The Ring of Bells, Bristol

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Blackthorn _ left this review about The Ring of Bells

A pleasant and traditional looking country pub in the heart of the Chew Valley, it’s set in a lovely location just across the road from the village pond and has and an attractive rear garden which overlooks the foot of the Mendip hills located just behind the pub. Unusually for a quiet country pub, some seriously big music acts have played here over the years, including Kylie, Coldplay, Duran Duran and Lily Allen. This isn’t however a music venue by any means, but is as a result of the pub being part owned by the manager of their record company who lives locally.

Internally it’s been opened out a little since my previous visit, with the small bar to the left now forming one room with the front section of the main lounge bar. Décor wise it’s quite traditional, although doesn’t perhaps have quite the cosy charm of some country pubs, although it’s difficult to really pin down why. Perhaps there weren’t enough beams on the ceiling, or maybe it was the fact that the rear part of the lounge bar is quite a large, open space. Or just the fact that it could have done with being a few degrees warmer in there. The front of the pub is perhaps the cosiest, with old flagstones on the floor and a massive stone fireplace, although there is also a table football game in the left hand part. Up a couple of steps to the rear is the larger part of the pub and this had wooden boards on the floor and much exposed stone walling. Dark wood panelling was on the lower part of the walls, and elsewhere lime green plasterwork. A further fireplace was here with a few old armchairs arranged around it, although the log fire seemed to be giving out far more smoke than heat. The walls were liberally plastered with all manner of objects, many with a hunting or fishing theme, and these included both a boar’s and ram’s head, a few fish mounted in glass cases, a fishing rod, pair of guns and numerous other nic nacs.

The menu offered a reasonable selection of pub grub dishes, although these consisted of quite a few steaks and burgers. There was perhaps rather less to choose from if that’s not your thing. I went for the Pie of the Day which on this occasion was chicken, ham and leek and overall this was a pretty good effort. Certainly a very tasty filling, but the pastry was a little on the soggy side.

Beers on tap were Box Golden Bolt and Butcombe, whilst ciders were well represented with Thatcher’s Dry, Thatcher’s Haze and Ashton Press.

On 4^th May 2018 - rating: 7
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