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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 26th April 2026) with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Ye Olde Blue Bell, Hull
Hull
HU1 1RQ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about Ye Olde Blue Bell
Hidden away down an alley, this pub is notoriously difficult to see from the outside, never mind photograph. Once inside it's a delightful heritage interior that is impossible to photograph because of the edict of the luddite owner of the brewery and pubs, Humphrey Smith. (Luckily there are some 12 year old photos on the CAMRA website, pre-ban, and a bit of jiggery-pokery has resulted in some more modern versions.) The CAMRA heritage group listing says that a lot of the seemingly traditional fixtures are reproduction, but this is often the case with this brewery's pubs, and doesn't detract from the pleasure of being in such rooms.
My pint of Old Brewery from the hand pump (there are four) was far too cold, well below 10 celsius, but luckily there was a roaring fire in the room behind the bar and I soon made something drinkable of it (NBSS 3, £3.60). I had a little wander around the various rooms and had a look at the many pictures on the walls. Some of them were extracts from books with drawings and text about bluebells, but the pub is called the Blue Bell, which was originally linked to religious institutions, and the use of the flower in pub signs is a much later trend.
On 23rd March 2026
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4733 recommendations about 4337 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Ye Olde Blue Bell
An interesting pub hidden away down an alleyway which luckily on my visit didn't smell of anything unpleasant,upon reaching the pub and entering I found a decent if basic multi roomed/alcoved pub with a central bar serving as expected all the usual Sam Smiths wares. Not being a great fan of OBB I went for a pint of Extra Stout on keg and was more than pleasantly surprised as it turned out to be an excellent choice,I was reasonably impressed with this pub,one downside being, some of the clientele tended to be a little Wetherspoonesque, that said I would happily return here.
On 21st March 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2306 recommendations about 2269 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Ye Olde Blue Bell
Hidden down an alleyway marked by a giant Blue Bell this is an old school drinkers pub. The alleyway absolutely reeked of stale urine though. There's an upstairs snooker room and 3 other rooms downstairs, all served by a central bar. One of the rooms was empty, no surprise as the smell from the alley filled the room. The clientele were mainly those who find the nearby JDW a bit pricey for beer and Matalan a bit pricey for tracksuits. As it's a Sam Smiths pub the prices here are very low, I had a pint of OBB which was in decent nick and was under £1.50. I doubt that we'll ever visit this pub again though.
On 31st August 2014
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3358 recommendations about 3266 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Ye Olde Blue Bell
Wonderfully unspoilt old pub, tucked away in alleys behind market - look for the distinctive sign. It has one long bar room and a couple of side rooms. Beers from Sam Smiths at their usual cheap prices. A step back in time.
On 2nd October 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3915 recommendations about 3848 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Ye Olde Blue Bell
This is quite a nice but well hidden pub in the old town area of Hull,you have to go up a narrow alleyway to get to the pub but this place is a lot bigger inside than you would think.
It is a Samuel Smiths tied house and it has Old Brewery Bitter on handpump this was a very nice drink.
The pub was very quiet when i went in but this was early dinnertime,i would be very happy to visit this pub again.
On 12th September 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Ye Olde Blue Bell
Surprisingly large pub tucked away up a long alley from the High Street. A Sam Smith's pub so your cask choice is OBB or OBB, fortunately not badly kept and of course a good price - £1.44. Other Sam Smiths beers are available but nowt else. A down to earth boozers pub busy with a lot of hat wearing wrinklies spending their pensions. I noticed a wooden spoon and a plastic willy both labelled “Derek's” but was too shy to ask what it all meant especially as this appears to be the home of Hull's winner of the most miserable barmaid competion.
On 29th October 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 4020 recommendations about 3683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Martin Amos left this review about Ye Olde Blue Bell
Like Ye old white Hart hidden gem up an alley.Alpine brewery beers makes your Larger cheap and a nice dark mild rare these days if you run too fast from the Mint too the Corn Exchange you will miss it.Sorry the old guard are passing over they made this pub with the jokes and their stories plus their geriatric antics.
On 12th June 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 34 recommendations about 34 pubs]