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Disappointment of the week with Quinno
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The Eight Bells, Alton
Alton
GU34 2DA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Eight Bells
A decent GBG pub, quiet on my mid week visit but it is a little off the main drag.I had a pint of Bowmans Swift One reasonably priced at £3.20.Certainly worth a visit.
On 14th April 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Eight Bells
In 1986 this was Alton's only free house and Egon Ronay recommended. It seems to be more of an Ale House now as there is only very limited food. It's clearly very old and is a long beamed room with another area to the left of the bar.
The five hand pumps had Doom Bore, Bowman's Swift One, Hogs Back Fresh Spring, Flack Manor Flack's Double Drop and Triple fff Alton's Pride. The beer choice was the one thing that put me off this one, five bitters two of which were 4% and three less than 4%. I went for the Fresh Spring (£3.30) which was pleasant enough and in excellent condition. Despite my reservations about the beer choice it's still worth a look and is only a short way off the main drag.
On 4th April 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Eight Bells
Characterful freehouse, untouched since a classic late 60s/70s upmarket refit - ceiling beams, crazy carpet, copper topped tables, brasses, woodchip wallpaper, red fabric stools and banquettes. Items of note included a nice backlit inlaid trophy cabinet and eight little bells hanging from beams in front of the bar. Layout is a long main with a front facing bar along with cosy rear room. Papers available. A GBG entry, there were five pumps dispensing Cotleigh, Triple fff Comfortably Numb, Bowman Swift, Doom Bar, Milk Street Same Again (good nick). A nice laid-back place that is well worth a visit. 7.5
On 23rd February 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Eight Bells
A single long room with a snug off to the back at one end, five handpumps with the products of micros plus Doombar. I thought the beer was a bit average for a GBG listed pub, I had a Bowman Swift One but maybe on an off day. It's a nice pub, quiet, with traditional decor, copper topped tables and a couple of Britannias, a few ceiling beams, bench and stool seating and lots of brassware including some discreet railway memorabilia and some less discreet, there's a cabinet of silverware, for golf I believe, given the golf clubs hanging from the ceiling. CAMRA mags are available in one corner and there are certificates for fund raising for Help for Heroes.
On 29th November 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
I L left this review about The Eight Bells
Still as good as ever since our last visit some years ago and arguably one of the best pubs in Alton.
The Saturday evening we were in there it was pretty busy but we still managed to find a table and seats as someone left when we got in there. There were five ales including two from Bowman. On each of our visits the landlord seemed cheeful enough (noting the comments below) so maybe we were lucky or they were unlucky. definitely a pub to visit just off the main thoroughfare in Alton.
On 10th February 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Eight Bells
This is a 16th century building, the pub part once being much smaller but now expanded along into former cottages and by another small extension to the rear. Black and white beamed ceiling, some exposed brickwork. The main room runs parallel to the street and is a long affair with a fireplace on the end wall. An unusual low seat has been formed inside what would once have been another fireplace. The bar runs along part of the back wall and has railway and engine plates attached. Decor includes further railway related stuff, pots and steins, a yard of ale, various old pictures including some interesting ones of the pub, which was once tied it seems to a Farnham brewery. I was looking at these when the informative landlord came over and explained some of the pub's history. I found the staff to be fine and the lady serving was very friendly and chatty indeed.
Beyond the main room is a later extension with a lower ceiling. There is outdoor seating in the garden to the rear.
Seating of the traditional type at round wooden or copper topped tables, the wood versions had half crowns inset. Next to the bar are a couple of shelves of reference material.
There is a dartboard but one of those with seating beneath.
A decent beer range, five pumps serving Bowman Swift One and Wallops Wood, Goddards Ducks Folly, Ballards Bitter and Doom Bar.
On 29th September 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Eight Bells
Yes, a good pub with a good selection of real ales but unfortunately the staff do not seem very friendly or welcoming and I am sure that in the current situation regarding the latest pub closures this is not going to do them much good.So come on the landlord lets see a bit more of a welcoming attitude.
On 6th August 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about The Eight Bells
Romsey IPA, Bowman Wallops Wood & Swift One, Ringwood Best, Ballard's Best. Carpetted bar, partly divided into front & smaller rear sections, low then very low beamed ceilngs, mix of wood & copper-topped tables, slightly ‘70s retro feel, some banquette seating & stools, dartboard at far end although corner table would need moving. Nice little paved beer garden with light pine picnic sets, some umbrellas, trees & shrubs attractively complement the scene. The stable door allows the pub to be aired in nice weather but prevents the Lancashire Heeler (Toby) from making his escape. There is the story of the local, horrific, murder of ‘Poor Fanny Adams' in 1867 & check out the photo above the real fire ‘Farnham United Breweries, Fine Ales & Stout Drawn from the Wood'. I have a note that this is local Camra poty, but a couple of others I visited on the day would be serious competition.
On 6th July 2008
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve Thorpe left this review about The Eight Bells
Lovely boozer though the landlord could do with smiling now and again. Always a good range of beers
On 30th October 2006
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 130 recommendations about 126 pubs]