Bell Inn, Leominster

Facebook page of Bell Inn - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Bell Inn - www.facebook.com

Nicely refurbished pub, with a 'U'-shaped layout with semi-modern furniture and relatively light decor around the central counter. Rear patio smoking area. Only Wye Valley HPA (£3.00) available from the four handpumps, but reversed clips for Butty Bach, Hobson's Best Bitter and Doom Bar must reflect what's available at busier times. Although having quite a 'local' atmosphere, the barman and regulars were all friendly enough.

This pub and the nearby Chequers are clearly in competition, though the Bell is perhaps aiming for a slightly noisier crowd with a liking for sport on TV and loud rather than gloopy pop music. The beer selection in here, although not limited to the produce of one brewery, is more mainstream than the Chequers, with Sharps Doom Bar, Hobsons Best and Wye Valley Butty Bach at the time of my visit. A similar weekday cheap beer offering, too: 50p off a pint between 5pm and 8pm. Date of visit: 18th April 2017

The last time I was in Leominster, less than a year ago, this pub was closed and covered in scaffolding; now it's in the Good Beer Guide 2014 - how did that happen? Not that I'm complaining, as the refurbishment seems to have been accomplished with a certain degree of taste, and the beers are well kept. Four hand pumps on the smart new light wood bar had three Wye Valley beers plus Shepherd Neame Spitfire at the time of my recent visit. There's green painted wood panelling on the walls to waist height, with plain white painted walls or outrageous 70s wallpaper above. A small lean-to brick extension at the back houses the dart board and the pub was busy enough for a weekday night - in fact, I got the impression that a number of the regulars from the Chequers on my last visit had migrated back to here now that it's reopened, and this was by some way the busier of the two pubs.