Quick info
About The Rising Sun
On The Rising Sun 21 in Hitchin, The Rising Sun is a pub built around two McMullens ales on hand pull and a kitchen turning out chicken, bacon and leek pies alongside stone-baked sourdough pizza. The wider menu runs to twenty dishes, including a pie of the day, gammon egg and chips, roasts with starters and puddings, and vegan choices such as a chicken pita and ice cream. A car park serves the pub, useful given its rural setting, and an open fire sits inside for colder months. Outdoor seating gives another option for eating outside, and dogs are welcome, with resident black Labrador retrievers noted around the place. A step-free, wheelchair-accessible entrance means the pub suits visitors with mobility needs. Reservations are recommended. The pub opens Tuesday to Sunday and closes on Mondays, and drivers should note that sat nav signal can be unreliable on the approach.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Free parking lot · Paid parking lot
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible car park · Has wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Good for kidsGood for kids
Menu & Prices
20 dishes- Beer
- Cheesecake
- Lamb Roast
- Crumble
- Four Meat Roast
- Lemon Meringue
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention pie of the day, chicken bacon leek pie, gammon egg and chips and stone baked sourdough pizza.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention pie of the day, chicken bacon leek pie, gammon egg and chips and stone baked sourdough pizza.
Customer Review Summary
Pub pies draw the most consistent praise, with reviewers citing the pie of the day and chicken, bacon and leek pie as standouts alongside roasts, gammon egg and chips, and a fillet steak with Diane sauce. Close behind, the cosy, warm atmosphere and friendly, accommodating staff come up repeatedly, along with the dog friendly bar, McMullens ales on hand pull, and a good wine and beer selection. Several mention quick service even for larger groups, and one solo diner on a hike praised a vegan chicken pita and vegan ice cream. Complaints are less frequent but pointed: one reviewer found the chicken burger frozen tasting and the stone baked sourdough pizza flat and floppy rather than crisp, and another reported a booked table left waiting until 1.30 for food ordered for 12.15 while later arrivals were served first. A separate reviewer noted the sat nav loses signal nearby, making the pub tricky to find. Multiple diners note they returned for birthdays, family meals, and monthly catch ups, with one describing a server who brought their meal out alongside two colleagues.
Customer Review Summary
Pub pies draw the most consistent praise, with reviewers citing the pie of the day and chicken, bacon and leek pie as standouts alongside roasts, gammon egg and chips, and a fillet steak with Diane sauce. Close behind, the cosy, warm atmosphere and friendly, accommodating staff come up repeatedly, along with the dog friendly bar, McMullens ales on hand pull, and a good wine and beer selection. Several mention quick service even for larger groups, and one solo diner on a hike praised a vegan chicken pita and vegan ice cream. Complaints are less frequent but pointed: one reviewer found the chicken burger frozen tasting and the stone baked sourdough pizza flat and floppy rather than crisp, and another reported a booked table left waiting until 1.30 for food ordered for 12.15 while later arrivals were served first. A separate reviewer noted the sat nav loses signal nearby, making the pub tricky to find. Multiple diners note they returned for birthdays, family meals, and monthly catch ups, with one describing a server who brought their meal out alongside two colleagues.
Featured reviews
- Jessica Baker
“Really lovely pub such a nice atmosphere, Zoe and Emily are amazing xx”
- Citizen Zeus
“Amazing ambiance, friendly, laid back owners and clientele and black Labrador retrievers. I had a vegan chicken pita, two scoops of excellent vegan ice cream, and a Guinness Zero alcohol in the middle of a long hike along the local beautiful footpaths. Couldn’t be more satisfied. Emily, my server, was kind and made great suggestions. Nice background music and conversation. Fulfilling in every way.”
- Toni-ann Selby
“Me and my sister meet up once a month just for a little catch up and we chose here for a meal. Service was brilliant. Weren’t loud. Ladies working were very accommodating. Didn’t have to wait long between courses. Have told my husband we’ll have to go there for a date night”
- Gareth Pash
“Always a lovely pub to visit, especially on a summer evening. Nice ales, friendly staff, good food and a nice garden, dog friendly too, what is not to like 😍”
- Antony Mills (Tony)
“Superb food the orange cake desert is to die for”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- ,
- Wednesday
- ,
- Thursday
- ,
- Friday
- ,
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Has great beer selection
- Has great wine list
- Has live music
- Has live performances
- Popular for good for solo dining
Amenities
- Has wheelchair-accessible car park
- Free of charge street parking
- Accepts reservations
- Has outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Serves dine-in
Show more amenities
- Good for kids
- Serves food at bar
- Casual
- Serves beer
- Serves food
- Serves spirits
- Highlights· 4
- Has great beer selection
- Has great wine list
- Has live music
- Has live performances
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Crowd· 2
- Good for groups
- Popular with tourists
- Offerings· 3
- Serves alcohol
- Serves cocktails
- Serves wine
- Dining options· 2
- Has seating
- Has table service
- Accessibility· 2
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Popular for· 1
- Good for solo dining
- Atmosphere· 2
- Cosy
- Romantic
- Parking· 3
- Free parking lot
- Paid parking lot
- Plenty of parking
Location
Bars near The Rising Sun
- The Standing Order3.92,0003.4 mi£10–20Wheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
guest ales and cider, cheap breakfast, £30 dinner for two
- The Hermit of Redcoats4.46114.1 miWheelchair accessible
sunday roast, dog friendly, sticky toffee pudding
- The Angel Vaults Inn4.02,1025.6 mi awayWheelchair accessible
cider festival, fish and chips, beer garden
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Rising SunReservations · Good for kids | 4.6534 | — | £20–30 | pie of the day, chicken bacon leek pie, gammon egg and chips |
| The Standing OrderWheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 3.92,000 | 3.4 mi | £10–20 | guest ales and cider, cheap breakfast, £30 dinner for two |
| The Hermit of RedcoatsWheelchair accessible | 4.4611 | 4.1 mi | — | sunday roast, dog friendly, sticky toffee pudding |
| The Angel Vaults InnWheelchair accessible | 4.02,102 | 5.6 mi away | — | cider festival, fish and chips, beer garden |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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