
Doctors Tonic
Quick info
About Doctors Tonic
Doctors Tonic is a pub in Welwyn Garden City at AL8 6PR, with a music side built around local up-and-coming bands. Customers fill in song request slips, and the requests are played over the pub's sound system. The kitchen runs a classic pub menu that includes burgers and a mushroom chilli, and a Sunday roast is on offer too. Rugby is shown on four screens, so match days have plenty of places to watch from. Dogs are welcome, which suits regulars who bring a pet along. Under-18s must leave by 8pm because of licensing rules.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree parking lot · Paid parking lot · Usually plenty of parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot, restroom, seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunny beer garden, song request slips, rugby on screens and nachos.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunny beer garden, song request slips, rugby on screens and nachos.
Customer Review Summary
The beer garden draws the most praise, with reviewers calling it a sun trap and describing a front patio with plenty of tables and umbrellas. Close behind is friendly service, from a waitress who could not do enough to staff who were helpful when ordering, and the rugby on four screens suited one group's work social. Food splits opinion. Nachos and classic pub dishes earn praise, though one reviewer found the mushroom chilli a little burnt at the edges. Others report sweet potato fries that arrived as regular fries after a long wait, a stale katsu chicken burger, and a Sunday roast with rotten potatoes, stale Yorkshire pudding and a cauliflower stalk. One reviewer describes bar staff serving out of queue order, another found the draft beers had run out and bottles were served instead, and a family with a 14-year-old was turned away from a booked table because of an 8pm under-18 rule. One happier evening ended with staff playing song requests, written on slips of paper, over the sound system.
Customer Review Summary
The beer garden draws the most praise, with reviewers calling it a sun trap and describing a front patio with plenty of tables and umbrellas. Close behind is friendly service, from a waitress who could not do enough to staff who were helpful when ordering, and the rugby on four screens suited one group's work social. Food splits opinion. Nachos and classic pub dishes earn praise, though one reviewer found the mushroom chilli a little burnt at the edges. Others report sweet potato fries that arrived as regular fries after a long wait, a stale katsu chicken burger, and a Sunday roast with rotten potatoes, stale Yorkshire pudding and a cauliflower stalk. One reviewer describes bar staff serving out of queue order, another found the draft beers had run out and bottles were served instead, and a family with a 14-year-old was turned away from a booked table because of an 8pm under-18 rule. One happier evening ended with staff playing song requests, written on slips of paper, over the sound system.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“The bar staff got no idea how to serve customers. They have no idea who is in what order in the queue. They served 3 people before me and the man next to me. Then said till at the end is now open so people rushed over, she should have spotted who was next not made it a free for all. Me and my group of friends left to find a bar whose bar staff knows how to serve people.”
- Google user
“I’m currently working away from home and staying in a nearby hotel, i stumbled across the doctors tonic my second night here and have re visited several times, the food and drinks offering is vast and very good! The staff are attentive and friendly and the beer garden is one of the best sun traps around - highly recommend.”
- Google user
“Came for a Sunday roast. The food is absolutely rotten. Rotten potatoes, stale Yorkshire pudding, disgusting gravy. On top of that they even served me a cauliflower stalk! I do not recommend. Do not come here for the food at least.”
- Google user
“Great beer garden... unfortunately the pub had run out of draft beers...but where getting by for a couple of days serving bottles which was ok on this occasion as popped in whilst passing.. friendly staff,didn't eat here so can't comment on the food.”
- Google user
“It was my first time coming to the Doctors tonic, I had the nachos and they were amazing!! So yummy, I really do recommend. Definitely a 10/10”
Highlights
“Lively local with deals on a pubby menu and a longstanding link to local up-and-coming bands.”
- Bar games
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Karaoke
- Live music
- Live performances
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Good for kids
- Food at bar
- Casual
- Onsite services
- Beer
- Dancing
- Highlights· 7
- Bar games
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Karaoke
- Live music
- Live performances
- Sports
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Atmosphere· 1
- Trendy
- Offerings· 6
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Food
- Free water refills
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Parking· 3
- Free parking lot
- Paid parking lot
- Usually plenty of parking
- Dining options· 1
- Seating
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Crowd· 3
- Groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Transgender safespace
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Location
Bars near Doctors Tonic
- Queens Head4.55236 mi away£20–30ReservationsGood for kids
sunday roast, wagyu topside, sticky toffee pudding
- 6.4 mi away£10–20ReservationsWheelchair accessibleWi-Fi
outside seating area, dog friendly, cold burgers and chips
- 7.5 mi away£20–30ReservationsGood for kids
chicken box, sunday roast, woodman special kebab
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors TonicReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.11,380 | — | £10–20 | sunny beer garden, song request slips, rugby on screens |
| Queens HeadReservations · Good for kids | 4.5523 | 6 mi away | £20–30 | sunday roast, wagyu topside, sticky toffee pudding |
| The Harpenden Arms, HarpendenReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Wi-Fi | 4.2807 | 6.4 mi away | £10–20 | outside seating area, dog friendly, cold burgers and chips |
| The Woodman & Olive BroxbourneReservations · Good for kids | 4.5539 | 7.5 mi away | £20–30 | chicken box, sunday roast, woodman special kebab |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.




