please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Blue Bell was our first stop on a rather wet and windy day in Scotland. The local river had burst its banks somewhat. But it was warm inside, despite an indifferent welcome. Caledonian Deuchars IPA is the regular ale. Guests were Orkney Andrew's Ale & Jenning's Night Vision. They also have an ale from their own in-house brewery. This was Mott & Bailey Blonde Ale. There was no real cider. With the lack of a cider or a dark beer, I gave the local beer a try. The single large room has many nice, traditional features. Nice enough pub that is apparently the only real ale pub in town.
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This is an excellent traditional pub, very friendly locals and the bar staff are excellent. Three guest ales on tap plus a couple more from the bottle. The only place to drink ale in Annan. Worth a visit to the town just for this pub. Marvelous place.
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The previous review seems to be a review of the clientèle rather than the pub itself. ;)
Annan should be proud of the Blue Bell. A 'real ale' pub in a land of keg beer where the landlord knows his stuff and, if you're lucky, you'll find yourself shoulder-to-shoulder with the brewer who made the pint you're drinking. Buzzing atmosphere on the Sunday evening we visited and a good selection of guest ales as well as the usual keg suspects. Perfect pub. A veritable modern day 'Moon under Water'. My only regret, it is so far, several hundred miles, from home.
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Whilst I largely agree with the sentiments expressed in the previous post in terms of the excellent range of real ales and the State panelling decor, our brief flying visit just eight days later saw us encounter a dinosaur standing at the bar as we entered at about 1.30pm, espousing his bigoted and racist views to the small knot of regulars gathered therein in a "comedy" foreign accent. He paused briefly as the embarrassed barmaid shushed him with a whisper of "there's strangers behind you", to which he responded "ach it's ok, they're white".
Chick (I think that was his name), you let the Bluebell down badly.
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I love this pub! It is my fave of all the drinking places in Annan and I'd gladly only ever drink here when visiting Annan. Always fabulous draft beers, excellent wee beer festival too :o) and the bar staff and customers/locals are such fabulous company, I am always made to feel so welcome here even though I only visit once a year! :o)
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Really liked the multi-level panelled interior, and the feeling that this was a pub where the people of Annan wanted to sup and not a concept foisted on them. I was in there after a football match (Annan Athletic) and the atmosphere was friendly, happy and noisy - despite the home team having lost. Very good range of beers and nothing duff found amongst them by our grpup.
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Fantastic pub. Stone built cottage look, with a rear beer patio/yard, as the good doctor mentioned in his review.
The pub is open plan, with a lower floor for darts and pool and the main bar with old pictures, quotes from Rabbie Burns and others painted onto the walls. The main decor was wood panel. There was a TV, with the music channels on (not loud). The service was very friendly and the clientele mixed and the pub was very busy.
The beer choice was superb; usual stuff with Deuchars IPA, Hook Norton Old Hookey, Holts Humdinger and Cumberland Brewery Corby Ale - the last two being nice. There was also Belhaven Best and McEwans 70/-
I could have sat in here for hours and would go back at any opportunity.
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This seems to be a good local beer-orientated pub. I drank a fine pint of Strathaven Old Mortality but there was a 7% Cumbrian Legendary Ales beer also on the bar (too strong for lunch time on a cyle holiday!). At the rear is a beer yard which was filled with casks for an upcoming beer festival. Well worth a visit.
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Haven't been there yet but hope to in the future - a relative, Gavin Johnston, got in a fight in the Blue Bell and was fined 30 pounds and got 4 months in Annan jail - trying to track the family down. The fight was in 1831!!!
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A really good local. Great banter and always someone you know. Pool, darts and dominoes when you want them!!
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