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Detail Pages
The One Bell, Dartford
Crayford
Postal town: Dartford
DA1 4DY
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The One Bell
This is another Crayford pub that hasn't changed much since Roger's visit some seven or so years ago. To the left and right of the room are brick built fireplaces that match the brick built bar counter, and actually give it something of a modern look. There are separate, but connected, rooms at the back, and in one of them Paul Scholes' football shirt has been replaced by a Brazilian national team one apparently signed by some bloke called Pele. Jimmy Bullard's signed England shirt is still quite rightly prominently displayed in the front room though.
Furnishings were fairly traditional, and my group, completely appropriately, sat in a corner in front of a sign that read "Old Gits Corner". There wasn't anything special in the way of ale with just London glory and Courage Best available but nonetheless we thought it a decent enough and fairly traditional pub.
On 27th January 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about One Bell
A purpose built pub dating from 1770, the One Bell sits at the top of the hill opposite the church on what was once a major stage coaching route.
Currently owned by ex-Premiership footballer (and local lad) Jimmy Bullard and managed by his father, the pub has improved enormously since the takeover. For several years it was a rather miserable and run down place with keg beers, cheap burger offers and foul mouthed groups congregated around the bar. The Bullards have managed to bring out the best of the pub’s features and taken care of most of the reasons why I have often walked straight past.
The biggest improvement was the reinstatement of Real Ales with 3 available, Greene King IPA and Harveys Best being the regulars plus a gues beer, Wadworth St George & The Dragon on my latest visit.
The mock Tudor interior is still a bit cramped in places, not helped by some intrusive pillars and wall sections, but a bit more space has been created by removing the pool table and the making the fruit / quiz machines less intrusive than they once were. The small snug to the right behind the bar has been tidied up and is quite cosy and intimate whilst the darts area at the back of the other bar has been retained. There are several strategically placed flat screens with Sky Sports and the beer garden also seems to have undergone a makeover making it quite pleasant.
The cheap promo posters that once littered the walls have been replaced by a series of framed shirts from Bullard’s own collection including his fully signed England shirt from the 4-1 drubbing of Croatia and Alan Shearer’s Newcastle shirt from his last home appearance. Terry, Beckham, Scholes, Drogba and Ferdinand also make appearances.
The pub is far enough away from the shopping area and Greyhound stadium to lose the main footflow whilst the nearby Oakwood football ground (home to VCD Athletic and Erith & Dartford Town) will hardly cause any problems with regard to numbers at the bar. Some of the customer base may still be a bit earthy but visually the place is far more appealing than it was. Footballers aren’t exactly noted for their business acumen but I can only tip my hat to the progress the Bullards have made and, with the ales now flowing, the place is now a regular stop on my occasional Crayford sessions.
On 6th May 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]