Inn On The Park

Someone from this business manages this listing.

179 reviews

#22 of 57 Quick Bites in St. Albans££ - £££, Quick Bites, Cafe, British

+44 1727 838246+ Add website

Hours

Sun

9:00 - 17:00

Mon

9:00 - 17:00

Tue

9:00 - 17:00

Wed

9:00 - 17:00

Thu

9:00 - 17:00

Fri

9:00 - 17:00

Sat

9:00 - 17:00

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Ratings and reviews

3.5

179 reviews

#22 of 57 Quick Bites in St. Albans

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Details

Someone from this business manages this listing.

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PRICE RANGE

£5.00 – £10.00

CUISINES

Cafe, British

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch

features

Location and contact

Verulamium Park St. Michaels Off St. Michaels Street, St. Albans AL3 4SN England

+44 1727 838246

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Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant?

Yes

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About

The Inn on the Park Cafe is a pavilion style building, situated in the historic park of Verulamium. Ideally located near to the seasonal splash park and ROCKIN' ROMAN trampoline & go carts. We have a range of ice creams to offer from the classic '99' to locally produced scooped artisan ice cream cones. All menu items may be ordered to take-away. Hire our cosy Function Room for your baby shower, hen tea or small family event.

PRICE RANGE

£5.00 – £10.00

CUISINES

Cafe, British

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch

FEATURES

Takeout, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards

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3.5

179 reviews

Excellent

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Terrible

mikex882

St. Albans204 contributions

News day visit

Jan 2022 • none

We were on a walk around the park, and decided that we would stop for a drink. When we arrive they were still preping the building (inc, cleaning the drains, which was unexpected). The staff were so engaging that when told they would be another 20 mins, we opted to walk some more and come back { normally we just walk on and find somewhere else}. It was more like 35 mins than 20, but there was a nice group of people to chat to while waiting. The place suffers from covid rules, the need to cordon off paths, screens etc, makes for a very unfriendly experience, which is a great shame, as the place looks welcoming. We had intended to buy drinks only, but the cakes were just shouting out eat me, and it would be rude to say no.. They tasted as good as the looked. The drinks had to be collected from a table, which was fine, but it would have been nicer if they had been delivered to the table. Overall, within the limits of Covid, I think they have done a good job, and we will go back for another visit.

Written 3 January 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SJC94

Ashford215 contributions

Needs redesigning

Nov 2021 • friends

The location of this cafe and the building are not used to there full potential. The menu looked fine but on arrival we were disappointed by the lay out and ambience of the cafe. They are trying to maintain Covid safety which we understand but on entry you are faced with a hand sanitizer station that looks like somewhere where you would scrap plates. The food was good but the eating areas looked dull though it was clean. It needs a re design. May be it’s better in summer. Everything came with disposable recycled plates and cutlery.

Written 20 November 2021

ryko26

London119 contributions

Can be slow but lovely friendly place.

Aug 2021 • none

Always friendly, always good food (maybe the best sausage sandwich in Herts?, lovely fresh croissants) and a really nice spot to have a pit-stop. Dog friendly too - I think everywhere is in St Albans! and our dog always has a biscuit from the jar here. The only small gripe stopping me giving this 5 stars is the number of times when it takes a bafflingly long time to get a cup of tea. Fair enough when there are lots of customers but I'm referring to the many times when I've been the ONLY customer first thing in the morning and it still takes 10 minutes. The last few times I've been my bacon bap has somehow been ready for collection BEFORE my partner's croissant (which is already in a cabinet by the till). But we keep going back - it's a lovely spot and usually plenty of space and seating.

Written 2 September 2021

Kayfred

St. Albans11 contributions

The slowest service in history !!

Sept 2020 • none

We have often stopped and grabbed a coffee on our scooter round the pond but today we decided to have a coffee and lunch ! I got in the queue at 12.30 and at 1.32 I was at the front of it ,there was around 6 people in front of me ......talk about slow service ! When I finally got to the till I asked to look at the menu again as I was getting for 5 people,looking to jog my mind and he said it’s on the board where the queue is outside I reeled off the order like a memory challenge might be worth having a menu visible inside to jog peoples memory . I then got in to the crowd of people standing about waiting for their food ! This took ages and I waited another 20 mins , I asked the guy on the till and he said it was because I ordered a “sausage bap” apparently they take ages ?? Meanwhile I dropped off our hot drinks at the table to allow the others to have theirs hot . The system is shocking and needs to be done on a table number and table service system especially with Covid , I would of thought this would of been an automatic system to keep people spaced out I had several people bump in to me and kids stepping on my toes , I’m not precious and totally understood how difficult it is for children to “ socially distance” but their set up is dreadful and causes problems . I also watched about 6 people use the ketchup and mayonnaise that was sat on a table near the door , would it not be best to offer single packets ???? The food was “ok”nothing remotely special and desperately needed a side salad with the quiche and some finishing touches that make you feel like you have had a bit of value for your money . The food was basic and if your used to that then fine , but when you have other places locally that are so good and go the extra mile I can’t see this place lasting as people won’t go back . Not sure if they have changed hands but most of the picnic benches were all saying the same things . This is such a shame as this place could be a total gold mine and has potential to be incredible the setting is amazing and in the right hands and management wow incredible things could happen. I hope they improve as it’s a genuine shame . On a last positive note the quiche was nice and would be lovely with a little side salad or cous cous , if you go the extra mile people don’t mind paying a bit more .

Written 1 September 2020

FinandKati

Hemel Hempstead22 contributions

Not Great

May 2021 • none

This venue is unfortunately typical of most UK cafes / food and drink establishments serving products close to children’s play areas / venues and parks. It is always overpriced for the quality of the food and drink to price ratio (especially true in St Alban’s – even London venues are better value and that is saying something!) I think as most parents we are happy to pay a fair price for a fair product. It is so sad that venues like this cannot serve quality for the price they are charging – what a captive market and hidden opportunity (this has nothing to do with Covid by the way, it was exactly like this before). To give an example I ordered a portion of chips that cost what felt like a large mortgage (for this price we should as a customer get something a bit more special (Belgium style fries just for example) not standard fare from the wholesaler. My wife had a supposed large Mr Whippy that looked like it was so small a baby would be hungry (pay for big ice cream you expect a big one) Service is incredibly slow even mid-week when its quieter, the children get fed up waiting, I have heard several parents complaining about this, but the staff / management team seem undaunted by the constant queues outside and do nothing to try and reduce it. I appreciate it is not easy times now for the hospitability sector hence not complaining directly as I normally would (it is tough for all of us!!), however hopefully some constructive criticism will be of help here. Try and check out some of the videos from the food review club on social media, they are right in what they stand for and believe in, customers have been ripped off for too long and are getting fed up, times are changing.

Written 4 May 2021

Pippa

Hatfield3 contributions

Shabby, lazy and very poor.

Aug 2021 • family

I was really disappointed when we visited here today. I was with my wife, two boys under 6 and my mother in law. I bought a tuna sandwich and a ham sandwich. These were so basic in white bread and in plastic single use cartons. I also ordered a tuna and cheese melt, which looked like someone had stepped on it and quite small. The chips we ordered were terrible and barely edible. However, the Greek sald was good. We had to wait for the hot food which is fine but took a while and poorly served. Mayo was left baking in the sun outside with the other sauces, all in the full sun. The seating area was covered in litter and the hedge was overgrown and grass could've done with a cut. The signage has bulbs missing and there were yellow arrows very badly spray painted on the floor to show how to go in and out. The bins were brimming. All very shabby, lazy and low budget and lacking of any care. No where near the standard of a St Albans cafe in such a prestigious and unique part of the town. This cafe has 100% monopoly in the park and could do really well but clearly no interest in doing so. The park and it's visitors deserve much, much better than this. Wish we had gone to the Waffle House nearby which we had originally planned to do. Avoid or hold out for better eateries nearby if you can.

Written 3 August 2021

Peterpanbabe

Dear Pippa of Hatfield. I was really disappointed to read your review. Let me give you OUR thoughts. We’ve written to HOVIS immediately and shared your comments regarding their bread. As yet we have no reply. To be fair, like us they are probably pretty busy too right now with bigger challenges. Most people don’t like hard bread either, which is what happens when you use alternative disposable packaging, which happens to have a plastic lining. Lets not start a debate on sustainability. We truly are experts. Its jolly interesting and educating, compared to the average (Hatfield ?) household that’s for sure. To be fair, our menu and notices do state ‘simple sarnies’ for this reason. Alternative breads are available as used in our toasties. The sustainable St.Albans police will be made aware we have slipped in our claim to be nearly plastic-free. We’ve had a word about our only 2 remaining products. We’re all pretty proud and amazed that this is the only plastic you would find, especially as we are currently having to operate as a take-away. Next time someone offers you a toastie that appears to have been stepped on, please don’t take it, let alone eat it! Goodness knows what we could have been stepped in. In all seriousness and as is always the case, shame you didn’t mention at the time of your visit about your unsatisfactory toastie and chips…we are busy with limited staff*. They are human and however amazing they are, they do get things wrong sometimes…if you don’t tell them they don’t know. Don’t try and tell us you did, as any good hospitality business will tell you, there are always procedures in place. We’re sorry the sunshine came out for your visit. Although even that couldn’t save you from your bad day. The sauces have a parasol over them…. perhaps we were all lucky enough that the sunshine had moved a bit. We do try and stop the bottles going walkabout but they are a nuisance. Now on to the serious stuff. The garden. And graffiti? The litter. In St.Albans? Heaven help us!!! We’ve found the offensive blades of grass in the garden and will make sure they don’t dare to grow above the permitted height. The rain gods will stop with the watering for a bit. The grass needs a cut, the hedge needs a cut, like seriously! You really need to moan about that ? It really didn’t need a cut. We know. We are obsessed. #InternalJoke The litter. We’re going to get Boris to issue the nation with a final warning about litter. Just follow #KeepBritainTiday #DontBeATosser Enough said. But actually… We actually PAY someone to come and clear the litter from our customers in the park. How about that. That’s their only job. Not many local businesses do that. Let alone with current bigger issues to hand. We spend HUNDREDS of pounds dealing with PARK LITTER, recycling our waste and are well known for our efforts to reduce, reuse, recyle so don’t even start us on consumer behaviour. We are VERY proud of the work that our entire café team input to resurrect our garden from the swamp that it was in the Spring. We manage all the grounds ourselves. Its money, time and energy that we have to dig deep for. However we DO give a lot of love back to our park and our own grounds, with customers thanking us for the time and effort input into making it the pretty place it is today, as is evident in our many social media posts. The hedge. As it happens we have just had a recent risk assessment approved which means we are PERMITTED to trim the hedge now. Don’t criticize. Theres always a reason for everything in business. The signage has bulbs missing….you were bored weren’t you. That’s on the list too. Another risk assessment. Another cost. 10/10 for noticing though. The graffiti…well, the covid marshals disagree and don’t believe our efforts qualify for graffiti just yet even though they think its been pretty good. Banksy has been a bit busy of late and was unavailable for guidance. The markings have been there for over a year and a half and you are the first person to be worried about them. Sadly they are a requirement of our times. We don’t like it either to be fair but they will wash away. Most people are just grateful for our efforts with covid requirements for hospitality. To close. To say we are shabby, lazy, low budget and don’t care is really, really below the belt and immensely derogatory and insensitive. To say we could do very well when you have know idea about our business is just daft. We do very well all things considered. You have ZERO idea what we have managed to achieve these last 2 years. It doesn’t set a good example on behaviours to the next generation does it? It’s the school holidays. Its busy. That’s life. Aren’t we all lucky we are alive and CAN go out and LIFE is returning to some sense of NORMAL. *Theres a pandemic. Yes we know people don’t want to hear it but its fact. Its life. Its very sad. And it impacts every single person in this café on a daily basis and every single hospitality business in St.Albans and beyond. Its tough. Theres a pandemic. I’ll say it again. Be kind or go away. Don’t be that person that supports the #BeKind & then post such comments insulting the tremendous efforts of our team. We don’t in general have time to respond to reviews, as a hospitality business in a park we have such a wide customer base we know we cant please everyone. However, the team have been really saddened by this. They have worked so hard to support us over the past year and are still surviving and coping. If you haven’t read any news lately, we are all reeling from a pandemic and the hospitality industry has been hard hit with a staffing crisis. Reviews such as yours are no help and could be really detrimental to small, independently owned businesses who are trying to stay afloat and survive. We all wish you well and hope you feel better soon.

Written 19 August 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

monterosawellington

7 contributions

Fantastic, friendly cafe

Aug 2021 • friends

Inn on the park is a great cafe in a lovely location. The staff are friendly and welcoming. Friends and I visit on our weekly walk with the dogs. They have a great selection of tasty food to eat in or takeaway. Great for the occasional breakfast. A bowl of water is always out for the dogs and Inn on the Park sell dog snacks too. As can be appreciated when wet grass has a lot of tread it gets very muddy but a new lawn has been laid which looks good and all the flower pots and hanging baskets around look lovely. Great place to stop for coffee, snack and a fantastic asset to the park. Fiona

Written 8 August 2021

Diane2703

St. Albans449 contributions

Delicious Afternoon Tea !

Aug 2021 • none

My husband and I booked afternoon tea as we were visiting the nearby museum. We arrived early, but this was not a problem. We were shown into the Hideaway room, which was decorated with pretty bunting and fairy lights and was very quiet and peaceful baring in mind the cafe was very busy. We chose which tea we would like and was given a jug of iced water and our ordered prosecco. The food was very good, fresh dainty sandwiches, warm scones and homemade cakes, garnished with lovely tasty strawberries! We were checked on several times to see if we required top ups of tea or anything else by friendly staff. I would definitely recommend for an affordable treat.

Written 13 August 2021

Kam M

United Kingdom37 contributions

Excellent Home Cooked VE Day Lunch Hamper

May 2020 • none

I would like to congratulate the staff at Inn on the Park for the lovely tasting hampers they cooked and out together for VE Day takeaways. It was handled well with social distancing measures in place to keep staff and customers safe. Hamper included Quiche, Sausage Rolls, Scones, Cakes, Scotc Egg, Drinks and Crisps. Despite lockdown, this gave our VE Day a festive feel.

Written 10 May 2020

Salsera2007

Watford6 contributions

Not what it once was, over priced, don't bother eating there......

Oct 2024 • solo

What happened to this place? It's now very poorly run and horribly over priced. I think they trade on the location because they have a captive audience.......... The service is very slow and the staff were keener on chatting to eachother in the garden than serving customers. It was not busy at the time (late afternoon) and I ordered a toasted sandwich on granary bread for nearly £8:00, firstly before it arrived nobody bothered to tell me they'd run out of granary bread. When it eventually arrived I was presented with a small sandwich on the CHEAPEST type of processed white bread, consisting of one round of goats cheese, bulked out with caramelised onion chutney and two miniature spinach leaves. I could get a really good deli sandwich in St Albans for that price made with care and lovely ingredients.

Written 3 October 2024

Rita K

9 contributions

One of my favourite!!!

Jan 2023 • friends

The friendlies and loveliest staff ever. Trina is a gem !! I visit this cafe most days whilst walking my dog and this cafe is a highlight of our day , as I get a lovely coffee and the dogs get their treats . Family and dog friendly, great choice of food and snacks! Bacon bap is a must ! Lovely garden to enjoy in warmer weather . And they have my favourite Kelly’s ice cream ! If you are in St Albans and in Verulam Park , it’s definitely worth a visit !

Written 19 January 2023

Jackie D

24 contributions

Lovely setting - great coffee & friendly staff.

Aug 2021 • family

Wonderful breakfast after a pretty wet dog walk. Great flat white, warm freshly baked croissant and lovely friendly staff. Very doggy friendly! The garden / outside space is wonderful. The owners have made a real effort - beautiful flowers and sensibly erected a canopy. Lovely cafe to chill outside, what ever the weather.

Written 6 August 2021

Joyce D

Watford18 contributions

Bad experience

Jun 2021 • none

Having visited your restaurant coffee shop today 12.30 ish I was horrified at the amount of people turning away until I realised the queuing time I had to wait 39 minutes (the were only 5 others in front of me) to get 2 cups of coffee. One staff working in the front position taking the orders and money etc and the others standing around waiting for any cooking needed and chatting to each other ...... perhaps another two front positions taking order etc would speed up to something other than a snails pace and in the long run serve the other 15 to 20 people that walked away......customer service I beg to differ!!

Written 2 June 2021

phillip m

Hertfordshire64 contributions

Food and Drink good, let down by sloppy service and a neglected park.

Jul 2024 • family

Inn on the park. St. Albans. Basic foods and drinks sold are generally produced to a reasonable standard and price. They do a very good coffee. My complaint is that the manager does need to be seen and managed the cafe and their staff. Staff walk by tables full of dirty finished dishes and you have to ask for the tables to be cleared. They don't wipe the tables either leaving old food on them. Litter is also left under the tables and it needs picking up, those who serve are not the brightest or are youngsters doing jobs for the first time they need to be told what to do and checked otherwise they will never learn. To the St. Albans Council your park is a disgrace, it's been going down hill for the last five years. The chalk river running through the park are special and you have not looked after this river at all, you have let it deteriorate and it's full of rubbish, the same goes for the City centre, it's not been looked after and is in a poor condition for the people who live there and as a tourist attraction, what a mess it's all been allowed to get into. Come on Council up your game

Written 26 July 2024

749charlotten

Stevenage27 contributions

Hiking prices, losing custom

Jun 2020 • family

As I used to live in St.Albans it is s often a place I visit with my children especially the lakes. I've always found this to be a little gem, an ice cold drink at the end of a long walk or a hot cup of tea on a winters day. Visited last week and frankly the prices are beyond ridiculous. I paid £3.40 for ONE ice cream. Altogether for 3 drinks and 4 ice creams it was £18. Such a shame that they're over egging the price, and today when considering where to go we've decided it won't be Saint Albans for this reason. Please think carefully about the long term, not just the easy money maker of being the only place on the park for a drink.

Written 25 June 2020

IOTP

Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. We have not put any of our prices up post - Covid but...we have to absorb increases in rent, fuel, minimum wage, as well as supplier price increases - we cannot absorb these as we wouldn't be here....so, we are not over 'egging' the prices, they are not ridiculous and we are still a little gem : - )

Written 26 June 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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