Bluebell Inn, Hempsteadback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Dick Turpin, the highwayman, was the son of the innkeeper of The Bluebell.
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An intersting pub, witha facinating history.
We dropped in late on Sunday afternoon, to find the kitchen closed. However, as it had only just closed, it was quicly re-opened and three meals rapidly produced.
One of our beers proved to be the end of the barrel and was changed without question.
Only a brief visit, but the management/staff proved to be very welcoming and freindly, the beer was very good (the Nelson's Revenge in particular!) and itwas very comfortable.
We may well return (particularly to see the saturday Classic Car meeting).
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The Bluebell Inn is another good, but reasonably remote country pub in North Essex. I believe that opening hours are fairly limited and my early Sunday evening visit, was not long before the scheduled last orders. 5 ales were on - Adnams Sole Star, Southwold Bitter & Broadside, Woodfordes Wherry & Nethergate Old Growler. Apsalls was the cider. I plumped for the 2.7% Sole Star, which was reasonable. A small collection of locals and a couple of dogs were the only clientele. Worth a try.
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Nice setting, clean, well run and welcoming. Scrubbed pine and Dick Turpins ghost at your shoulder. Never eaten here yet- and slightly put off by the food brouhah a while back but well kept beer, Aspalls (hooray) and papers at the weekend. Have managed to avoid the folk singers *puts finger in one ear* and am looking forward to going back here. How many pubs can you say that about?
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Lovely village pub. great range of beers good cider and even bittburger for lager drinkers. I had some nice admans. lunch was great and there was nothing to suggest the problems mentioned below.
sunday lunch was hearty to say the least. they had a lovely garden out the back with a minor menagerie of chickens, quail a goat and even guinea pigs.
Another pub that caters to the sunday lunch brigade but has managed to keep the pub feel and good local welcome.
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I've been in this pub a few times over the last three months. I'm not sure if the same people run this as were in charge when the food problems happened, but I have to say I found the welcome, food, cleanliness and service all top notch.
The pub has an authentic old pub feel, not at all pseudo-"olde worlde", relaxing atmosphere and genuinely friendly staff. The landlord is often behind the bar in the evenings (the only time of day I've been in).
The beer was also good - as far as I could tell, being the driver I've so far been restricted to single pints of bitter shandy.
The Bluebell has local folk / traditional musicians every Tuesday night (and special guest acts at other times) , who come in and do an informal "jamming" session.
Don't be put off - I'm not a folk fanatic but really enjoyed their performances. They all seem to be very good (definitely not just some bloke/girl strumming weedily), with a mix of instruments. There is still plenty of room to sit and sip even when they are in full swing.
The pub has an international reputation for the quality of the music.
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IMPORTANT UPDATE - PUBLIC HEALTH WARNING
This pub is apparently still under same ownership and still trading - but unsuprisingly perhaps this information is not given on its website......
On Tuesday February 6th 2007 the licencee of The Bluebell Inn, Rodney Stokes was fined �6,000 (POUNDS) and ordered to pay �1,600 (POUNDS) costs after pleading guilty to 14 offences relating to selling food unfit for human consumption.
He was also fined �500 (POUNDS) for failure to provide a docementary food safety system and a further �500 (POUNDS) for inadequate pest control systems.
Magistrates at Epping heard how inspectors from Uttlesford District Council made an announced visit to the premises on August 21st last year and found dirty kitchen items, dirty floors, mice and rat droppings, live flies in store rooms and dead flies in food containers.
The inspectors also found a large quantity of mouldy decomposing and putrified foods in fridges.
Magistrates were told there was no food safety system or documented food management in place at the Bluebell.
The owner agreed to clean up his act - but on an un-announced visit ten days later the environmental health officers still found dirty equipment and more food unfit for human consumption.
Uttlesford Distruct Council's principal trading standards officer Geoff Smith said after the case:"The conditions found during the inspections of the Bluebell Inn at Hempstead on 21st and 31st of August 2006 were totally unacceptable in food business.
"Every opportunity has been given to improve food safety standards during previous unspections however again standards were found to have deteriorted.
"The lack of a food management system at the premises, dirty conditions and sheer quantity of food unfit for human consumption has placed public health at risk."
THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY UTTLESFORD DISTRICT COUNCIL.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.....
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What a great pub! Good food, good beer and a terrific landlord.
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This may well be the best pub I visited in 2005.
A selection of great beers (Woodeford's Wherry being the pick) served by charming staff in great surroundings.
The food is also excellent, and they cater well for vegetarians.
11/10!
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This is the pub where Dick Turpin Highwayman was born in 1705. His father John was landlord. It was then called The Bell, but has also been known as The Crown, The Bell & Crown, The Rose & Crown, and most recently The Bluebell. Dick was baptised in Sept. 1706 just down the road at Thaxted.
anonymous - 12 Oct 2004 18:57 |
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