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Submitted on Thursday, 22^nd June 2023
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The Blue Bell, York

53 Fossgate
York
YO1 9TF

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Served areas

York Central

Reviews of The Blue Bell (Average Rating: 8½ of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Tris C left this review about The Blue Bell

York’s smallest pub, it would be hard to elaborate on what has been written before: Grade II*-listed, with a historic CAMRA interior of *** and CAMRA citations on display.
There were six pumps presided over by an engaging barman; ignore the warning of ‘Private Party’ and the like as this is designed to deter tourists; five of our seven crawlers happily sat around a table in the small rear room, drinking in not just the beer, my Brass Castle Blue Bell top notch.
Go to smell the history and lick the wallpaper: just lovely.

On 21^st July 2025 - rating: 9
[User has posted 2266 recommendations about 2218 pubs]

Bucking Fastard left this review about The Blue Bell

A wonderful heritage pub and an absolute must visit when in York.Seemingly unspoilt by progress,the front tap room,two stools infront of a corridor bar opening and a quiet back room with a serving hatch are all noteworthy with traditional furniture,etched glass in the doors and features everywhere,it probably hasnt changed in over a century.There are some seats outside on the pavement ,maybe aimed at circuit drinkers who may offend the "no groups" rule which I feel is aimed at hen and stag parties rather than the pubsgalore crawlers. However don't barrel in together ordering halves,we drifted over in dribs and drabs to no complaint.
The ale selection on my trip was Brass Castle Blue Bell House IPA ,Bradfiels Farmers Blonde,Rudgate Ruby Mild (NBSS 3.5),Wold Top Bitter and TT Landlord maybe not the most exciting line up but you come here for the interior and atmosphere of times gone by.Outstanding.

On 20^th July 2025 - rating: 9
[User has posted 2997 recommendations about 2997 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

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 4^th July 2024 - rating: 10
[User has posted 5657 recommendations about 5638 pubs]

View more reviews of The Blue Bell (35)

This pub features in the following crawls:
York city centre by Will Larter
York - interiors of historical interest by Will Larter

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