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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
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Detail Pages
Old Bell, Harrogate
Harrogate
HG1 2SZ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Steve C left this review about Old Bell
The Old Bell is a large double shop conversion with the Farrah Room lounge to the right and bar to the left. At first I thought they’d spelt Mo’s name wrong, but later in the day I discovered that Farrah’s is a local toffee producer. The eight hand pumps were drawing TT Boltmaker, Rooster’s 30th Anniversary and London Thunder, Kirkstall’s Three Swords, Ilkley’s Mary Jane, Northern Monk’s A Little Faith and Eternal alongside Weston’s Rosie’s Pig Cider. The London Thunder was a decent porter. Premium and craft keg were also available, as was food with the burger coming in at a seemingly very reasonable £8. No television, but the likes of Meatloaf were playing in the background. We were the only customers early on a recent Friday afternoon, but I could see that there would be a good atmosphere when a little busier. I’d revisit if passing.
On 28th July 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5228 recommendations about 5196 pubs]
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Old Bell
Part of an impressive terrace of four-storey buildings, the pub has been extended into a former shop next door to provide a bar and separate lounge. What came as a surprise, though, was how sparsely decorated the former part was. With seven of eight handpumps in use, we found six real ales from the likes of Roosters and Northern Monk (including A Little Faith, £2.29 with Camra discount, half) plus a cider.
On 17th July 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Bucking Fastard left this review about Old Bell
Despite it's pub like name,this is a shop conversion and had two quite sparse rooms on the ground floor and a cocktail bar on the first floor.The servery is in the left room and there was a warm welcome and an attempt to get us crawlers to stay longer offering half price on the first 5 pints pulled from a new keg beer,which was politely declined.Well done to the staff for enquiring whether I was a CAMRA member,I got the discount despite it not being my round ! There was a decent line up of craft keg beers too.
The 6 handpumps were offereing Ilkley Mary Jane,Roosters 30th Anniversary Pale,Kirkstall Three Swords,TT Boltmakers,Northern Monk Eternal (NBSS 4,served in a silly branded half bowl) and Little Faith along with an Olde Rosie cider.The wooden bar had a beautiful double curved frontage and given the decent selection of Yorkshire ales I would recommend a crawl visit if in town.
On 8th July 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Old Bell
This place seemed more like a big old shop than a pub (apparently it was a former restaurant), with large windows and a bit of an empty feel. Judging from earlier reviews some of the fittings have been removed, which probably didn't help. However it was not unpleasant and had a good selection of beers - feeling experimental I went for the Northern Monk Raspeberry Porter which was surprisingly nice albeit served in one of their silly glasses. No problems with service or beer and it is also nice to be asked before paying if you are a CAMRA member to get the discount, rather than spotting a small sign afterwards.
On 25th March 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Old Bell
Market Town Taverns’ fall from grace continues, enough said.
On 28th September 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Old Bell
Called in this 2019 Good Beer Guide bar and foud a decent selection of real ales available. Chose Good Chemistry Time Lapse which was fine.
On 12th August 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Old Bell
Recently refurbished with a slight change to the name, furnishings and a reduced beer range mirroring changes to the Market Town Taverns as owners Okells refurbish the estate. All new staff, seven casks, almost non-existent bottled beer range compared to before and new furniture have made for changes that have been unpopular in some quarters. The removal of the "booths" (actually a couple of movable wooden screens) has caused the most comment. I found a level of table clearing that puts 'spoons to shame on a quiet early week evening with two of the world's less gifted barmen on duty. Beer quality has definitely declined a bit, and the atmosphere is not quite what it was either. The material relating to Bill Clinton's visit has gone too - sic transit gloria mundi indeed.
On 17th May 2017
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Old Bell Tavern
A typical Yorkshire welcome (gruff & to the point), this is a large 2 roomed building of character, nicely fitted out & with large windows to the street. Its almost too big, but has a nice feel. A list of many real ales, very well kept
On 9th November 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
david hammill left this review about Old Bell Tavern
What has happened to what was a fine old pub? Called in
here earlier. Beers - mediocre and overpriced. My wife is a lager drinker - one draft lager available which was unkown and not cheap. No bottled lagers available. We left and went to wetherspoons for some decent beer and lager!
On 4th November 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 96 recommendations about 86 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Old Bell Tavern
This town centre pub opened in 1999 in a former restaurant premises which was built on the site of a 17th Century pub called the Bell Inn. One of two Market Town Tavern's pubs in Harrogate, this is very much their take on a traditional town centre boozer, providing an atmospheric and evocative environment to enjoy some well kept ale. The main bar sees the servery run down the rear right hand side, with a dark wood counter boasting some bold decorative features and a modest bar back which has given birth to a sprawling pump clip collection that also extends across the ceiling. The room is bare boarded with banquettes under the front windows and standard tables and chairs elsewhere, including some small booths down the left hand wall, each separated by a decorative wooden panel. Blackboards detailing food, old framed advertisements and large mirrors cover much of the wall space and there are some images of the original Bell Inn near the entrance, plus a beer board suspended above the servery. To the right is 'Farrah's Room' - a more recent extension which saw the pub expand into the neighbouring property, formerly the home of Farrah's Toffee shop. This room is also bare boarded, with bench and standard seating options under more drink advertisements and again separated by some smart partitioning screens. The star of the show in here is an original shop display unit from the toffee shop which hosts a fine collection of Farrah's memorabilia. There is also a dining room upstairs, but I didn't get round to checking this out.
The usual interesting MTT ale range thankfully applies here, with the options on this visit comprising Taylor Boltmaker, Black Jack Jabberwocky, Salamander Matter, Thwaites Porcelain, Hawkshead Windermere Pale, Black Sheep Resurrection, Okells Spring Rain, Theakston's Bitter and Roosters Azzaca. A cracking line-up and my pint of Jabberwocky was very drinkable.
This is a great little town centre venue that should appeal to a wide range of customers and doubtless does very well from passing trade. I enjoyed my time here and thought the ale range was worthy of a much longer visit than I could afford. Another top Harrogate pub to add to the 'revisit' list.
On 17th June 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]