The Bell, Reigate

This pleasant pub in the heart of Reigate was destined to be my first new pub visited after the initial UK Covid lockdown ended, but upon arrival, I discovered that they hadn't yet reopened, due to the extremely narrow interior, which made social distancing an impossibility. Returning three years later, everything is now thankfully back to normal, and we were able to enjoy a drink without any such restrictions. The pub is so narrow, that it brings to mind a shop converted micropub, although this place has obviously been a pub for some time and comfortably predates the micropub concept. Inside, you'll find a simple bare boarded room with fancy wallpaper, low wood panelling and the servery along the left-hand wall. The bar has quite a nice wood panelled counter with curved ends, blackboard covered gantry and a traditional bar back with pub mirror centrepiece. Seating includes smart button backed banquettes and regular chairs, all confined to the perimeter. We visited on a warm day and sat out in the well appointed patio garden which has a mix of wooden benches and fixed, upholstered seats, many under large umbrellas. There is a balcony overlooking the garden, which appears to be out of bounds but has apparently hosted live music in the past, with bands playing to the garden below. I was a bit surprised to find no less than six cask ales on the bar, with options comprising Titsey Gresham Hopper, By The Horns Blue Bird, Taylors Landlord, St Austell Tribute, Surrey Hills Collusion and Morland Old Speckled Hen. I took a pint of the Gresham Hopper, which was in decent nick and served by a comically miserable barman, who did at least manage to bid us a cheery farewell as we left. This place probably has the widest ale range in all of Reigate and tends to make the Good Beer Guide as a result, and I quite liked the cosy confines and smart beer garden. The surly service wouldn't necessarily put me off a return visit and whilst I'm not convinced it's Reigate's finest, it should definitely be included on any crawl around town. Date of visit - 3rd September 2023

Shut on my Monday lunchtime visit, so may need to be careful of the opening hours

Official site of The Bell - thebellreigate.co.uk

Official site of The Bell - thebellreigate.co.uk

Rather bizarrely, this Greene King pub had the best ale selection of the day, with GKIPA (of course), They had on Ye Olde Trip, their house ale The Bell, Bermuda Joe's (all GreeneKing of course), plus Dark Star Not Into Yoga, Pilgrim Brewery Quench, and Surrey Hills Greensand IPA. It claims to be the oldest pub in Reigate, which is entirely credible as the exterior has the look of a very old pub. Its very narrow frontage belies the overall size of the pub as it goes back a long way. I quite liked the bow window at the front with fairly small lattice glazing and some bullseye windows among them. The bar counter's along the left hand side of the room, with some tall tables/tall stools facing it on the right. We sat near the front by the window where there were banquettes and standard chairs, and which rather unusually had a large map of Surrey on the ceiling. For a Greene King pub the ale selection was good, and after all it was the only Reigate pub that had on a Pilgrim Brewery beer.

Small long and very narrow GK outlet that looks quite quaint from the outside. Has been subjected to a less than sympathetic makeover within however; snot green, olive green and violet shades. The button-back, u-shaped banquette by the bay window is the main seating feature, along with ye olde mappe of Redhill on the ceiling (Ordnance Survey, apparently). Over-loud music for a late Friday afternoon. Things looked good at the bar with six ales on (Dark Star APA, Hogs Back TEA, GK Abbot & IPA, Pilgrim and GK Cornish Coast) but the lone barman was clearly not cut out for a public facing role. On asking for half he put a pint glass under the tap, I gently pointed out I wanted a half and got a grunt, on the second time of telling I got a grunt with words about it being a half. So were there no half glasses? Any faint apology? No. What a shower. The liquid that came out wasn’t that great either. I saw little to tempt me back, unfortunately.