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Detail Pages
The Old Bell, EC4
EC4
EC4Y 1DH
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Old Bell Tavern
The Old Bell is a Nicholson’s pub at the Blackfriars end of Fleet Street. As you enter, you pass a small flagstone floor room to the left which has a few seats and some excellent coloured glass in the front window. The room was once used for off sales and now acts as a pleasant snug in which you can escape the often cramped bar area beyond. The main room is U shaped, with the servery extending through the middle of the room from the right hand side. In fact, it extends so far into the room, that there is very little space left for seating and customers invariably end up packed in around the bar counter making it very difficult to reach the rear of the room. There is plenty of dark wood, including the servery itself, and the exposed floorboards and etched glass in the windows and doors give it a nice traditional feel. There are a couple of large fireplaces and various old paintings on the walls and my eye was caught by the row of empty beer bottles running along the top of the servery; each bottle decorated with an old pump clip. The pub was originally built to house workers rebuilding the nearby St Brides Church after the Great Fire and framed plans of the church, which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, can be found towards the rear of the pub. However, to better appreciate their work, step out through the back door into the narrow alleyway which affords a fine view of the church itself.
There were a great many turned pump clips in evidence on my recent visit, including Tribute, Doom Bar, Adnams Bitter and an Adnams Jubilee beer. Four remained on though, but the crowds at the front of the pub meant that I was unable to see what two of them were, leaving me a choice of Fullers London Pride and St Austell Nicholson’s Pale Ale (£3.30). I gave the latter a try and thought it was in pretty good shape.
Despite its location, this place still feels like a proper pub (it even has an umbrella share system for regulars) and although it can get very busy it’s worth persevering, especially if you can bag a seat in the snug at the front.
On 18th June 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Blue left this review about The Old Bell Tavern
Fine historic pub, as others have described. The selection of ales, earlier this week being Pride, Tribute, Doombar, Southwold, Reverend James, and Triple fff Moondance, with Old Rosie cider also on pump, could be a tad more adventurous though I guess reflects the balance of their custom. It tends to get quite busy for obvious locational reasons, but I find it has a comfortable feel to it, with friendly and efficient service, and is a good place to come for a pint or two. At £3.30/pint it’s also quite good value for the area. For those wanting to eat, food is from the usual Nicholson’s menu. This pub is certainly worth a visit, and I think is well worth coming back to.
On 29th October 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 271 recommendations about 270 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Old Bell Tavern
A pleasing historic Nicholson's pub built by Sir Christopher Wren for the stonemasons who were rebuilding nearby St Bride's church following the Great Fire. A reproduction of part of the building plans can be found in the main bar room towards the rear. My preferred area however is the small stone flagged front room which has an exceptional stained glass window facing Fleet Street. Seating in here is at leather benches or small stools at circular topped tables. There are framed proposed plans by both Wren and John Evelyn of the rebuilding of the City following the fire. There is also a framed valuation of the building with fixtures and fittings from February 1948, valueing the pub at £11092. You would probably need to find a bit more than that today.
The bar is in the larger rear room, and has two banks of four pumps. You need to check them both out as they are not repeats. My recent visit had Coach House Gunpowder Mild x2, St Austell Tribute, Pride, Doom Bar, Deuchers IPA, Taylor's Landlord plus one not clipped. Plenty of the usual Nicholson's dark wood, a couple of fireplaces, generally traditional seating in here. Of interest was a reprint of the front page of the Daily Mail from 31st December 1940 showing the blitz and St Pauls standing unharmed in the midst of the flames.
In all not a bad spot, especially if you can secure one of the tables in the front room.
On 31st March 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Old Bell Tavern
I was quite excited when I found the entrance to this pub up some steps down a back alley as I thought it may be tucked away enough to escape the tourists and office hoards, but alas it was heaving and when I left I discovered that I went in the back way and the main entrance is actually on Fleet Street. This is a Nicholsons pub so the usual traditional pub food is served and I spotted Pride, Tribute, Doom Bar, Ruby Bell, Deuchars, Adnams and Landlord all available on hand pump. The Guinness was good and the staff seemed to be coping with the rush very well, but they are probably used to it. I didn’t spot any TV distractions, but there was some background music playing that could just about be heard over the chitchat.
I would have no problem returning here, but I’d probably pick a quieter time.
On 8th January 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5229 recommendations about 5197 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Old Bell Tavern
I don’t need to add much to Roger’s review below, as it has remained effectively unchanged since then. Interestingly the entrance at the back in the alleyway used to be the main entrance, as the current Fleet Street entrance just led into the off licence without access to the pub. As part of the Nicholson’s chain one is not going to meet many surprises inside, but the pint I had (Bath Ales Summer Ale I believe) was excellent, and the food menu was the usual Nicholson’s fare. It certainly has an old feel to it, with plenty of dark wood everywhere, and solid flagstones, and with the view of St Bride’s churchyard out of the back window. I prefer the back of the pub, as far away from Fleet St as possible. The seating is comfortable, consisting of standard tables and chairs, and there is an attractive fireplace at the back. I wouldn’t regard it as a “must visit” pub, but I am very happy to drop in for a pint every now and then.
On 22nd July 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Old Bell Tavern
Good bloke Christopher Wren. While his builders and masons were slaving away building his churches, he had the great idea of building them a few pubs to relax in after work. 3 of his pubs remain in the area of which the Old Bell is one. Built in 1670 on the site of a previous pub destroyed in the Fire of London, it has been serving the local workers ever since although the builders eventually gave way to the Press men and today it is the haunt of office workers and tourists. The small area to the left of the entrance was originally the off licence and is probably the pubs best feature. The sun streaming through the stained glass windows is one of the more spectacular pub sights in London. The main bar area is rather cramped, the central bar taking up far too much room and squashing all the punters into a narrow area around the sides of the pub. The pub doesn't actually feel very old, probably the result of various refurbishments over the years and apart from the fireplace, very few original features are apparent. The back of the pub opens up to the courtyard of St Brides Church, a rather tranquil spot in contrast to the hustle and bustle of Fleet Street. Now part of the Nicholsons chain (the pub that is, not the church), the fare includes 3 Real Ales (Landlord, Pride and Young's Best) and the usual pub grub menu at reasonable prices. The pub gets busy very early and seating is limited. Certainly one of the most historic pubs in London and well worth a visit, although some may find the main bar lacking any real character for a pub this old.
On 5th April 2006
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]