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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Blue Bell, York
York
YO1 9TF
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The Blue Bell
Long-overdue revisit since the young licensee took it on. A nice buzz in the air which he himself creates and he has that rare ability to be able to hold court by chatting to multiple customers at once whilst also working and looking like he’s genuinely enjoying everything; indeed I and another local at the bar had a chinwag with him about various subjects over the 20 minutes I chugged my excellent Rudgate Ruby Mild (NBSS 4). This a must-visit gem in its present form.
April 2015
Finally did show my face in the Blue Bell again after a six year hiatus. And fortunately it was the fag-end of a quiet weekday evening so I got to sample the rear room, which is like a little parlour - lovely and snug with full wall to ceiling dark wood panelling, carpet, original bell-pushes in the seats and numerous award certificates from CAMRA and the like. Shame the fire was gas rather than coal! Six ales on and a good selection of brewers - Roosters, Bradfield, Wold Top, Rudgate, Great Heck, Tim Taylor. I immediately went for the Rudgate Ruby Mild but I have to say that my beer was warm and had a faintly tart edge. Unusually, fresh bread for sale at the bar. I still love this place, and I hope I was just very unlucky with the beer. As is well-documented elsewhere, they operate a strict no groups policy. So like the Ark, you need to file in two by two over the course of five minutes. Rated 8
February 2009
I finally made it into the legendary Blue Bell in January for my birthday and was glad I did, the Edwardian interior lives up to its reputation. Packed to the rafters on a Saturday evening (no wonder) I only got as far as the small, quarry-tiled front bar (there's a second seating area at the back via a corridor with a hatch servery) and was lucky enough to bag a table next to the fire - my luck must have been in. Plenty of good-natured hubbub from the locals and had a bit of banter with one of the other punters, all good fun. The beer range was impressive (seven) given the size of the place and the quality was excellent. Only stopped for a couple of halves but I fully intend to show my face in there again. Rated 9
On 4th July 2024
- rating: 10
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Blue Bell
With more time touring York's pubs than I'd bargained for due to the postponement of a football match, I decided to return to a York favourite of mine which I hadn't been in since 2016.
I chanced my arm to try to get a table in the tiny front bar and managed to succeed. Just 4 other customers were in there, leaving a small table next to the bar. The slightly larger rear room can be reached along a corridor.
The Blue Bell is a classic unspoiled local boozer with a really friendly atmosphere. It's intimate nature means that you can't fail to get involve in group conversations with a young humurous gaffer holding court admirably.
Despite being small, the Blue Bell can still manage to hold a decent real ale selection. The house beer is Brass Castle Blue Bell IPA. Other regular beers are Wold Top Bitter, Bradfield Farmer's Blonde, Rudgate Ruby Mild & Timothy Taylor Landlord. It looks like they stock guest beers at busier times. Boxed ciders were all from Weston's - Old Rosie, Rosie's Pig & Rosie's Pig Rhubarb.
My Wold Top Bitter was in good shape. This is undoubtedly one of the highlights amongst York's wonderful list of pubs.
On 23rd January 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Blue Bell
Just one question - how have I never posted a review before? A familiar haunt with guaranteed decent beers, made even better by a bunch of old regulars so it feels more like a proper pub than a beer tickers venue. Head for the back lounge rather than the tiny front bar if you can.
On 1st August 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Blue Bell
First pub in a day of Camra GBG ticking in York. Well, at least those that I could find open on a Monday Lunch.
This is bigger than it looks on the outside but still small - if that makes any sense. A corridor leads to a tiny front bar room and a bigger back room. The front room bar door sticks badly - so you cannot help but make a spectacular entrance to the people that may or may not be gathered on the four tables available.
Friendly locals and staff and a very lovely and lively TT Landlord.
A good start to the day.
On 13th October 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1564 recommendations about 1544 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alex Conway left this review about The Blue Bell
Possibly the best interior of any pub in york?
The Blue bell is coming out of its time of hanging up private party posters in the door to stop non regulars entering but groups are still very much discouraged.
there are two small rooms with a front bar mainly for standing and a very nice dark lounge with comfy seating and candles.
There are seven hand pumps on with me remembering seeing rudgate ruby mild, farmers blonde, taylors landlord and roosters yankee among others, my landlord was exceptionally kept although at a very expensive £3.60.
A real gem that is often overlooked but well worth visiting if you can get a seat, weekends are best avoided.
* Update, Landlord Now £3.95 there gonna start pricing themselves out!
On 13th March 2020
- rating: 9
[User has posted 459 recommendations about 459 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Blue Bell
Small two roomed with corridor space running alongside. Seems to get busy and doesn't take much to fill up. Nice - dark and traditional with real ale.
On 7th October 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1542 recommendations about 1519 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Oggwyn Great left this review about The Blue Bell
A bit of a throwback this one , the front entrance leads to a corridor , the first door is the bar with the lounge further on , the bar is a cosy slightly run down wood panneled place , locals were friendly with the main topic of conversation Steam railways . There is a list of no-nos on the door , no groups , swearing or shouting amongst others .
7 handpulls with TT Landlord , several from Bradfield and Rudgate plus Bad Seed Smart Streets which was OK .
On 27th September 2019
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 797 recommendations about 683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Blue Bell
Very friendly pub, old school with everyone either chatting or reading the paper. Eclectic clientele- young and old, male and female, locals and tourists. £4 is on the steep side for average pint of Landlord but oh well - excellent pub that should be preserved at all costs.
On 18th April 2019
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1174 recommendations about 1136 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Blue Bell
I didn't take to The Blue Bell as some have which may just be that I visited on a quiet early evening and the atmosphere and chat seemed slightly lacking.
It's a cosy nook of a boozer though with a friendly welcome and I'll happily give it another go.
Beers on were: Kelham Island Kelham Best, Yorkshire Sparkle Really Pale Ale, Bradfield Farmers Blonde, Rudgate Ruby Mild, Roosters South Side, Half Moon Dark Masquerade and TT Landlord. A decent range showcasing local breweries and nothing I had was in less than excellent condition.
A York stalwart.
On 8th January 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 683 recommendations about 682 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Lester Ford left this review about The Blue Bell
My last visit to this cracking little pub was on Easter Sunday with the wife, popped in for a couple and ended up staying all night making many new friends and having a right laugh
6 ales all from Yorkshire, my pints of Roosters Astro @ 4.3% all went down a treat.
Many things have been written about this pub, it really is a real gem, here’s hoping it is saved from any potential takeover or closure, the country needs pubs like this…scores 10/10 from me every time.
On 23rd May 2017
- rating: 10
[User has posted 80 recommendations about 78 pubs]