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The Bell, Reigate
Reigate
RH2 7AD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Bell
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
On 30th December 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Bell
Seeing the Greene King sign outside and the narrow frontage, I didn't hold out much hope for this town centre pub. But being one of just 3 Reigate pubs in the current Good Beer Guide, I thought it was still worth a try.
Once inside the entrance door, it is clear that the building stretches back some way. Although it stops abruptly at a corridor leading to the toilets and a secluded rear garden.
A few bar hoggers made reading the 6 pumpclips a little difficult. St Austell Tribute & Timothy Taylor Landlord are the regular beers. Guests yesterday were Surrey Hills Gilt Trip, Black Sheep Best Bitter, By The Horns Stiff Upper Lip & Pilgrim Quench. I soon discovered that all but 1 of the beers were also listed on a blackboard around the corner, opposite where I chose to sit. Quench was the third of the Pilgrim beers I tried whilst in the brewery's home town of Reigate, and was possibly the best of the 3.
My favourite pub of the day in Reigate. A Greene King pub with a good selection of cask ales, with no Greene King beer in sight. What's more to like?!
On 16th June 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Bell
Shut on my Monday lunchtime visit, so may need to be careful of the opening hours
On 18th September 2019
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Bell
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.
On 16th September 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Bell
The building looks as though it has been split in half and the pubs feels like it too, being very long and narrow, with a side bar some way in and a garden area behind. I was very pleasantly surprised to find a range of 6 handpumps with a very interesting selection of beers. Well, 5 plus IPA. The helpful barman actually refused to sell us one as it was on the way out, but provided samples of others which were very drinkable indeed. Cask Marque listed and from this visit, well worth returning to.
On 8th August 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Bell
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.
On 16th March 2016
- rating: 4
[User has posted 5089 recommendations about 5072 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Bell
The Bell is a long and thin Greene King pub that has the feel of a shop conversion, but I was assured that it isn’t. There is some seating by the entrance before the bar that runs down the left hand wall. A quiz machine can be found at the rear of the pub, as can the toilets and a rear exit that leads to a small paved beer garden. I didn’t spot any televisions or live sport advertisements.
The bar is stocked with standard and premium draught products as well as supporting six hand pumps. During my Monday evening visit these were drawing Greene King’s IPA, Old Nutty Hen and Old Golden Hen alongside, Firebird Brewing Company’s No. 79, Hogs Back Brewery’s T.E.A. and Cronx Brewery’s Mad-ass Entire//Chile porter.
I didn’t see any menus, but food is available from midday until 15:00 and 18:00 until 21:00.
I found the service to be polite, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit here again.
On 19th September 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Bell
Strange, narrow bar with an odd arrangement of seating and tables. In addition to the dreaded Greene King IPA, there was Bath Ales Gem which looked a bit hazy but tasted OK. Friendly staff, though.
On 12th May 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]