This year's Festive Pub of the Year competition will be decided on Friday.

Seventeen pubs have been entered by Review readers and they will all be put to the test this week by our mystery drinkers. More than 200 nominations were received.

Each establishment will be assessed on a number of different criteria including the decorations, the level of Christmas cheer on show from staff and of course, the pub's Christmas menu.

Our Retailer of the Year committee - which comprises of the Review, St Albans District Council, St Albans Chamber and St Albans Civic Society - has challenged city centre pubs to push the boat out in a bid to be crowned St Albans Festive Pub of the Year, a title won by The White Swan in Upper Dagnall Street last year.

The group will also be judging shop windows and will hand out an award for the most festive shop window in the city centre.

Pubs nominated this year are: 

  • The White Lion, Sopwell Lane
  • The Spotted Bull, Verulam Road
  • Crosskeys, Chequer Street
  • Lower Red Lion, Fishpool St
  • Farmers Boy, London Road
  • Waterend Barn, St Peters St
  • Robin Hood, Victoria Street
  • The Peacock, Hatfield Road
  • The Horn, Victoria Street
  • Slug and Lettuce, Victoria Street
  • The Boot, Market Place
  • The Goat, Sopwell Lane
  • The Peahen, London Road
  • The Cock, St Peters Street
  • Hare and Hounds, Sopwell Lane
  • The Portland Arms, Portland Street
  • Verulam Arms, Lower Dagnall Street
  • White Swan, Upper Dagnall Street