please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Whenever I take out one of my girlies with a bit of class I will bring her here. The food and the wine are spot on and the outside area sets the mood. Then its back to mine for desserts. They love it.
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New managers last year and recently been in for a few drinks, quite grubby could do with a clean. Also could do with some TLC, sign gone from outside some time ago and not been replaced yet. Inside getting a bit tatty. Went to the bar 4 times and on two occasions given wrong drinks, will be losing money hand over fist if they keep doing that. Overall even though its my local won't be going back in a hurry.
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I concur with other comments here. This is a nice pub, lovely sofas, nice restaurant and drinking area but very pricey - £2.40 for half a Peroni and a vodka tonic was over £6.
When I queried the price the barman said "I guess it's cos they know it's the only pub in Fetcham."
On that basis I would try the lovely Old Plough in Stoke D'Abernon or the Anchor in Bookham - both lovely pubs within 5 minutes drive and a darn sight cheaper.
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As local residents, we remember the Bell when it was a real pub and then a Hungry Horse. Since Youngs took over there has been a move upmarket and a corresponding hike in prices - the wine particularly is very expensive for a pub restaurant. Managers of these places are like football managers - they never last long. At least the lastest incumbants seemed to be doing a decent job and for a while had decent chefs. We had a meal here last year which was excellent. We dined last month and it was poor. Have just looked at the website and discovered the managers resigned in January, so I guess this explains why things have gone downhill.
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£8.95 for a pint of Peroni and a sparkling mineral water - yes £8.95 Its no wonder people are drinking more at home!
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The beers were faultless (all Youngs) including a porter which was top quality. The place itself feels like a hotel reception area without the hotel - it's oddly soulless but comfortable nonetheless. Probably too comfortable - 3 pints later and I really didn't want to leave. The food menu is mid to higher end gastro.
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Nice friendly place,The food is very good,a tad pricey,this is leafy Surrey stockbroker belt.The beer was excellent especially the Winter Warmer,its a pity there is no bus route near by School lane nearest stop.
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Not my local but a pub that I can get to within relatively easy walking distance: The large interior is welcoming and the split between the more formal restaurant and the bar area means it retains a nice pub feel to those who want it.
As it�s a Youngs pub, you get the standard offerings plus usually one guest. I've always had a good pint here and when I�ve eaten, the food has always been good quality.
Staff are always pleasant and the regulars are too so it�s a good place to visit.
However, as with other posts here, I can�t help but feel that the place would be a whole lot busier if the prices of the drinks were more reasonable. I appreciate where it�s situated and it�s probably an expensive pub to maintain but having a round of drinks shouldn�t entail taking out a second mortgage :-) The cost of wine here seems incredibly high�
I'll continue to return for the occasional drink whilst my pocket can accommodate it because ultimately, it�s a good pub.
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staff are always fast and friendly but this lacks something for a pub, well quite a few things actually, especially when its the only pub in the village, I would find it painful to spend a whole night at this pub, and not just because of the painful pricing, its good if your into poker but its not a pub for me, food is always really nice when I go for a meal here, and to be honest thats the only reason I really ever go, but even the menu bores me a bit, still the food is better value than the drink and well presented, the prices are just silly here, even for my coke, I dare not ask how much a becks is because thats the only thing that would really interest me in this pub other than the attractive staff I've seen working here, a couple of the girls are pretty damn hot to be fair, you always seem to get a friendly service here, that dose count for something, and I do know people who like this pub so I regretfully have to be quite generous with my score
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I regularly go to this pub and do the occasional review in the hope that there are improvements to rave about, but I'm not sure where the present landlord is going with the food. The menu seems to be shrinking and has very little what I would say recognisable pub food. On a recent visit on a quiet night the first meal I ordered was not available and lets say they weren't particularly busy..it then took 30 mins for them to conjure up my second choice which was luke warm..suffice to say most of it was left on the plate. You get the impression the landord is trying to introduce some sort of Michelin star restaurant food, but without the quality...Whether the lack of choice is down to lack of demand in the restaurant, but thats probably because quite frankly most people I talk to would eat there more if they actually offered the normal pub grub!
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Another high quality Youngs pub, great real ales and friendly service. not eaten here yet but heard the Sunday roast is fantastic. I'll definately be coming back.
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The new menu is a welcome change. Keep up the excellent work. I posted too early on my last so please ignore it. There has been some positives here, they are expensive as mentioned in other posts, but it really is worth the visit.
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The new menu is a welcome change.
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As the only Pub in the village this is my local, has improved under the new managers, much better atmosphere and seems to be attracting more customers, but the food menu is still not great, thought it would be changing, but still pretty much the same, not as a good a choice as some other Youngs Pubs. Drink is still expensive, but thats what you get with the area!
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What is there not to like about the Bell! Great atmosphere and helpful staff. My favorite thing to get off their menu is their fish and chips and to wash it down with Young's London Ale. The new General Managers have really worked hard to give new life to this great pub. I reccomend this place to anyone who is looking for a great place to dine.
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I found the Bell to be my newest place to eat on my travels from the states to UK. The General Managers are very warm and welcoming each and every customer into their pub. The Restaurant is a very clean and comfortable environment. The Bell's menu reflects something for every taste bud. The employees are very helpful to make any reccomendations to fit any dietary need. The Bell also features a very wide selection of nice wines and ales. My husband's new favorite is Young's London ale. I would highly reccomend The Bell to anyone looking to have a nice night out.
Cat28 - 21 Apr 2010 00:58 |
Was at the The Bell two weeks ago and I'm still talking about it to my friends! Very comfortable atmosphere. Menu has a variety of options to cater anybody's tastebuds. Still talking about the fish and chips :) I can only get a good fish and chips on my travels to the UK. A great place out if you are looking to take a break. Sundays is a can't miss at the Bell featuring their amazing Sunday Roast! If you are bored and need something to do on Tues, they have a very entertaining Trivia night. The Bell, after getting to know the staff, The Bell begins to feel like just like apart of your extended family.
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I had Christmas dinner here this week and what a turnaround! Delicious, well presented, a fantastic atmosphere, not cramped and the family all enjoyed it. All I can say is you get what you pay for! They must have a new chef as this was truly fantastic. The service was the best I have had in a pub style location. Well worth a visit. 28/12/2009
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Have to agree with the last posting, we decided to give this place another go after a dissappointing experience, wished we didn't. Beer in terrible condition and still over priced. Food just awful over priced and overcooked and when we tryed to point this out we were treated as if we were lying, if you can not accept constructive critisism then don't ask for it. Avoid this place like the plague !!!!!!
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Really, really excellent beer and nice atmosphere apart from yapping dog. Seemed like a good mix of people and a good place for a pint and a chat.
Unfortunately we went for the food as well which was verging on awful.
I'll go back for the beer though!
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Another change of landlord and staff Katie and Ben have not been given the job fall time, a mistake by the brewery! Its a pricey pub both for food and drink, but when your the only pub in the village you get away with it!
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I've visited this pub twice now - once just for beers and the second time for sunday lunch.
I agree with the previous comments about seating - you have a choice of sitting by or quite close to the road, in the smoking area or inside.
Inside all tables comfortably seat a small family or you can sit on stools.
Don't sit on the stools furtherest from the bar as you have to sit with your head in a lampshade.
This pub needs a sofa or two.
The barman / landlord can often barely contain his excitement - what a joker!
anonymous - 29 Jul 2009 19:18 |
Better than it was this time last year on the staff front, most are now friendly and good mannered, atmosphere is better as well. But food is still pretty poor and limited and at a cost.
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It's pricey, but it's a convenient local with nice up-to-date decor and fairly friendly staff. Not my first choice but not a bad place to go for a pint and some appetizers on an afternoon.
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The family day on bank holiday Monday was great! We had homemade burgers from the BBQ and the kids loved the face painting.
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Very stylish pub. Great food and atmosphere. Bit expensive but had a great time. It is worth it. The staff are friendly and the customers are great. If u want a special night out this is the place for you and the Mrs.! Highly recomended.
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The Bell in Fetcham...okay if your looking to go out for a meal in the evening its not a bad bar/resturant, the staff are polite and friendly, its clean and the food is quite nice...but this comes at a price, i personaly dont go to the bell very often, partly because of the prices, a night out in this place could cost you as much as 2 nights out in some other pubs, i wouldnt mind so much if it felt more like a pub but it just dosnt have that feel anymore, i agree with alot of the other comment about this place, i would personally rarther it was still a Hungry hourse, its a nice place to go for a meal and a drink but its not what i call a real pub, and its just too expensive for me to justify going out for the night with friends even if i liked it as a pub a bit more. I'll give this place an 8/10 for food n drink but not as a pub.
p.s Be carefull how you ask for the outside heating to be turned on in this place, the last time i heard someone politly ask for the outside heating to be turned on the landlord got the arse about it to put it mildly.... maybe the electricity costs too much for the amount of beer sold at those prices
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I couldn't agree more with the last review. The most expensive pub you would probably go in, rude and miserable staff, very poor choice of food and absolutely no atmosphere.
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Pretentious and up its own arse!
I do like the new style look which was completed but this with the combination of the over priced drink and food in my opinion makes it the most pretentious pub in Surrey, The Black Swan comes a close second but at least you can land your helicopter in the field next to the pub.
I usually go in with a few mates for a beer and a sandwich. The last round of four pints cost �14 and I ordered a BLT sandwich going at a whopping rate of �6.50 they never even had the decency to give me the nice part of the tomato I got both ends of the tomato and at �6.50 the least they could do is garnish with some ready salted crisps. It�s a rip off and I have decided to rather travel a mile up the road to the anchor which has is an old pub with an older crowd and the beer is marginally cheaper but at least you don�t feel as if you are paying off the renovation bill.
The light lunch menu is a real disappointment not a real variety and I am sorry but charging someone �5.50 for two slices of bread and grated cheese with pickle is extortionate even if you are sitting on Linda Barkers latest collection. The mains on the lunch menu although not a bad menu is again way over priced and they keep going up in price.
PS. Any self respecting chef isn�t going to use the ends of the tomato in a BLT so that must say something about the chef they currently have employed there. This is cutting corners to save a few pence and what a price to pay for doing it because you have lost my business.
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Why would local_person rather have a down market Hungry Horse???
Bell refurb is fab and quality of food and wines is well worth the price
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I personally have stopped going to the Bell after many years - shame coz it's a 5 min walk from me but the prices are ridiculous! and it's not the place to go for a quiet drink with one friend - there are no small tables - you feel stupid sitting at a huge table for 8 people just two of you! It has become more of a restaurant than a pub ... bring back the old Bell with the cheap drink and huge well priced pub meals - we don't need another restaurant in Fetcham - we need a good old fashioned pub!
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On arrival the ID Police were out in force, but once past this, the cold beers were served alongside an excellent cajun tomato soup and home made bread.
The surroundings are comfortable, spacious and the staff friendly.
Lacks a certain pub feel, more restaurant than pub, but has a large heated smoking area outside and plenty of outdoor seating. Several sofas inside plus a restaurant area.
Two pints of lager; Kronenbourg and Peroni came to about �7.50.
Also, the toilets are in a class of their own - very clean - refreshing for a pub toilet.
Overall this is an excellent place to visit for a few pints and a bite to eat.
anonymous - 27 Jan 2008 17:25 |
Have visited The Bell before and after it's most recent refurb. Looks clean, tidy and welcoming with additional feature of a timber covered heated area outside for smokers. The only downside is the price of the drinks. �3.40 a pint and the menu hasn't been updated since the last landlady left so I was hoping for a bit more imagination from the Chef....change of hands change of menu. It's OK but could take a few tips from another Youngs Pub, the Hand & Spear at Weybridge....great place to visit instead.
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What a difference!! Youngs seem to have got it right at last.Great refurb,friendly new staff and a manager that you can talk to.Keep up the good work
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Terrible management, actually have no idea about customer service. Meal was so bad (late, partially frozen, missing) it provided genuine entertainment. Offer of another meal there quite laughable.
This pub used to be good when they did an excellent quiz & didn't aspire to some ridiculous pretentions.
Rather foolish of them to stop showing sports too - they miss out on loads of business.
All this, with over-priced drinks aswell, makes this place perfectly avoidable.
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The drinks are sooooo expensive! It is the only pub in Fetcham though so they can get away with it. I preferred it when it was a hungry horse pub - the meals were enormous - loads of veg! I went there the other Sunday - the hock of pork was good but the roast beef my friend had just wasn't enough - hardly any meat. Hate the wooden floor - just not a warm pub anymore - really cold and those high tables and stools - this is Fetcham not London! We don't want a young, trendy pub. What happened to all the small tables at a normal level where you didn't have to climb onto the chairs?
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Overpriced Drinks! You are only a Youngs pub, but can take the p*** as you are the only pub in the area and can charge what you like for drinks.
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The new managers have indeed revamped this pub. I have been visiting it for many years and I like many others was annoyed when it became a youngs pub. Although I did continue to drink here I did often question why. The food was awful and some members of staff were not welcoming, however sarah and richard have made a considerable changes to it. The food is of a good quality and the pub is noticable cleaner. Although there choice in management is not much to be desired. Both are rude, poorly presented and obnoxious, so if you do happen to visit this pub try the food as it is exsquisit however stay away from the shify looking males behind the bar as they will only make your stay there uncomfortable and you will wish you had not embarked on a conversation with either of them .
anonymous - 28 Oct 2006 00:32 |
I visited this pub by accident and was delighted by the warm welcome I received from the landlords, Sarah and Richard. They told me that they had recently taken ove the pub and thye would be revamping the menu. I had a meal from the specials list, a new idea from Sarah, and it was delicious. The beef stroganoff was delicious and the portions were excellent. The service was friendly and efficient. This is a pub I will be returning to, especially wiht the new menu starting in October. Well worth a visit.
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This pub had really improved as a result of its revamp a couple of years ago but following frequent staffing changes it has really gone downhill in the last few months.
The drinks are have always been expensive but the recent meals I have eaten there have been very substandard whilst remaining pricey.
I think the Bell/Youngs are very well aware that they are the only pub in Fetcham and therefore feel they don't need to fight for their trade.
They claim to be child friendly but have no obvious children's menu (you have to ask for it)and the kids' meals they serve are small, unimaginative and have no vegetables of any kind! They also made us feel that our children were unwelcome and a nuisance.
On an adult only visit staff commenced stacking outdoor chairs inside the pub around us at about 10 o'clock! I think they wanted to get off early! It used to be packed but seems very quiet in comparison now, word travels fast in a village.
It is very sad to see the demise of the only village pub but they will have to improve considerably before I consider visiting again.
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this is such an improvement .. went to Hungry horse to eat twice ..got food poisoning twice .. the new bell has good food and friendly service and a smashing pint of Youngs bitter - thumbs up
anonymous - 8 Nov 2005 20:47 |
The only pub in Fetcham and it's rubbish.
Recently refurbished but it's still the same old cr@p.
Some advice if you go there, you may need to take out a loan because the prices are steep.
Head to Bookham instead, some top notch pubs there.
anonymous - 16 Sep 2005 14:53 |
This is our local but we don't go there much since the makeover. OK it was a bit grimey when it was a Hungry Horse, but you could yet a decent meal and pint at a decent price. Youngs have done a nice job on the decor but you pay for it in the prices. The food menu is uninspiring and hasn't changed since Youngs took over. At these prices you could go to a good restaurant. Shame cos its about time Fetcham had a decent pub.
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Isn't it amazing what a bit of TLC and a few pounds can do. When I last visited this pub in October 2003 is was a right ropey old dive.
Re-visited last night, and what a difference! This is what a village pub in Surrey should be like. Well done to whoever's responsible.
One piece of advice though, pubs don't have to be pitch black to create a homely atmosphere. A touch more light please! Only a small gripe, though. Recommended.
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Well, looks like I'm the first person to comment on this pub now it's under Youngs ownership.
It's about a mile and a half from Leatherhead Station - cut through the fields past Fetcham pond to get there
I had never previously visited this pub, so I have nothing to compare it with, but it's very food and wine orientated and is clearly not interested in catering for the local beer - swilling fraternity.
It has that modern contemporary feel that Youngs like nowadays ( pastel colours, wooden floors, rugs, arty - farty pictures etc ) which traditionalists abhor.
There is no TV any more, so if previous contributor Ray wants to watch the footie in here, he is going to be unlucky.
The place seems clean and well run and the staff were reasonably friendly on my visit. Beer was ok. The problem is that the place lacks any pubby feel or atmosphere whatsoever and because of this, it can't see myself visiting again
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The Bell in Fetcham has recently been take over by youngs and co plc. Please write in and let us know what you think
anonymous - 16 Jan 2005 16:25 |
The best pint of beer within a 20 mile radius - Greene King's Abbott Ale, served to perfection.
The stench of smoke is, however, almost overwhelming, but it's possible to almost escape being fumigated in the Family area.
The Hungry Horse meals are adequate in quality but Herculean in quantity. Try the excellent Sunday Roast.
I'm off there now to watch England beat Turkey on the big screen.
Cheers,
Ray 11/10/03
Ray - 11 Oct 2003 13:48 |
Once a filthy dive, now a decent family place, part of a chain, with OK meals. Amazingly, it's still the only pub in Fetcham.
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