What you would expect from a local pub, with good range of ciders and ales. but close enough to the centre to escape the madness of stokes croft. Nice spot for a quiet pint if you are in the area. Havent been in for a few years but if i remember rightly it does get pretty busy on a weekend. Doesnt have anything extra to offer to boost its star rating. This review is based on my last visit(ie: already being half cut… ooops)
Thom W.
Classificação do local: 5 Bristol, United Kingdom
Is this is best pub in central Bristol? Maybe. Just maybe! I have so many amazing, yet foggy, memories of the Bell. I actually remember the first time I went. It was about 6 years ago and I’d been going to 51s and the full moons for years, and I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t been or even heard of The Bell before. My weekend shenanigans were much more frequent and wild back then, but I still love a night out at The Bell. On the weekends they have some awesome DJ’s that play anything from funk and hip hop to a bit of Drum n’ bass. It’s always a really good atmosphere. Over the last few years, Stokes Croft has a bit clicker and dare I say it, a bit more trendier — but the Bell still retains its pub like charm. The back garden is always really busy in the summer, so if you’re after a seat your best getting their super early. But even stood up you’ll have a blast. The Bell is without doubt one of my favourite pubs in Bristol. An easy 5 stars!
Rachel S.
Classificação do local: 4 Bristol, United Kingdom
ok, so, my days in the bell all used to be a bit more hedonistic, the evenings used to be lively and filled with cider, dreadlocks and(ahem) rollies… I’m sure that still goes on but now im a non-smoking non-drinking gluten free mum, i ventured(with some trepidation) for a Sunday roast with my baby and very posh in-laws… Needless to say, its extremely different in the(sparse!) daylight. The pub is dingy and a bit sticky, with a distinct youth club feel to it in the skittle alley area… However I stuck to my guns and persevered… We all sat down to a fine array of papers and delicious coffee and I started to relax a little… Then the roasts came. Oh my goodness. My dad said he’d never had so much pork in a roast, my genteel husband was practically licking his plate and my foodie mother in law was declaring we must come here again. The gravy(arguably the most important part of a roast) is sublime, roast veggies with courgette and peppers put a tasty twist on the usual fayre. A delicious cauli cheese accompanies every dish and all for only £6.50. We had all paid nearly 3 times as much for something far less tasty. For some reason, perhaps the usual lot are still in bed, its totally empty at 1 on a Sunday, but brizzle you’re missing a trick. Caters for gluten free.
Sam H.
Classificação do local: 5 Bristol, United Kingdom
11⁄10. Mother of all mothers. Estupendo. Etc etc. What can you say about the Bell that hasn’t been said already? A lot, it turns out. Step inside the Bell and you’ll be hit by an overpowering waft of volume. You realise: this is where people go. Some guy in the corner is nursing his pint of Gem like it’s 2012. No rodents here I’m afraid. Just solid drinkers who know who to discuss the weather and Turgenev. Go on. Be a man/woman/thing. Order something. How about a delectable treat from the musky barrel. That’ll get the ball rolling for some alchemy. What am I having? Butcombe please. Out the back you’ll find all sorts of dirty devils. Smokers with lungs the colour of hell’s football pitch. White people with matted hair locks. Real old Bristolian drunks that couldn’t tell you the time if it was painted on a white wall with a black brush. Students. The apocalypse hasn’t looked better.
Rachel H.
Classificação do local: 4 Bristol, United Kingdom
A pub on the surface much like any other, what sets The Bell apart are its soulful tunes, relaxed crowd of regulars and odd graffited design flourishes in unexpected places. The small outdoor garden is cosy in winter, cool in summer and although on busy weekend nights it’s impossible to find a seat, great for groups. Drinks are respectably priced and there’s a fair old selection to boot. People are often up for a chat(there tend to be a surprising amount of single men on the prowl for somewhere so laidback) and it’s one of the few places where I have regularly been accosted for a quick chat by another punter. For a relaxed drink soundtracked by great music, it’s got to be The Bell.
Kathryn C.
Classificação do local: 5 Bristol, United Kingdom
This is a great pub, mainly because they have such a gorgeous little beer garden. It attracts a very friendly crowd, a mixure of hippies, stoners, students, locals and other types. It feels like a proper ‘locals’ pub, has tasty cider and ales. It has a great vibe, relaxed and open, appreciates tomfoolery and silliness and there is an infectious sense of excitement at the weekends as people congregate their before heading off to indulge in other shenanigans. My fave Stokes Croft boozer.
Janine K.
Classificação do local: 5 Bristol, United Kingdom
Great real ale pub with a friendly mixed crowd of locals, hippies and students. I would feel comfortable sitting here alone to wait for someone. Beer is excellent — the full Butcombe range and I love that it closes after lunch like a proper pub. There is a good range of snacks including nachos and wraps, lots of flyers for local music and arts event. The garden is covered and lovely for smokers and non-smokers alike. Indoors is wooden and comfortable.
Henry N.
Classificação do local: 4 Bristol, United Kingdom
This is a very nice pub which sits in between Stokes Croft and the city centre. The area’s a little ropey(my friend had a bike seat nicked from out the front), though the interior’s a lot more welcoming. The pub itself is split into two, the larger main pub room and a more lively tunnel next door which often features DJs at weekends. The main attraction, however, is the garden, which has loads of cosy seating and gets packed with extremely dedicated smokers at weekends.
Will P.
Classificação do local: 5 Bristol, United Kingdom
A very chilled out place, you’ll have a very enjoyable drink at The Bell. It has managed(or ended up with) just the right tempo. It’s never too noisy or too quiet here, and you shouldn’t have to wait too long at the bar. There’s a pretty garden with plenty of seating. Plus, it’s not set against a road, which means you can properly relax with your drink. I like this place because of the music on offer. There are various genres played over the sound system here, and you’ll probably be exposed to something new when you go. They have live music too, which will probably expand your horizens a bit as well. It’s a good pub regardless of the music, though.
Rossan
Classificação do local: 5 Bristol, United Kingdom
The Bell is welcoming, friendly and down-to-earth. The staff are always very good, and can offer you a wide range of drinks, as well as well-priced and tasty food. Outside there is an enclosed garden, which often gets busy, so get there early in order to find a spot at one of the outside tables. There are often very good(and not too intrusive) DJs playing funk, soul, samba, reggae, rock n roll, and many other styles of music, which all adds to the ambience.