Boat House

You'll find this place tucked away on Cambridge Road in Walsworth, where the locals clearly know something the rest of us are still figuring out. The name suggests nautical leanings, though you're firmly on dry land here in the northern reaches of Hitchin. What strikes you immediately is how genuinely welcoming it feels – the kind of pub where the staff actually seem pleased to see you and the regulars don't give you the stink eye for taking 'their' table. With nearly 70 reviews averaging 4.6 stars, word is clearly getting out about whatever magic they're working here. The mid-range pricing suggests proper pub food done well rather than gastro pretensions, which honestly feels refreshing.