Blue Bell, Cardiff

A traditional looking and fairly narrow fronted pub more or less opposite the castle, it’s quite small inside as well and all seats were taken on our recent Wednesday evening visit. Internally it’s an upside-down L shape, with the rear area extending slightly further around to the left. Décor wise it’s quite traditional too with sanded wooden boards on most of the floor with some coloured tiling adjacent to the bar counter, and much of the ceiling having some attractive pale woodwork with inlaid dark green panelling which lent it something of an elegant air. Elsewhere the ceiling was a more familiar nicotine yellow whilst the top part of the walls were painted mauve. Much dark wood panelling was in evidence though, forming the bar counter, a large fireplace, moulded sections above the benches with inlaid mirrors and blackboards and in some cases extending out from the walls to form partitions inlaid with etched glass. Seating was a mixture of dark green fitted banquettes around the permitter, along with regular chairs elsewhere and some stools at the bar. A TV screen was showing a darts match which seemed a little out of place perhaps, but fortunately the volume was off so this was not too intrusive. Beers on tap were their own Blue Bird Ale along with Butty Bach, Santa’s Little Belter and Jemima’s Pitchfork. Two further pumps appeared unused. Ciders meanwhile were Strongbow, Strongbow Dark Fruit and Inch’s Medium. Overall, a pretty decent little pub, and I’d happily pop in again if in the area.

Facebook page of Blue Bell - www.facebook.com

Official site of Blue Bell - www.bluebellcardiff.co.uk

Facebook page of Blue Bell - www.facebook.com

Official site of Blue Bell - www.bluebellcardiff.co.uk

My only previous visit to this pub was back in the 1990s when I recall it having a very thick pile carpet. The L shaped room now has tiled and wooden flooring with comfortable green leather furnishings and wood panelled walls. A TV was showing subtitled news. It was fairly quiet on my Wednesday afternoon visit. There are seven hand pumps which had one unused that seemed strange as the SA one was isolated further down the bar. The other five Brains beers were Dark, Bitter, Rev James, Cafe Phoenix and Bragging Rights. The latter two are from their "Craft" brewery. The Bragging Rights (£3.45) was not that crafty but was in good nick. I enjoyed visiting here and would return.