Bell & Bottle, Maidenhead

This establishment sat immediately on the A4 is now very much an Indian restaurant, as opposed to a pub. It's a large building with its small entrance area effectively being a bar area with a table, 3 stools and a couple of chairs. Off to the left is the main dining area, with a function room off to the right, currently under renovation. We hadn't expected the bar/restaurant to be open until 5pm, but arrived before 5 to find an accommodating Indian gentleman happy to serve us drinks. Handpulls have long since been removed, leaving a keg selection of Fosters, Strongbow Cloudy Apple, Peroni & Cobra. In a rather surreal nod to the past, there was a pile of the local Maidenhead CAMRA magazines sat on a table next to the entrance door. Maybe the local CAMRA branch had been in for a curry social pre- or post-Christmas and had deposited a few copies. Or maybe they remain from when the pub was called the Novello and was last in the Good Beer Guide in 2010. Either way, I think the magazines may continue gathering dust there for some time.

Three ales on (Rebellion IPA, something from Tring and another one, probably Brakspear). My Tring had clearly been sat in the pipes for a good few hours as it was warm and a bit tangy. Shame, as this isn't too bad a place and they're clearly making an effort getting the ales in – it's the management of them that seems to be lacking. Obviously a very up-market foody operation, the inside is quite nice and a good place to take the girlfriend (if the beer quality improves!). Until then...