Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 26th April 2026) with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Bell & Crown, Salisbury
Salisbury
SP1 2DH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about Bell & Crown
Dating from the 17th century, I can’t add to the reviews below, so I shan’t bother other than to say that for a place which boasts that you can catch all the sporting action, no-one was watching.
There were five pumps, me going for the Dartmoor Jail Ale, neither price nor quality recorded.
On 16th April 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2324 recommendations about 2267 pubs]
Strongers . left this review about Bell & Crown
The Bell & Crown was busy with an afterwork crowd during a recent Friday late afternoon visit. Premium keg was available and the five hand pumps were drawing Dartmoor’s Jail Ale, Hop Back’s Summer Lightening, Rude Giant’s Best, Butcombe’s Original and Wye Valley’s Hereford Pale. Aussie rules football was on the muted televisions throughout while some background music played, I also noted a dartboard in the right rear corner. There’s an open fire with a raised area behind that includes a mix of seating including some sofas. Having spent the day in quiet boozers, it was a bit of a shock to walk into a very busy pub, but they’re doing well so good luck to them. Next time I’m in the area I’ll pop back in for another look, but preferably not after I’ve been sinking Old Rosie chasers.
On 7th April 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6626 recommendations about 6588 pubs]
Steve of N21 left this review about Bell & Crown
Can’t really add anything to the reviews below. Thought this was a modern smart pub inside a building that clearly had some history and character. I am also not a fan of handwritten pump clips but forgave them as they had all four pumps going with a reasonable selection and my Dartmoor Jail Ale was very pleasant. And also, very good to find it being well utilised by the Friday evening after work crowd.
On 3rd April 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2340 recommendations about 2186 pubs]
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Bell & Crown
Elongated Grade II*-listed building mostly of 14th-century origin, with the newer part at the eastern end in a different style. The dark interior has no doubt been much altered over the years but it certainly retains a fair amount of traditional character in the various seating and dining areas. Five cask ales on handpump, ranging from Butcombe Original (which I take to be the regular beer as it had a proper clip) to the handwritten signs for Dartmoor's Jail Ale, Hop Back Summer Lightning, Rude Giant Best and Wye Valley's HPA.
On 30th March 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 9119 recommendations about 9119 pubs]
Bucking Fastard left this review about Bell & Crown
A large and rambling city centre pub,clearly old but modernised internally.The low beams and struts create seperate spaces with the servery down one side,opposite which is a slightly raised section with an open fire.A front section has sofas,the multiple flatscreens were on mute but a bit off putting,there is a darts board and a mix of high and low seating elsewhere. Up a flight of stairs is the Twisted Barrel Bar for cocktails with table service and a huge array of hanging ephemera and classy furniture,somewhere for the young at heart and no place for a Real Ale Twat !
The ale options were Butcombe Original,Wye Valley Hereford Pale Ale (NBSS 3.5),Rude Giant Best ,Hopback Summer Lightening and Dartmoor Jail Ale.I agree that the chalk written pump clips are a bad idea ,most folk prefer the brewery pump clips.
Popular with a young afterwork crowd,it will get hectic but the ale line up was enough to justify another visit.
On 29th March 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3154 recommendations about 3154 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about Bell & Crown
This seems to be a fashionable place for an after work crowd - it was certainly very busy when we arrived at 5pm on a Friday. Strangely, four out of five hand pumps had handwritten pump clips. Why would you do that? We went for Rude Giant Best, which I had been served in poor condition in an earlier pub, so it had to be good, right? On this occasion, yes: it was very good (NBSS 3.5, £6/pint).
On 28th March 2026
- rating: 5
[User has posted 4733 recommendations about 4337 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Cloisters
Aged C17th interior - or is it? Felt like a 1970s stab at recreation to me; separate areas (but not rooms), dark interior, heavy dark beams, cream wattle walls, oil lamps and a fake ‘ye olde worlde’ central squared fire. Quite upmarket but quiet on our visit, from seeing other reviews it sounds like a place which has settled on taking pre-booked coachloads of tourists for lunch and dinner. Three ales on; Butcombe, Bath Gem, and a so-so (and pricey!) Otter Bitter. With a bit of effort on the beer front, it could be a destination place. For now, it’s a fair shout for a swift half in relaxed surrounds (assuming a coach hasn’t just dumped its cargo inside).
On 1st April 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6004 recommendations about 5984 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Cloisters
Large corner 17th Century traditional pub with low ceilings and lots of exposed timber beams. The bar was situated down the left hand side and had a choice of ales from three handpumps. Butcombe, Hopback Summer Lightning and Doombore. We went for the Butcombe Bitter, which was in good shape. I was happy to call in here for a swift one, but I wouldn't be tempted to stay any longer, as the pub lacked atmosphere and the interior was poorly lit, which made it dark and gloomy.
On 22nd May 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3745 recommendations about 3745 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Cloisters
A half decent pub,but with an Olde Worlde charm that just doesn't quite ring true.Pretty much usual suspect beer ,but Summer Lightning saved the day,I suppose thats usual suspect around these parts but was on good form.Worth a visit but nothing to write home about.
On 8th August 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2306 recommendations about 2269 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nigel Rowe left this review about The Cloisters
Well kept Doom Bar (can't seem to get away from it, but at least it isn't Watney's Red!) and Butcombe Bitter, but pretty expensive at almost £4 a pint. Bottled cider at £4.20! Still a nice pub with plenty of charm.
On 1st August 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 65 recommendations about 57 pubs]