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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
The Bell, Aldgate, E1
E1
E1 7EX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Bell
This pub dates from the mid-19th century but was rebuilt at the end of the century, a few yards from the original location, due to the widening of Middlesex Street. It spent some time as the Market Trader from 1997 to 2006, probably because of its proximity to Wentworth Street’s Petticoat Lane Market.
Inside, and it’s quite a simple interior, with the bar to the rear. The floor is modern boarded and there’s some natural wood panelling to about half height, then smoky blue paint up to a ceiling of the same colour. Lighting comers from a couple of crystal chandeliers and Victorian-style sconces, décor arrives in the form of some knickknacks, stuffed animals and framed prints. Furniture is mixed and conventional, with some banquettes and there’s a games room downstairs, with pool, darts and a SEGA Mega Drive (whatever that is). Customers were mixed and harmless, though didn’t appear to be City workers.
There were three unused pumps, then just Landlord at £2.60 a half or £5.00 a pint, so quite a markup though in good condition.
This isn’t a half bad little place, a lot better than neighbouring pubs and bars, with their blowhard City boy lager swillers; worth a punt if in the area.
Rated 6.5.
On 28th April 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Bell
A fair sized corner pub ,wedge shaped in side with not a lot of natural light coming in from outside. Wooden floored with wood panelling, there were a few mounted skulls with horns dotted around the walls here and there , some pubs seem obsessed with this sort of thing.Mixed seating from basic table and chairs to sofas, there was music on in the background at a reasonable level. Four beers were on,Sharps Atlantic,Doom Bar,T.T.Landlord and Purity UBU. I found this a quite decent pub.
On 10th August 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Bell
Wedge-shaped pub with lots of wood panelling, traditional furniture and some quirky decor. Function room above and games room below. Efficient and friendly service. Four real ales on handpump: Doom Bar and Atlantic from Sharp's, Proper Job (£4.15) and Landlord.
On 21st November 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Bell
The Bell consists of a wedge shaped main bar area, a downstairs ‘games room’ and an upstairs function room. I didn’t venture far as I remained in the bar, but I did note that the downstairs area houses pool, darts and table football. The function room is available throughout the week and the entire pub is available for hire at the weekends when I imagine it is closed if not hired out.
The main bar area is wedge shaped with a plasma screen that was showing muted rolling news and there was some low background music playing. The furniture consists of standard tables and chairs and along the window ledges are some board games for bored punters. The bar supports a standard and premium keg selection and the four hand pumps were drawing Harvey’s Best, Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, Sharp’s Doom Bar and St Austell’s Proper Job.
I found the service to be friendly and I would have no problem returning for another beer or two.
On 1st January 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5233 recommendations about 5201 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Bell
This is a Victorian corner pub and sits a little way along Middlesex Street at the Aldgate end, just round the corner from Petticoat Lane street market. It was, until a year or so ago, known as The Market Trader and was a sports orientated blokey pub.
It’s now reverted back to a former name and is now known as the Bell. Haven’t been in since it changed and as I was in the area I thought I would poke my nose in.
Been done up both inside and outside from my memory. The green Victorian exterior tiles remain, but the external woodwork is now painted black, which actually doesn’t make the place that inviting from the outside. But fortunately it gets better when you go in.
A traditional looking interior, with the former dodgy carpet replaced by a wooden floor. The long thin bar is still to the left and the majority of the seating is to the right. Wooden tables and chairs in the centre and then leather seating around the sides. And one tele remains in the shape of a large Plazma on the wall facing the bar area.
Two pumps on the bar , and these were Bombadier and Courage Best, so not the most exciting offering in the world.
But all in all it was a comfortable enough place for a pint. It is usually shut at the weekends but they were advertising that the pub will be open all Weekend during the World Cup.
And although I didn’t explore it, I believe they still have a basement games room which supports Pool and darts as this was advertised in the bar area.
On 6th June 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
jimbo roberts left this review about The Bell
used to be the rough Market Trader Pub, now has new owners and a new lease of life.
Fun place to be with good lunch time food, strong selection of wines and spirits, ales and beers.
Been to a couple of the music nights there, which were really good, with a nice crowd.
Cant wait for the office christmas party upstairs...!
On 12th September 2009
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3 recommendations about 3 pubs]