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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Royal Parade, Harrogate
Harrogate
HG1 2SZ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Old Boots left this review about Royal Parade
Now reopened under the auspices of Harrogate Brewing Company following a refurbishment and name change. There’s a new dark green / blue colour scheme and the counter has had a good polish. Six beer engines remain along with two T-Bars of kegs. Five beers from Harrogate plus one from neighbouring Roosters on cask, local craft kegs on one T-Bar more familiar national ones on the second. New furnishings of tables and chairs, the dividers have mostly gone but banquette seating remains in the side room. It now has a screen and constant music albeit at a low enough volume to be almost unobtrusive. The Farrah shelves are still fitted in the side room but the memorabilia has gone.
On 11th April 2025
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Old Bell
The Old Bell is a large double shop conversion with the Farrah Room lounge to the right and bar to the left. At first I thought they’d spelt Mo’s name wrong, but later in the day I discovered that Farrah’s is a local toffee producer. The eight hand pumps were drawing TT Boltmaker, Rooster’s 30th Anniversary and London Thunder, Kirkstall’s Three Swords, Ilkley’s Mary Jane, Northern Monk’s A Little Faith and Eternal alongside Weston’s Rosie’s Pig Cider. The London Thunder was a decent porter. Premium and craft keg were also available, as was food with the burger coming in at a seemingly very reasonable £8. No television, but the likes of Meatloaf were playing in the background. We were the only customers early on a recent Friday afternoon, but I could see that there would be a good atmosphere when a little busier. I’d revisit if passing.
On 28th July 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Old Bell
Part of an impressive terrace of four-storey buildings, the pub has been extended into a former shop next door to provide a bar and separate lounge. What came as a surprise, though, was how sparsely decorated the former part was. With seven of eight handpumps in use, we found six real ales from the likes of Roosters and Northern Monk (including A Little Faith, £2.29 with Camra discount, half) plus a cider.
On 17th July 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Old Bell
Despite it's pub like name,this is a shop conversion and had two quite sparse rooms on the ground floor and a cocktail bar on the first floor.The servery is in the left room and there was a warm welcome and an attempt to get us crawlers to stay longer offering half price on the first 5 pints pulled from a new keg beer,which was politely declined.Well done to the staff for enquiring whether I was a CAMRA member,I got the discount despite it not being my round ! There was a decent line up of craft keg beers too.
The 6 handpumps were offereing Ilkley Mary Jane,Roosters 30th Anniversary Pale,Kirkstall Three Swords,TT Boltmakers,Northern Monk Eternal (NBSS 4,served in a silly branded half bowl) and Little Faith along with an Olde Rosie cider.The wooden bar had a beautiful double curved frontage and given the decent selection of Yorkshire ales I would recommend a crawl visit if in town.
On 8th July 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Old Bell
This place seemed more like a big old shop than a pub (apparently it was a former restaurant), with large windows and a bit of an empty feel. Judging from earlier reviews some of the fittings have been removed, which probably didn't help. However it was not unpleasant and had a good selection of beers - feeling experimental I went for the Northern Monk Raspeberry Porter which was surprisingly nice albeit served in one of their silly glasses. No problems with service or beer and it is also nice to be asked before paying if you are a CAMRA member to get the discount, rather than spotting a small sign afterwards.
On 25th March 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Old Bell
Market Town Taverns’ fall from grace continues, enough said.
On 28th September 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Old Bell
Called in this 2019 Good Beer Guide bar and foud a decent selection of real ales available. Chose Good Chemistry Time Lapse which was fine.
On 12th August 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Old Bell
Recently refurbished with a slight change to the name, furnishings and a reduced beer range mirroring changes to the Market Town Taverns as owners Okells refurbish the estate. All new staff, seven casks, almost non-existent bottled beer range compared to before and new furniture have made for changes that have been unpopular in some quarters. The removal of the "booths" (actually a couple of movable wooden screens) has caused the most comment. I found a level of table clearing that puts 'spoons to shame on a quiet early week evening with two of the world's less gifted barmen on duty. Beer quality has definitely declined a bit, and the atmosphere is not quite what it was either. The material relating to Bill Clinton's visit has gone too - sic transit gloria mundi indeed.
On 17th May 2017
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Old Bell Tavern
A typical Yorkshire welcome (gruff & to the point), this is a large 2 roomed building of character, nicely fitted out & with large windows to the street. Its almost too big, but has a nice feel. A list of many real ales, very well kept
On 9th November 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1542 recommendations about 1519 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
david hammill left this review about Old Bell Tavern
What has happened to what was a fine old pub? Called in
here earlier. Beers - mediocre and overpriced. My wife is a lager drinker - one draft lager available which was unkown and not cheap. No bottled lagers available. We left and went to wetherspoons for some decent beer and lager!
On 4th November 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 96 recommendations about 86 pubs]