please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Best pub in Kettlewell by a country mile.
Food has to be tasted to be believed! We had a lot of excellent meals in Yorkshire and this was the best.
Beers were excellent too - about five on and we had a mixture of the Yorkshire Dales Brewing Company and Black Sheep. Excellent.
Highly recommended.
Photos at my walking blog - http://mappiman.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/150416-day-5-yorkshire-dales-inn-way.html
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Smashing pub full of character and good beer. Ideally placed on the Dalesway Long Distance Path
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Stayed for a weekend, staff very friendly and helpful. Good choice of beers and room to sit down even if not eating. The breakfasts were huge, didn't need to eat again for the rest of the day. Room a bit tired but they are in the process of renovating. Only negative was trying to get in and out of the guests carpark!
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Stayed in Kettlewell for a week in July and visited a few times. Beers are good, food average (some main courses looked a bit tired but the accompanying plates of fresh veg were excellent!) The tables were not too clean, .
Like Eastendminder we found mine host quite inebriated one night and he was being quite abrasive to customers and staff.
The Racehorses Hotel across the road is much better for food and the prices are competitive.
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Lovely pub in lovely setting - shame that the hosts appeared under the influence, would not visit again.
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A well run pub, with pleasant and helpful staff, a friendly landlord, good food at reasonable prices, and decent beer. Above all, it is a pub with a bit of atmosphere, probably due to having a mixture of locals and visitors.
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Recently visited the Blue Bell Inn In Kettlewell and was amazed at the transformation, the welcome is friendly and the good excellent. Took the opportunity to look round the accommodation and was well pleased with what I saw. Will be booking for a long weekend later in the year. Glad to hear that well behave dogs are allowed in the pub.
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I've just spent a great weekend in Kettlewell, and, although I have very happy memories of The Kings Head, I spent more time at the Blue Bell. The staff were very friendly, the food was delicious, and there was a good choice of beers. On a sunny day, it's the perfect place to sit outside and watch the world go by - on a cold day, it's the perfect place to sit inside by a cosy fire! Of the three pubs in Kettlewell, this one looked the most cared for - freshly painted, and well watered hanging baskets!!!
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We have just been to the Blue Bell in Kettlewell over the Easter weekend, with our two sons, 18 and 14, and we found the pub with new owners who had been in just one month. We had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend, the owners and staff were extremely helpful, welcoming and couldn't do enough for you. The landlord was the chef and the food was very good, we had dinner on the first night which was great and lots of it, breakfast was a good full breakfast. Anybody who has been a few months ago, should certainly go back and give it another chance. We liked it that much, we have booked to go back later in the year already!
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Went back in this week and it seems that the fat grumpy lass behind the bar has now gone thank goodness, food was appalling on my last visit and I did vow not to return again as it seemed to have really gone down hill quickly. I heard that the people who were there before them have now gone to the Queens head at Litton so I will have to check that out now as it seems that they brew their own beer too and run a good pub. As for the Bluebell, I just hope that the new people do a better job than the last as the pub desrves it.
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I have always loved this pub. Very welcoming top ale and they allow the dog in. I have heard recently all this has changed so if there are any reviewers that can tell me if this is correct I would appreciate it.
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Stayed at the Bluebell Inn for 2 nights and what can I say the place was clean comfortable and the staff were very welcoming. We ate there on both nights and the meals were tasty, plentyful and well presented,breakfast was nice, cooked to order not a stingy portion in sight!!! . We went to the Racecourse across the street and it didn't do it for us, smiles were in short supply and we went in as strangers and came out feeling like strangers, staff didn,t make time for any small talk, a bit like here's your drink give me your money! We are well travelled people and have stayed many places around the world 4* you get what you pay for. If you want a relaxed, cosy, friendly pub with good food this could be for you if you expect silver service for penny prices you will be disappointed.
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My first visit to the Bluebell will be my last. This has to be one of the most unwelcoming pubs I've ever been in, as well as serving a local beer that would put an alcoholic off booze for life. Thank goodness there is a brilliant hostelry over the road, the Racehorses, to restore my faith in the great British pub.
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Well I've just come from staying at Kettlewell whilst doing the Inn Way and the Bluebell was a disgrace.
The beer was ok - the Golden Pippin very nice - but the food was appalling. Lamb hot pot served with leeks in two tiny dishes, I think the chef was trying it on and trying to make it go as far as possible - let us still feeling very hungry which after a 14 mile walk was not on. A complete rip off - avoid!
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Had a weekend here, and ate and drank in the evening. I have to say that I was disappointed with the place. We are regular visitors to Kettlewell, and in fact ate here last year (it was ok then). The literature we received suggested a warm welcome to the Bluebell, but I have to say, we didn't find the landlady gave us this - the opposite in fact. Our breakfast was awful - dry and lacking in quality and baked beans! The sausages were two small mouthfulls! The beer was good, but disappointingly they didn't have any of the IPA. Our evening meal was very average and not good value for money - they need to get a better chef! The Kings Head is much more friendly, although we have not eaten there since new owners came in in 2008. If you are looking for a room in Kettwell, I would recommend the guest houses as the best option, but we found the Racehorses pretty good.
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Just spent another happy weekend in Kettlewell, and I have to change my mark slightly.
I now think the Kings Arms is the best pub in the village.
The Blue bell, whilst still having the best food (marginally) is less of a 'local' and the staff can be patchy - from the lovely older lady bringing the food, to the downright rude (at times) younger bar staff - especially the younger larger girl.
The copper dragon beers are pretty decent though.
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We came up to Kettlewell for a bit of walking and stayed here for a couple of nights. We loved it. The Copper Dragon beers are good and well kept (I like the IPA; my other half was on the Golden Pippin)and the landlord was willing to give us a taste before we chose. He's very proud of the beer and loves to talk about them. The food was a cut above pub grub--delicious, with huge portions. And that means the breakfasts as well. I's a beautiful traditional stone building with a newer annexe out the back with a few small but comfortable rooms. We'd happily stay there again if we're ever back in the Dales.
Best pub in the village
Royed - 28 Sep 2008 22:27 |
The best pub in the village, excellent friendly staff, good food (massive portions) and great copper dragon ale especially the Golden Pippin
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A great looking pub in a fantastic location. The bar is very cosy and the beer is very well kept (all copper dragon ales are excellent). I did not stay here but do feel that it would be a great place to spend the whole evening then just crawl into one of the guest rooms after some good food and ale. A very pleasant pub.
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I spent a week in Kettlewell over the Easter Holidays in 2008 and the Blue Bell is by far the best pub in the village. The Copper Dragon ales are brilliant, my favourite being the the Black Gold, and I tried them all! The food was brilliant and the service, very friendly. The quiz night was fun and the pub has a very nice, friendly atmosphere. I'd recommend it.
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I think it's ok as a pub. I been in three times for a pint of Black Gold, and the service, without being over-friendly, was at least efficient. One of my pints was end-of-barrel tainted, and was changed with an apology and no fuss. I don't know about the food. But I do like the inerior of the place. Certainly worth a visit after walking.
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Went in there last week - it's got new people in. I was appalled by the shocking sloppy and inefficient service. Not only did we wait over three quarters of an hour for a chip butty (in a very quiet pub) when the woman came out to ask if we had ordered chips, she proceeded to give us a litany of excuses about their system breaking down rather than offer an apology. The barman couldnt apologise either, and didnt even mange eye contact. We were dismayed by the landlord's phone manner to a potential residential guest too. An altogether depressing experience. To be fair, the beers, from nrew micro Copper Dragon, were well kept.
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Good Service Good Beer Good Food great location, value for money
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