The Bell, Ruislip

The Bell is a rare thing these days - an unmolested and unpretentious traditional local boozer. Yet it manages to pul off the difficult trick of being more than one thing at the same time. One half has bare floors, pool tables and the sort of music that attracts betracksuited youths who communicate in text-speak. The other half is much more traditional and has a more mature crowd.

There is an unusual mix of tradesmen, business people (complete with the odd Aston Martin in the car park) and servicemen from the nearby base - mainly army, rather than RAF. At weekends it transforms itself into a live music venue and some great bands play there.

This pub has an undeserved reputation for being a bit rough. This mainly stems from the time of the previous proprieters but the current guv'nors, Dave and Rose, sorted that out years ago. Rose isn't to be trifled with! In the two years I've been visiting this pub I've only seen one scrap - and I started that!

Its not a real ale pub by any means - although they do serve a nice pint of IPA. What it is is a London boozer like I remember from my youth - and I love it.

10 Apr 2009 14:35