please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Fullers pub in a historic building. This place appears to be focused on its Thai food, rather than its beer. London Pride was the solitary real ale. The staff are Thai and the food did look good. But the lady behind the bar got my order wrong and the interior felt a bit dark and dingy. The worst of 6 Wycombe pubs I tried earlier today.
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Can report that we still have a Fullers pub/Thai restaurant in operation here, and was leaning more to the former on a Thursday night at 21.30. London Pride and ESB still on tap (as per "1morefortheroad" below) three years later; the latter (£3.60) in good condition and served in its own 'special' glass. Bright and woody inside, generic pop and R&B through the speakers, perhaps in an attempt to compete with the Yates opposite and Butlers next door but one. Staff good.
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pub is o.k if a little pricey. but why do pubs seem to think its a good idea to have a thai restaurant inside.....makes no sense. also the yates opposite is so much cheaper, if a little lacking in tradition and atmosphere.
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Good looking pub building, ok interior, but the place doesn't know what it wants to be; too many half-hearted attempts to be all things to all people.
Not really helped by the establishments located nearby which cater for the youngsters / students (on certain nights the atmosphere around some of the nearby places can be quite intimidating).
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Visited for the first time in six months at the weekend. Beer quality last time was not so good but the Pride was in fine fettle on Friday night. Only Pride and ESB on cask
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Since my last review nearly 4 years I dont go into the Bell all that often. A change of landlord means a colder welcome and not the friendly relaxing place it once was. Further price increases price this place out of a lot of peoples budgets and this can be seen in the lack of people in there on a friday and saturday night.
Big shame, will try again soon though and update..
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really good little pub. we use it most weekends. there is a price competition going on around here which is great for us.
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Great pub. Friendly atmosphere, similar to the glass house in the fact it has a very good crowd and not scumbags. Expensive but definately a good place to start the night..
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Overpriced beer, no lunchtime bar snacks apart from relatively expensive Thai (despite misleading sign outside saying there was), poor atmosphere. I drank up & went to the Wetherspoons, & wished I'd gone in there first.
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a genuine oasis amongst all the modernism and hurly burly!
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One of the better pubs in Wycombe. Too dark but beer is well kept (Fuller's) and staff are friendly.
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I have to agree the food in The Bell is great and it�s a really easy and nice place to relax. People have commented on the price of the Beer and in my opinion you get what you pay for! Everything is good quality, well looked after and well worth paying the extra for.
anonymous - 17 Jan 2006 15:21 |
A few friends and myself decided to go out for some food and a few drinks, and under recommendation we decided to eat in the Bell then go onto a few other places.
I hadn't been in for a long time and was very surprised to find how relaxed and friendly the atmosphere was, nice touches such as fresh flowers on the tables, easy listening background music and friendly smiling staff.
The bar was reasonably busy but we still managed to get served quickly and smoothly, the food was fantastic and great value for money and we all agreed that the landlord has a cute bum!
Needless to say we never made it further than the Bell that night and I think that will be out first and last stop for drinks and food in the future.
Sam01 - 17 Jan 2006 14:30 |
I have used the Bell for about 12 months now, since moving to Wycombe. It is, by far the best pub in town. It went through a rather ropey period with a manager in there called Gary, but he has gone now and a guy called John runs the place. John has made it even better than it was before. Thestaff are friendly, John is always about (which is nice to see, you don't see many proper landlords these days) the beer is always excellent and the food has recently improved from something that was good, into something that is most excellent.
It's the atmosphere that I go for though, it's always nice, friendly no rowdiness, even when it's busy. My wife likes going in too (which is such a boon!!) in fact she feels comfortable going in on her own, which doesn't happen in just any pub.
The only slight downside is the price of the beer, but you get what you pay for and at the end of the day I'd rather pay the money and get the quality that is the Bell.
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A quick comment to clear things up!
After talking to a few people, and seeing the anonymous comment recently added, I think my previous entry on here has been mis-understood; When I refer to beer as "...a bit of dirty water with some sugar thrown in..." it is not intended as a comment on the quality of the beer in The Bell, but a light-hearted description of beer in general. It wasn't the brightest description I could have used, obviously!
My only grumble was, (and is), the pricing, in which case I believe that "Anonymous" DOES agree with my comments!
Despite the prices, it still remains the best pub in town in my opinion.
Apologies for any confusion caused / offence taken, as none was intended.
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Update - There is a new Thai chef and staff in the Bell now. The food, which was good before, is simply great now. In fact had lunch there today - fantastic. Also, I don't agree with Mac's comment about the beer. Of course it's always a question of taste, and whilst I am no big fan of London Pride, the ESB is a terrific pint.
In terms of pricing, the food I think is very good value, but you can find a cheaper pint in Wycombe ( e.g. The Falcon, which has a good range of bitter ) but I know where I'd rather drink.
anonymous - 18 Oct 2005 17:13 |
All the above holds true still, but the prices are becoming intolerable - it's beer, slightly mucky water with some sugar chucked in, not the elixir of life!
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As far as Town Centre pubs go, this is about as good as you get nowadays - but I dont think they should be charging � 2.65 for the London Pride, especially when the marvellous Royal Standard of England in nearby Forty Green only charges � 2.40.
Probably the best pub in High Wycombe - but there's not much competition, is there ?
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the bell is one of the most enjoyable friendly pubs that i have been into in high wycombe. the food is good and the bitters are well kept.the bar staff are friendly which always is good
bob - 21 Jul 2004 21:48 |
Very friendly and professional staff in a traditional pub. Fullers ESB always available. Open all day. Fantastic Thai food - In my opinion, the best in the area. Though, the traditional "English" grub isn't that great. Parking can be a litle awkward. There's a small car park in the rear which quickly gets full and 3 slots out side the pub on pay-and-display which is free after 6pm - though there's a big safeways superstore almost next door with a huge (free) car park. All-in-All, a great place to go for a beer - easily my favourite pub in Wycombe.
Simon - 4 May 2004 17:02 |
Good range of products, complete mix of age ranges and backgrounds amongst the customers. NO BOUNCERS,(oops, sorry, Doorpersons), and NO TROUBLE. Quiet background music, and a generally pleasant atmosphere. Totally different to all the identikit places in the area. Oh yes, good grub & accomodation too.
Mac - 12 Dec 2003 13:25 |
Fuller's pub. Casque Mark awarded. Friendly bar-staff. An excellent new Thai menu. Easily the best "proper" pub to go to in Wycombe town centre.
Giles - 11 Dec 2003 12:37 |
