The Bell, Walthamstow, E17

This is an imposing edifice dominating the corner of a busy road junction, clearly an old Victorian gin palace but now more or less opened out into a single space, albeit with some division due to a fireplace and chimney. Externally the pub name and bell designs feature high up on gables although there is no hanging pub sign as such. Inside the bar is along a back wall, stripped wood counter, exposed brickwork behind, boarded flooring, the main room has some William Morris style wallpaper whereas the slightly raised area to the side, beyond the fireplace has some preserved wood panelling as well as leaded obscure windows above the doors. Seating is mixed, pretty crammed in, mostly at recycled domestic dining tables of varying size suiting groups of varying number but also a couple of small high tables and some sofas and armchairs in a corner. The fireplace mantle and a shelf have a few bits and bobs on top, including various bells, otherwise décor is mainly mirrors and a few brass trays and plates. There is a decent choice of beer in here, eight handpumps, seven operating on Saturday afternoon with one reversed. Tim Taylors Landlord, fff Alton's Pride, Box Steam Derail Ale (£3.60), Hanlon's Port Stout, Titanic Full Steam Ahead, Hop Back Summer Lightning and Black Dog Rhatas. Meantime London Pale Ale appeared to be the highlight of the keg fonts. Food is served, I didn't read a menu as there wasn't one on my table but I saw a couple of blokes tucking into some decent looking home made burgers with proper chunky chips. The pub was busy and buzzing with music playing at a sensible volume, no signs of a TV, however one comment, the pub is clearly very child friendly with loads of young kids and babies in, apparently allowed until 8pm. While they were all in the main well behaved one was dashing about which in a busy pub with people carrying glasses could be a problem. Having said that when mine were little there wasn't really anywhere to go unless it was a warm afternoon and you could sit in the garden so fair's fair I guess. The pub has occasional live jazz and there is a Tuesday quiz. This is a warm and welcoming pub with a great range of ales, I believe it has been transformed from a bit of a dive so congratulations to the current incumbents for that, worth the ten minute walk up from Walthamstow Central and the 357 bus will take you down to the William IV in Leyton for a good double header.

Official site of The Bell - www.belle17.com

Official site of The Bell - www.belle17.com

I popped in today en route to the Brodie's Bunny Basher festival. All eight pumps were going with three bog standard beers (Tribute, Summer Lightning and TT Landlord) and an interesting mix of more obscure guests (O'Hanlon's Diablo, Cotleigh Honey Buzzard, Bristol Beer Factory Bristol Sunrise, Kent Brewery Enigma and Green Jack Orange Wheat). I tried the Enigma (£3.50) and the Diablo (£3.60). Both were in excellent condition and the 10% CAMRA discount made the (for me) high price more bearable. Despite the "retro" gimmicks (the dimple mugs and the junk shop furnishing) I really like this place. It's great to see NE London gradually becoming an area worth visiting for pubs other than just the Spoons outlets.