date to the reign of Henry VIII. Its original Tudor features and oak beams remain today.
18th c.
The Clibbon story
Local legend says the ghost of highwayman Walter Clibbons, killed by villagers in the 18th century, still haunts The Horns.
Today
A freehouse in the village
An independent freehouse and a place to meet over food, drink and a good story.
Outside
A garden under the trees, and the green beyond
When the weather turns, the tables outside fill first. There is shade from the old trees, room for dogs to flop underneath the benches, and the sound of the village going about its business.
We do not take bookings for the garden. Tables outside are first come, first served, so come early on a warm Saturday and claim a corner.
Regulars and first timers
The best thing anyone can say about a village pub is that it feels like theirs.
We would rather you heard it from the people who drink and eat here than from us. Their reviews live on Google and Facebook, unedited.
Find us
Bulls Green, just outside Datchworth
Ten minutes from Welwyn and Knebworth, a short run from the A1(M), with parking outside and lanes worth walking before or after lunch.
Address
The Horns82 Bramfield Road
Bulls Green, Datchworth
Hertfordshire SG3 6RZ
Telephone
01438 798052Opening hours
- Monday to Wednesday
- 12pm to 10pm
- Thursday to Saturday
- 12pm to 11pm
- Sunday
- 12pm to 10pm
Kitchen hours
- Monday to Thursday
- 12pm to 2.30pm, 5pm to 9pm
- Friday and Saturday
- 12pm to 9pm
- Sunday
- 12pm to 5pm
Free parking outside the pub. Please park considerately for our neighbours.
Good to know
Before you visit
Where is The Horns?
The Horns is at 82 Bramfield Road, Bulls Green, Datchworth, Hertfordshire SG3 6RZ, beside the village green. It is a short drive from Welwyn Garden City, Knebworth and Stevenage, and a popular stop for walkers exploring the Hertfordshire lanes.
Is The Horns a freehouse?
Yes. The Horns is an independent freehouse, which means we are free to choose the beers, wines and spirits we serve. You will find three real ales on tap alongside lagers, ciders, spirits and a considered wine list.
Is The Horns dog friendly?
Yes. Dogs are welcome throughout the pub and in the beer garden, and many of our guests call in after a walk around Bulls Green and the surrounding countryside.
Can I book a table at The Horns?
Indoor tables can be booked by calling 01438 798052. Tables in the beer garden cannot be booked and are available on a first come, first served basis.
When is food served at The Horns?
The kitchen is open Monday to Thursday from 12pm to 2.30pm and from 5pm to 9pm, Friday and Saturday from 12pm to 9pm, and Sunday from 12pm to 5pm. Please phone ahead to confirm current service times.
Does The Horns serve Sunday roast?
Yes. Sunday lunch is served every week and the roast menu changes weekly, so call the pub to hear what is on and to book an indoor table.
The fire is lit. Come and find us.
Book a table, ring the bar, or simply walk in. There is usually room for one more.