The Bell, Walthamstow, E17

The Bell is a large grand looking corner pub. Once inside there is a large irregular shaped room which is bare boarded,the seating is a mix of leather settees and normal tables and chairs,there is a raised area to the right. There was a very good choice of real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Rudgate Grain Check which was quite a nice drink,the other beers i noted were Rudgate Brew No 15,Acorn Madness and 360 Pacific Pale Ale. The pub was packed on our Saturday afternoon visit with a good mix of customers. Pub visited 21/3/2015

The Bell is a vast, landmark pub on a busy junction in the middle of Walthamstow. You enter through a corner door into a smart, gastro style pub with dark floorboards, neutral paint scheme and modern floral wallpaper. The bulk of the large front section has been filled with standard tables and chairs ideal for diners, whilst a couple of sofas under the front windows offer the chance to relax and enjoy a bit of people watching. The servery runs along the back wall and has a bare brick bar back decorated with a huge mirror in an elaborate gold frame. To the right, a fairly large section of partitioning wall remains, dividing the pub into two distinct sections. This wall also has a chimney and fireplace built into it, although whether the fire is still in use was unclear. Behind is a wedge shaped area with some nice wood panelled walls, muted lighting and a good deal more seating. This area in turn leads out to a garden area, unexplored on this visit. A DJ was stood at one end of the bar on my Friday evening visit playing some fairly obscure tunes at a level that was thankfully quiet enough to still allow for conversation. A long row of handpulls offered Taylor Landlord, Lytham IPA, Sharps Doom Bar, Wharfebank White Goddess, Brains Dark, Mauldons Midsummer Gold, Redemption Trinity and B&T In the Mood. This was supplemented by a fairly standard keg range including Symonds Cider and a limited craft/US bottled beer selection. I tried the Brains Dark which was a bit below par to be honest, which was a shame. This place has clearly had a lot of work put into it to make it into a respectable venue that appeals to a wide range of customers. I'm prepared to accept that I got a bit unlucky with my dubious pint and would suggest this is one of the better pubs in town and a good double header with the nearby Rose and Crown.

On approaching, The Bell takes the whole corner plot and inside, there's no shortage of space, with a variety of seating options. Large windows don't offer a great deal of people-watching round here, but do illuminate the interior effectively. At the bar, 8 pumps offer a varied range including, on my visit, Landlord, 2 from Titanic and Triple fff's Pressed Rat & Warthog, as well as some I was less familiar with. Next to these is a tall font for Meantime Pale Ale and, a little further to the right, 5 taps for the standard lagers and cider. Card-carrying CAMRA members can get themselves a handy 10% discount on the £3.60 price of a pint of ale. Kinderphobes should note that this pub is very popular with local families on a Saturday lunchtime. An enthusiastic local had a high opinion of the food and there was certainly no shortage of diners. A few national newspapers were available and I'm firmly of the opinion that this is always a sign of a confident, quality operation. I'd have been more than happy to linger for a few hours more (and would no doubt do just that quite regularly, if I lived in North-East London).

This is an imposing edifice dominating the corner of a busy road junction, clearly an old Victorian gin palace but now more or less opened out into a single space, albeit with some division due to a fireplace and chimney. Externally the pub name and bell designs feature high up on gables although there is no hanging pub sign as such. Inside the bar is along a back wall, stripped wood counter, exposed brickwork behind, boarded flooring, the main room has some William Morris style wallpaper whereas the slightly raised area to the side, beyond the fireplace has some preserved wood panelling as well as leaded obscure windows above the doors. Seating is mixed, pretty crammed in, mostly at recycled domestic dining tables of varying size suiting groups of varying number but also a couple of small high tables and some sofas and armchairs in a corner. The fireplace mantle and a shelf have a few bits and bobs on top, including various bells, otherwise décor is mainly mirrors and a few brass trays and plates. There is a decent choice of beer in here, eight handpumps, seven operating on Saturday afternoon with one reversed. Tim Taylors Landlord, fff Alton's Pride, Box Steam Derail Ale (£3.60), Hanlon's Port Stout, Titanic Full Steam Ahead, Hop Back Summer Lightning and Black Dog Rhatas. Meantime London Pale Ale appeared to be the highlight of the keg fonts. Food is served, I didn't read a menu as there wasn't one on my table but I saw a couple of blokes tucking into some decent looking home made burgers with proper chunky chips. The pub was busy and buzzing with music playing at a sensible volume, no signs of a TV, however one comment, the pub is clearly very child friendly with loads of young kids and babies in, apparently allowed until 8pm. While they were all in the main well behaved one was dashing about which in a busy pub with people carrying glasses could be a problem. Having said that when mine were little there wasn't really anywhere to go unless it was a warm afternoon and you could sit in the garden so fair's fair I guess. The pub has occasional live jazz and there is a Tuesday quiz. This is a warm and welcoming pub with a great range of ales, I believe it has been transformed from a bit of a dive so congratulations to the current incumbents for that, worth the ten minute walk up from Walthamstow Central and the 357 bus will take you down to the William IV in Leyton for a good double header.