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

Image posted by peter ashworth
Submitted on Wednesday, 10th September 2014
With picture contributions to 27517 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (9 more images)
Detail Pages
Ye Olde Blue Bell, Hull
Hull
HU1 1RQ
Served areas
Reviews of Ye Olde Blue Bell (Average Rating: 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]
View more reviews of Ye Olde Blue Bell (7)
No known official website for this pub.
- Facebook - Ye olde blue bell
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Ye Olde Blue Bell - whatpub.com
- Historic Pub Interiors - pubheritage.camra.org.uk
Barrow Haven, 10.87 miles, 3 hr 29 min walk (show)
New Holland, 12.89 miles, 4 hr 8 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 22 July 2014 by ROB Camra
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 31 August 2014 by ROB Camra
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 22 July 2014 by ROB Camra
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 22 July 2014 by ROB Camra
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 22 July 2014 by ROB Camra
- Car Park : No last updated 22 July 2014 by ROB Camra
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 23 March 2026 by Will Larter
- Darts : Yes last updated 23 March 2026 by Will Larter
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 22 July 2014 by ROB Camra
- Hot Food : No last updated 31 August 2014 by ROB Camra
- Jukebox : No last updated 31 August 2014 by ROB Camra
- Karaoke : No last updated 31 August 2014 by ROB Camra
- Live Music : No last updated 22 July 2014 by ROB Camra
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 22 July 2014 by ROB Camra
- Micropub : No last updated 23 March 2026 by Will Larter
- Pinball : No last updated 31 August 2014 by ROB Camra
- Pool Table : Yes last updated 23 March 2026 by Will Larter
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 22 July 2014 by ROB Camra
- Real Cider : No last updated 22 July 2014 by ROB Camra
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 22 July 2014 by ROB Camra
- WiFi : No last updated 23 March 2026 by Will Larter
