please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
If I hadn't read the comment below noting this place changed its name from The Bell to The Lodge Tavern some while back I'd have thought it was an entirely different establishment from the bar I visit once or twice a month on Sundays to hear the excellent live jazz/funk.
More expensive than the excellent Sir Michael Balcon (JDW) a few doors down the Mall, but entry for the Sunday music has been free. Service fine, relatively limited on the beers side (mainly cocktails, wines and lagers and food sales).
Entry needs re-listing under the new name.
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expensive would be an understatement!
mrbee - 10 Feb 2011 19:37 |
On several sites, people have commented on the doormen. A well-known London website will show you plenty. Here's my (bad) experience...
During the cold snap in Feb, I went with my partner and another couple. We sat at a sofa where my partner had two small whiskies; we'd just had dinner, so this wasn't going to have gotten him drunk. He comes across as a rather serious/old-fashioned/non-chavvy type, not the kind of person who would be seen as a troublemaker at all. Part-way through he went outside (without his coat) to smoke. It got down to -3 that night. As he tried to re-enter, the bouncer refused him, claiming he 'appeared to have had a lot to drink' and this might offend/upset women inside (ie suggesting he would be a leering letch, in spite of the fact he's come with a partner and was sitting at a table). The bouncer's evidence (and this is where the temperature comes in) was that he was 'shivering' and 'moving from one foot to the other' - he was in a shirt at -3, remember. The bouncer refused to let him inside even to collect his coat or tell me/our guests where he was.
My partner explained that he would like to speak to the manager. When the manager arrived, she actually conceded that the bouncer had been wrong!! However in a 'nod wink' way she said she'd watch our party closely as 'she' (me or our female guest, I'm unsure) had bought several drinks therefore they thought 'she' might be drunk. She attempted to mis-quote the law. She became very worried when my partner explained the law with regards to licencing/bouncing and she realised that not only was he not drunk but had know-how in that legal area from work.
They said they'd let us in- but by then we all leftf for another bar. Never to return.
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I found this pub to be as depressing as the outside suggests. The barmaid was surly and the music managed to extinguish the lasts embers of life I had left in me. The draught selection is very limited and there is no real ale.
Rubbish, like its new name �The Lodge�.
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Visited Saturday This pub was refurbished in 2007 and is now called The Lodge. However, nothing else much has changed. Noisy, crowded, appaling music, and full of over-excitable young people who think it's great because they have nothing better with which to compare it. OK for the 18-25 crowd, of zero appeal to those closer to the top of the food chain. Avoid.
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Went to this pub on Saturday night, NEVER AGAIN! Some poor misguided person told me that this was one of the best bars in Ealing! if that's the case I'm very glad I don't live in Ealing! The Staff are rude and more concerned about looking good than serving customers! poor drinks! rude staff! doorman that look like they should be on crime watch! one to be avoided!
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Went here for a birthday not that long ago, it was the first time I'd been in since the refurb/name change but I have to be honest I wasn't impressed. For a start the bouncer took exception to the fact i was wearing trainers (they were brand new brown suede and besides do they think that having a dress code keeps pout undesirables? I would agure that the opposite is true). There was also no ale only lager (there was a pump so maybe this has been rectified since). It might have had a DJ but the music was awful (chessey R&B mainly) and it was full of, well, the sort of people that listen to R&B. On the plus side it's got a late licence and the decor was quite nice but in future if I fancy going somewhere lively in Ealing I'll stick to the North Star which is infinately better than this.
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Bring back Muswells
anonymous - 2 Aug 2007 22:22 |
I agree the refurb has done wonders for the look of the place, the table service is a bit higgledy piggledy but I think that it is probably teething problems as we went on the first saturday night and the manager also told us there had been a problem with the licence and they would have to close earlier than expected. However despite these minor hitches I had a really good time and I am looking forward to going back.
mitsy - 27 Jul 2007 15:39 |
Newly refurbished and re-opened, this place is unrecognisable! It's now a great little bar, with cool decor, table service, nice food and DJ. Go early if you want a table. Such an improvement! This place is now a credible alternative to the North Star. My bloke said the ale quality was a bit dodge though.
blink - 24 Jul 2007 11:50 |
Had turned into a real dump of a place with questionable beer and moaney staff!
Thankfully now closed for a referb!
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Uesd to love this place, was a regular for me & my mates years ago. Went back in there about 18mths ago and was really disappointed at how much it had changed. We had to pay to get in, the place was full of blatantly under-age drinkers and it felt like it was gonna kick off at any second. Not sure what it's like these days but I thought it had gone down hill?
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This place has the advantage of having a licence until 12 on Friday and Saturday nights when most pubs in the area don't (apart from the utterly unbearable Townhouse). It doesn't really have a great deal else going for it, very small inside and not a huge amount of seating. It's pretty cheap for the area though and is an alright option for a quick drink after 11 if you're around.
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used to be a real old nasty NF pub....improved thankfully after a re-fit, and a lot of the old crowd moved on, and got good for a while. DJ's would do good set on Friday and Saturdays, and they got the late licence Mon - Sat. But then the police got fed up of locals complaining about the noise, and they kept the licence for Fri and Sat.......then it all started going down the toilet......sudden influx of 12yr olds on the pull....too bloody crowded, nowhere to stand/sit, rank bogs, and the same sad set of music on saturdays.....daydream believer, come on eileen, tainted love, browneyed girl, summer nights, hi-ho silver lining, and of course the mandatory 3 lions.......if only they just stuck to the house and garage, they'd have kept the older crowd. and why keep the flamin doors shut in the middle of the summer with one poxy aircon unit to cool the whole pub?! Haven't been back since the management change...heard you now have to pay for the privelige of drinking the watered down 'beer' till 12.......mmmm, must re-visit soon!
anonymous - 11 Feb 2006 11:11 |
It's got better. shame they charge males �2.00 and dont charge females. so sexest whats the point. things should be even. doorman ok great shots good beer quick quick service most of the time.
4/10
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This place is a bit small! There is only about 2cm to dance :/ Music is qutie good though and if you are in there with friends then it becomes alright. You can play pool and drinks are quite well priced too. There isn`t that many places to sit down though.
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Great to see this place being sorted out at last.new manager, new doormen and new dj. Had great night for St Georges last night- good to see one bar in Ealing has balls to celebrate it properly. No kids unlike a lot of other bars in Ealing just everyone out for a dance and a drink and a good time. Keep it up- we will definitely be back next week
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Major advantage is shown in the photo - "we are open until midnight". Cheap drinks and lots of 18-years-and-1-day females. Quite small featureless modern building. It is a bit rough really but totty count is high if you're not looking for classy birds. Would advise having a drink somewhere more civilised first and heading to the Bell later when you're too pissed to notice its limitations but don't want to stop drinking at 11.
Jon - 30 Aug 2004 01:04 |
is it tru its gettn new management?? gd move
stevo - 30 May 2004 16:16 |
great time will definatly go back lovely friendly place and staff. well done to who ever the new management is keep it up!!
dougall - 12 Mar 2004 15:41 |
didnt bother going when they changed the DJ but i went in with a few friends the other week and really enjoyed myself its improved big time !! obviously due to the new managment i havent enjoyed myself that much in ages well done to the new manager next step change the music to get all your old customer back. other then that your grand!!
Jack and Ted - 12 Mar 2004 15:40 |
There is some fit blonde guy behind the bar...:DWorth checking him out, thats the best bit of the pub! Its tiny, and just not nice. Wouldnt recommend it...at all!
Mary - 22 Feb 2004 17:47 |
The best thing about the Bell is that it has a license for the selling and consumption of alcohol on the premises.
Everything else after that is pretty poor. Pillock central.
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ealing and best pubs dont follow through my dear, ealing was the queen of the suburbs its now a dump.
this pub is where local yobs go..aw wight mate"...mockneys galore...rubbish -avoid
bertie basset - 17 Jul 2003 11:04 |
THis Pub is one of the best pubs in ealing and i recomend it 2 all
Jones - 24 Jun 2003 15:33 |
This is full of little girls who think they are buff. Toilets are minging, bouncers are full of themselves(but there is a cute 1)If you want to see an open sex show this is the place. people tinging each other every night. Full of slags.
ete,ottes - 28 Apr 2003 13:39 |
A bit rough to be honest.
Warren - 8 Jan 2003 16:53 |
