please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
As others have said, this is something of a love it or hate it pub. I fall into the category of liking it but not what I'd call a top pub, six out of ten seems fair to me.
It is an amazing place though - old building, small bar (and tiny bogs that aren't what you'd call state of the art) and a generally cosy feel. It can get a bit packed though - not least because its small!
Service is pretty good, manager is a Peruvian lady I believe which is unusual for a City of London pub, other staff seem to come and go quite regularly.
One of the unusual things that strikes me for a City of London pub (especially right next to a rail station) is that it is something of a regulars haunt with some punters in there 'all the time'.
Beer is usually in good shape and have had some drinkable Tribute and excellent Harvey's in here - not cheap though.
Long may the place continue.
Toodle-pip
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As per the other reviews this is an intimate little pub just off Cannon Street.
3 ales on with the Sharps Cornish Coaster not too bad.
Feels like a locals pub, there’s hops & copper pots hanging from the ceiling, aertex on the walls and a thick old fashioned patterned carpet.
The bar staff are pleasant. All in all a nice simple boozer.
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Proper old fashioned boozer just around the back of Cannon Street station. A bit of a local institution and also an acquired taste. In my view a simple proper pub, wooden floors, wooden furniture and top ales. My pint of Sharps Cornish Coaster was excellent.
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A city institution which offers speedy service and a choice of real ales as well as some cold lagers. Well worth a visit.
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Very old pub, surrounded by modern buildings. It is very close to Cannon Street station, but tucked away on a side street and therefore not as busy as you'd expect. There did appear to be a fairly loyal clientele crowded around the bar. But otherwise, we found seating easily. The pub is small and full of character, as you would expect from a pub that dates from before the Great Fire of London. The gents are so tiny, that it's difficult to fit any more than one person in at a time. But at least, a visit to the toilet doesn't involve stairs. Beers on were Otter Bitter, St Austell Tribute, Courage Best & Harveys Best. Addlestones was the cider. Reasonably impressive and worth discovering (if you haven't already).
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I think this is a pub which is like Marmite - you love it or hate it. For me it is geared to winter because it one of those cosy small, cramped and low ceiling types of place. The winner is that it has a real working fireplace. Good cider and Harvey's on tap and you can stand in the gutter outside on a nice day!
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As a country hick I just loved it. Got here at about 7:30pm on a wet mid-week evening, lots of people, good beer, hops hung from the beams, horse brasses, dimple glass windows, friendly staff, 3g coverage - what more could you want? Spent a few minutes talking to a regular who has been drinking here for 40 years - and then there was his father before him Magic. Not much seating in the bar, but then there is a resturant upstairs if you want to eat.
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I was in here for first time a couple of weeks ago with schoolmate Brad: I'd meant so many times to visit, and was not disappointed. A lovely snug little place, with two very pretty young things behind the bar. Beer was excellently kept: I had two of the Red Car autumn ale. Well worth a visit.
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Cracking little boozer right by Cannon Street station.
It's a really old building with a lot of history attached to it. Very busy on Friday night with loads of drinkers outside. Decent pint of Tribute, only downside for me was the heating was on full blast and boy was it hot.
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Small pub just off Cannon Street. Friendly and with some good ales. Worth popping into for a pint.
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nice boozer, no space inside which means everyone ends up outside and blocking the entrance to the betting shop next door though!
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Lovely beer, decent bar snacks and a really friendly welcome. It's a really atmospheric old pub and has an open fire on cold days. Like most city pubs it's not open late or at weekends, but I can't recommend it enough on a weekday evening if you're in the area.
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lovely pub.fantastic manager, she is a belle lol
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Nice smallish traditional pub alongside Cannon Street station. Quite crowded the lunchtime I was in with a lot of people eating appetising sandwiches and pub food. Three ales on offer - Sharps Cornish Coaster, St Austell Tribute and Harveys Best. I had a pint of Harveys which was fine.
The pub has a nice atmosphere and is worth visiting if in this part of the City
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Small pub, full of blokes, good beer - Landord, Harvey's and various guest beers - however, surprisingly badly poured - always short measures - overall experience slightly depressing.
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Small but pleasant - surprisingly busy for 12pm lunchtime on a Thursday......pint of Peroni �4.30 - but London prices are what you expect in this area.
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Used to come here in its glory years as one of the finest purveyors of Courage ales. Popped in the other night and had a pint of Courage Best for old times sake. I thought it tasted a bit metalic and told the barmen. He offered me something else without a fuss, very impressed. The Harvey's was every good. Great little pub and a real gem for the area. Miss the old lady that use to run it though, and the excellent Courage Best. What happened to that beer?
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Very busy post work crowd in. Good atmosphere. The usual regular ale offerings, so settled for Landlord which was good. Worth a visit.
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Tiny little pub off Cannon Street - looks a bit "spit and sawdust" from the outside, but inside it's quite pleasant. Very small, and tends to be pretty much full of other blokes, but the beer is excellent and reasonably priced, the staff are friendly, and it's rarely as packed as other venues in the area, so even if you can't get a seat, you'll still be able to enjoy your drink in comfort.
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Old fashioned cosy one bar pub surrounded by modern developments. Good selection of ales.
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Went here yesterday evening and was very impressed. Five real ales on tap, including some lovely Harvey's Sussex Best. I'd also recommend the homemade pork scratchings, which were excellent and surprisingly meaty. This has to be the ideal pub for anyone who uses Cannon Street station.
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This place has lots of character, a wide selection of well kept ales along with several largers and efficient, friendly bar staff. Recommended.
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Exelent. A very busy city pub, I was aknowleged as soon as walked in and served within the minuet. The very hard working staff could keep the beer flowing take the money and be frendly all at the same time, I hope the govenor appriciates them.
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An old favourite from the 1970's and it has hardly changed in all those years. As Strongers mentioned the landlord is very efficient and friendly.
We used to 'have a couple' after work before the last train left nearby Cannon st station and then have a couple more and then have to leg it across to London Bridge for the very last train to Kent. Happy days.
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It is a while since I have been into a pub and the barman has asked me about my day and engaged in general chit-chat making me feel very welcome � it was much appreciated.
Youngs Ordinary was available, but I plumped for the Tribute and Harveys Best which were both good. There was also a selection of standard lagers available alongside Addlestones cider and Peroni. I noticed on the sign outside that they offer �hand cut� sandwiched and toasties; I tend to use a knife myself, but whatever floats their boat.
Jesting aside, this is a nice old historic pub that is well worth a visit if in the area.
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This is a tiny pub nestled behind Cannon Street station. It is very traditional - wooden floors, central bar, and a seating area upstairs.
The chap who served me (I assume he's the landlord) was a very friendly and efficient Australian, who clearly loves and knows his beer. He clearly knew many of the punters, and was on good terms with then.
He keeps six ales on (at least that's how many I counted) - I drank several superb pints of Tribute. There is also a selection lf lagers (though expensive, from what I could see - they were advertising Peroni at �4.00 a pint!). The beer is pricy - �3.15, I think for the Tribute.
The ladies' toilet is downstairs rather wants refurbishment - whilst it wasn't filthy or anything, it was grim. There are a bunch of televisions around, including one widescreen - these were showing news yesterday evening.
Despite the prices, I would heartedly recommend the Bell. The landlord is excellent, the beer is well kept, and the atmosphere cosy.
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Be warned; I was here on a Tuesday and it closed at 10pm.
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The high prices (which you can't really complain about too much given the location) are about the only thing wrong with the place. Beer is good, staff likewise and the place itself is very pleasant. Has become established on my regular route when I'm on a crawl round London
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Popped in on a mid-week lunchtime, and stayed for just the one (pt of Redcar). Selection the same as per danrkelly's post, and prices sat �3 or �3.15/pint.
I don't know Red Car's full workings and, whilst my understanding is that this is one of theirs, there is a very recent (Apr 08) notice of planning application from Enterprise Inns on the outside. It includes a first floor bar, new kitchen, extended dining area, and a new ladies'. So keep yer eyes open.
The Red Car pint was Ok, but nothing great. A decent enough city boozer, but wouldn't feature as one of my favourites.
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A proper pub in a sea of bars tucked underneath office blocks. Wouldn't need much alteration to appear in an episode of 'Ashes to Ashes'. Good range of ales on including Red Car Bitter, Youngs Bitter, Courage Best, Harvey's Sussex and Tim Taylor Landlord. I can certainly vouch for the landlord. Friendly service only really let down by the prices hovering around �3 a pint.
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Small traditional pub within spitting distance of Cannon Street station. Retains signs of its former status as a Courage Pub , but its now owned by the Red Car pub company ( a small chain of 5 public houses in London ).
It's had a minor refurb over the years - the gantry over the bar has gone and so has the carpet, but it's still one of the better traditional pubs of its genre
Note the information panel inside which tells us that, in days of old, this used to be a riverside pub - its not any more !
Yes, the beer is expensive ( Harveys - � 3.05p), but this pub is well worth calling in on.
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The Bell has become a regular calling point when I'm having a "wander" round London - the beer is good, but the pub itself has a certain charm to it as well. Yes, it could be said that the drinks are expensive, but then again it is the City so you'd kind of expect that anyway. It almost feels out of place where it is, however in my opinion is much the better for it as it adds to it's appeal. Definitely worth a visit.
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Called in for a pint as there was a power cut at Cannon St station and chaos everywhere. Power cut had hit the Bell as well but the soldiered on with candles and emergency lights! Just like the blitz, excellent!
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Wonderful as always
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Paid another visit yesterday and although the beer (as mentioned in the previous comment) was expensive, it was quite acceptable. A nice little place that's a welcome retreat from the City streets.
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What a nice little pub. Must be one of the better ones in the City. Fairly small one-room pub; plenty of dark wood gives it an olde worlde atmosphere. Lots of bric-a-brac on the beams. About five real ales on. Expensive though - the Summer Lightning and Landlord were both �3.05 a pint. But that's the City for you. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the are.
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Very nice little pub. It almost feels like a 'secret pub'. Very good sized sanwiches at lunch too for under �5.
Girls loos are a bit of a journey though down a dodgy staircase. Why is it that the men's toilet are always nearer?
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This is a great little one-room old fashioned city boozer. Traditional 'wooden' feel with bits of the pub history and list of the landlords since 1668 or so is on the wall - apparently records for prior to then where destroyed in the Great Fire. TT's Landlord was absolute nectar last night, they also had Deuchars, Youngs Ordinary, Woodford's Wherry (and the farcically named Courage 'Best'). Staff friendly, not too rammed (even after work on a Thursday) - simply excellent stuff
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My first time here. Not too crowded though it was lunch time.This pub apparently escaped the Great Fire though it does smell of a refurb. However, it was small and pleasant. There are some real ales on and the Aussie barman who served me was very friendly.
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great pub, and just a great atmosphere to have a drink.
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I love this small but friendly little pub. Linda behind the bar is a true Landlady, flirty and always checking if "you are ok darlings", just what you need after a long day at the office.
Good ale and a traditional welcome. What more can you ask for.
Dejaz - 22 Feb 2007 15:07 |
Small, and thus very crowded after work, but easily the best of a bad lot (The Banker excepted) around Cannon Street station.
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It's been a while since my last visit, but from what I remember I had a good pint of Deuchar's IPA whilst I was there. To me it seemed like the sort of place where you wouldn't know you were in the middle of a city until you stepped outside. Will have to visit again soon and check it out.
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Revisited recently for the first time since the mini-refit. Although the refurb was relatively sympathetic, much of the character seems to have been lost. Many of the old regulars seem to have gone (as do the pickled eggs and pickled walnuts). They ditch the eccentric staff too. Generic antipodean staff have replaced the 'Open University Maths Lecturer' types that used to run the place.
Cracking pint of IPA though. And despite my moans about the onset of progress, still one of the better pubs in the area.
anonymous - 6 Sep 2006 11:05 |
great little gem of a place, very small and homely, simon the landlord is brilliant and loves a chat. well worth a visit
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Rammo to the max apres travaille. No chance Jose, if you are after quick service you have fat way!
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Giantelf, very few pubs are open in the area at the weekend. Nobody around, y'see. In fact, I think even Cannon Street station closes.
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According to CAMRA's 'London Pub Walks' this pub is closed Saturday and Sunday. Is this true?
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As Roger says ( 23 December 2005 ), this pub has lost quite a bit of its character recently - and the beer is expensive - but still worth popping in if in the area. Just dont expect the old style warm welcome that you used to get in the old days. Somewhat disappointing when compared to what it used to be like, but this is "progress", I suppose. Rather bored looking foreign bar staff now in situ as well, unfortunately
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Just Great. I've wanted to try this spot for ages, and I wasn't disappointed. Nice old exterior wonderfully bare of cr@p special offer posters and faux-handwritten blackboard shitery. Interior is a happy mix of 50s (?) Olde Worlde refit (check out the sign above the bar) and creaky original features. Beer's excellent... I only had the Young's but it was just as it should be. Bar staff were a bit David Lynch-ian (but in a good way). Want a City pub with a history and a soul? This is it.
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Couldn't agree more, what a great pub-they just don't make 'em like this anymore. Great atmoshere and a perfect pint of Doombar bitter.Long may it continue.
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An absolutely ragged gem of a pub. It sells pickled walnuts..... winner every time. Its a place time forgot populated by eccentric city characters with handbar taches, bowler hats and the boldest of pinstripes.
All the beers are very well kept.
One of the best pubs in the City.
anonymous - 26 Jan 2006 14:07 |
The Bell claims to be a survivor from the Great Fire of London and whilst it is undoubtedly old, it has undergone several refurbishments. If the first impressions are that it is cramped, note the old building plans on the wall that show the pub divided into even smaller rooms. Most of what can be seen probably dates from the sixties when the previous owner took over. She recently retired and the current incumbents have given the pub a more modern approach with the addition of 2 small plasma screens and even doing a small food menu � unheard of during the previous regime. Some of the old character has now gone - the old �clink, clink, kerching� till has been updated by a faceless plastic bleepy thing and the old bar frame removed. The previously charismatic bar staff who had all been there for the best part of 20 years have been replaced by the ever increasing band of overseas labour and this will no doubt lead to a high turnover of bar staff. One of the Bell's main assets was always the familiar, knowledgeable (and sometimes extremely rude) staff and without them the pub has become a bit faceless. The beers are still top notch but they are among the most expensive I have come across in the City. They do basic food but this place is really for the after work city suits. At least the toilets still resemble a plague pit. The last trains leave the adjacent Cannon Street station around 8.00pm and after this, the pub starts to shuts down, not unlike most of the City. Worth a visit but you will have to battle your way to the bar as it gets crammed to the rafters by 5.00pm. 7/10 23/12
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Now under new management.
They have made subtle changes, slowly, which has lessened the impact on the pub character.
It now has wooden floors and a real fire. Ironic really, when you think that one of it's claims to fame is that it survived the great fire of London!
Beer is just the same and the pub has grown on me.
Good work.
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This is a small, one room and very old pub, just round the corner from cannon street station.
Very basic with wood floor boards etc. The beer is excellent, though the prices are high. The staff are friendly and unpretentious.
Well worth a visit if you are in the area
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owned by barter inns
anonymous - 15 Oct 2004 08:24 |
One of the best, and few authentic pubs in the city. I can't understand anyone not liking this pub.
Dave - 23 Aug 2004 14:56 |
Something about this place made my flesh creep. I like a real ale as much as the next man, but I found this pub small, claustrophobic, and dirty. I took my pint outside, drank if very quickly, and went elsewhere.
Simon - 8 Apr 2004 17:20 |
Good, traditional boozer. Fosters price is a little inflated - �2.90. Bar staff are curiously short (remember the Umpa Lumpas?), but then, the ceilings are kind of low. If you are lucky you might run in to Alan Fedarb who has been a regular since the early 1500's.
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perfect original City boozer.
Cliff - 15 Mar 2004 10:55 |
A proper pub with a good choice of well kept beer and friendly bar staff. Long may it keep its current ways, it survived the Great Fire so lets hold on to this as long as possible.
Jim McCullough - 18 Dec 2003 11:41 |
Really worth finding - a cosy little pub tucked away beside the station. Good beer and a real pub atmosphere (expensive crisps though!!)
Charles - 31 Oct 2003 07:15 |
Bit of a timewarp with fantastic beer. All pubs should be like this.
Steve Brooks - 15 Jul 2003 10:04 |
A real gem in the heart of the city. Great beer, no music, no gaming machines, just well kept beer.
Neil Whiley - 29 Nov 2002 20:08 |
