The Bell Inn, Benington

Went to this pub for lunch a couple of weeks ago. It has recently been taken over by new management. The food was fantastic. Best freshly prepared hamburger and chips I've ever eaten. The meat was top grade and hand formed instead of smashed into a flattish patty. It was seasoned with fresh herbs. The chips were the real thing instead of the tasteless fake pap you usually get in a pub when you order chips. The selection of evening meals looked delicious. The food was also very resonably priced. It was such a treat to have REAL food not food taken out of a microwave with bits stuck to your plate. My friend had an omelette which she said was one of the best ones she'd ever had. Made with fresh farm eggs of course!!Dessert was homemade bread pudding covered with REAL custard cream and not the bright yellow packet of custard usually used. Extremely tasty. We talked to the manager who was very enthusiastic about the preparation and cooking of his food and he told us he bought all his supplies locally and wants to use seasonal food. I can't praise the food here enough and hope that the manager keeps up his high standards. Any serious foodie should make a special effort to go to this pub. Location is lovely as well. Staff and manager very friendly. Wine excellent. Don't know about the beers. Pleasant decor with the creme de la creme being a discovered 18th century painting above the fireplace of a hunting scene. In my opinon this pup has everything going for it and I hope the new managers can make a real go of it. In fact I liked it so much my husband and I are taking his mother there for Sunday lunch this Sunday. Anyway, give it a try.

16 Jul 2008 09:25

Queens Larder, Bloomsbury

The last review is spot on. The pub HAS lost it's charm AND its character, which is such a shame. It has been cloned into yet another common and garden gastro type pub, all too frequent these days, with expensive prices. I used to love to go in there but now prefer some of the other pubs in the area like the Swan. Management must be doing something right as the pub is always packed in the evenings. Too packed for comfort in fact. There are enough pubs in this area to give this one a miss.

26 Dec 2007 21:45

The Swan, Bloomsbury

I went in this pub yesterday for lunch and unlike last reviewer think this pub is better than The Queen's Larder especially pricewise and more value for money! Lunch was very tasty, not usual sort of bland tasteless pub grub you seem to get in so many Central London pub. The woman behind the bar was extremely pleasant. The wine was very reasonably priced and had a lovely taste to it. But I would agree with the last reviewer about the interior. Seems slightly grim. Could be brightened up a bit. A pub I'd certainly recommend to anyone in the area.

6 Oct 2006 12:15