please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Closed for refurbishment. Allegedly it will be reopening as a restaurant/bar rather than a pub
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The One Bell appears to be a popular pub situated on the High Street opposite what is probably the town's main church. It's a basic L-shaped interior with only keg beers and ciders available - Stella, Carling, Guinness, Tetleys Extra Cold, Carlsberg, Carlsberg Export, San Miguel & Magners. Not the most inspiring selection. The pub is under threat of closure and is due to stop trading in May. It was busy inside and out, with many spilling onto the street. The clientele were mostly football fans, with a few kids around too. Nothing to recommend here. Although service was friendly.
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Friendly and chatty barman who carried a very obvious walkie-talkie - presumably to call for assistance if needed. Very dark with few customers on a Saturday night, and most of them you wouldn't want to make eye contact with. Awful karaoke, and minimal furnishings. As you might expect in a dump like this there was no real ale. I suspect this pub won't be around much longer - or at least not in its current state.
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Ah Sweet... Looks like the One bell has got a new member of the bar staff..
To add the missing content from the glowing one post reviewer below, standard draft selection available, with one lonesome hand pump which is usually more on than off and when on dispenses a very average pint of Courage Best in my experience.
But that experience has not been for more than a year as my description of this place is closer to David's below than Liz's and I tend to walk past to the One Crown or the Moon.
Perhaps its been made over since my last visit and now serves decent Ale's. I'm sure Liz can confirm when she next clocks on..
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I've often walked past The One Bell while in town and thought how lovely and quaint it looked, but was always either in a rush to be somewhere else, not looking for a drink, or (yes if I'm brutally honest a little intimidated from the often loud raucous sounds of merriment emanating from inside).
Yesterday afternoon I happened to be in town and was ridiculously early for dinner with a group of friends later that evening, so I decided to pop in and see what it was like. I was really delighted to find how welcoming, traditional and friendly an example of a good old fashioned British pub this turned out to be. The interior is nice and snug, right out your imagination from reading some turn of the century novel, and other customers (if this afternoon and evening were anything to go by) were as good and as friendlier a bunch as you could ever wish to meet, right down to the gorgeous dog laying down and happily resting in the corner.
Bar staff are friendly and nice, and everyone seems to know one another as you might expect in a small town pub of this kind. There's an excellent up to date juke box with constant well picked tunes playing, frequently classics and golden oldies, but a good mix.
I think I've found my new little hidey-hole for those cold winter evenings when a little cheer is in order.
This is a lovely pub. :-)
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Visited with HF (CPFC supporters) on Saturday before the match with Watford. Normally pubs shun away from and discourage visiting football fans but we had a great welcome and this was very much appreciated. We will certainly return !!
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This is the worst pub in watford. Beer flat, music too louds, fights almost every night. Seems to be full of criminals and chavs. Looks like the cast of the Jermey Kyle show. Also there is a fat lesbian barmaid called bernie who just seem to be throwing her weight around all night. I didn't even finish my pint before moving on. The crown further down watford high street is load better.
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Probably the worst pub in Watford in my opinion. This pub seems to attract all of the towns wrong 'uns. Also i didnt think that behind the bar was an appropriate place for the barmaid to keep her baby...strange set up in a strange pub. This is only my humble opinion.
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It can be a bit loud in there, a real locals pub. But still very friendly.
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Can�t help thinking this place is missing a trick. The only traditional looking boozer on the high street with a great corner location dead handy for the Harlequin centre, and with the Church and grounds behind as a backdrop. But unfortunately nothing worth drinking with regards to ale. Shame, otherwise could be a nice pub.
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Had a great crack in this place halloween night, the kareoke was brill and from what I could see most people had made the effort to dress up. Even though it's a little rough round the edges the, friendly barstaff and atmosphere more than make up for it. I now make this my destination on sat & sun night can't beat a good old sing song whilst getting lambed.
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most of the watford lads still drink in there, and none are barred unlike bernie......
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Scummy pub..in a good way, the watford lads used to drink here before they all become unwelcome
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Great place,short walk to watfords ground, and is smack next to the shops if thats what u need.
very friendly, staff and nice people who go there.
pints are acceptable, but the food is out standing. its the only place around this end, that when you order a bowl of chips, you get free bread and butter, to amke chip butties with! nice touch
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Me and my Margaret had a smashing time in this friendly establishment. My Margaret downed bitter all night while I hit the many available Whiskeys....mmmmmmm.
The night turned slightly sour when I tried to perform my party trick...the trouser elephant, I didn't even get to the bit where it sqirts the crowd with water before some big brut of a bouncer grabbed me by the tweed jacket and dumped me on my arse outside. Later on my Margaret said my elephant wasn't as impressive as it used to be in my younger days, she said it now looks as thought the elephant is just about to sneeze. So is the ravages of time....it comes to us all. Another downside is that the Whirlitzer or Jukebox as they now call it didn't have Matt Monroe or Buddy Holly...I ask you, how are you supposed to get the party going without them two?
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THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST PUB I HAVE EVER BEEN IN.
LIVE MUSIC,QUIZ NITES,BARRYOKE,FOOTBALL FRIENDLY AND
IM TOLD BY A FEW OF THE LOCALS THAT THIS ONE OF A KIND.
IM ALSO TOLD THAT THE WOMEN ARE HARDER THAN THE MEN. A TRULY GREAT PUB WITH A GREAT ATMOSPHERE, CANT WAIT TO BE IN WATFORD AGAIN.
OH YEA WITTNESED A FEW FIGHTS TO.
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visited on football travels - friendly pub and bar staff but no cask ales - nice pub but no good to the real ale drinker
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Boss pub. Went there for Watford v Liverpool in January 2005 and had a boss time. Look forward to going back to Watford next season. One of the best match pubs in the country.
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Well it has now had it's make over and believe me it's all for the better. Nice layout relaxed and inviting.Just the place for a few good beers.You could say that I am biased as I know the licensee but he has almost 30 years of success in the pub and restaurant game and you don't get that without knowing your stuff!Good choice of beers and the staff are all very friendly and capable.If you live in the area or happen to be visiting then give it a go.Perfectly located for a break from the shopping or a pre/post match pint.Eric is a top man and knows the meaning of customer service.
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Eric is back;
this pub has just been re-opened after lovely makeover! One Bell is neat place to visit,it's worth to come down from London!
Definitely MUST VISIT place on High Street!
See you there!
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watch this space... soon to be completely turned around... future rating 10/10...
anonymous - 25 Sep 2005 02:09 |
Anonymous (3Apr 2005)captures this pub perfectly. I visited in June and concur completely.
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great location on Watford high street, in need though of a make over
erico - 17 Aug 2005 10:58 |
This is quite possibly the most minging pub I have ever been into. Although it was only about 8:30 on a weekday evening, everybody in there seemed to be completely hammered. A guy at the bar took the piss out of my girlfriend for ordering a coke; this contributed yet further to the general air of menace.
There were quite a few stray children rushing about, largely ignored by their bleary eyed parents. At one point, a women tottered over to an apparently random guy who was sleeping in the corner and started snogging him. When he did not wake up, she shrugged and moved away.
I admit that attending this pub was a fairly entertaining experience, but still not one I care to repeat.
I have rated this pub a 2 because the beer was drinkable (although I did drink Carling, which tastes the same everywhere) and at least there was space to sit down.
anonymous - 3 Apr 2005 18:31 |
