The Bell & Crown, Canterbury

Pub SignMan left this review about The Bell & Crown

This is a compact, L-shaped pub tucked away down one of the pleasant lanes behind the cathedral. The pub has a traditionally styled interior, bare boarded throughout, with pews and chairs arranged across a shallow but broad front area that extends a little to the right beyond the end of the bar. Meanwhile, low stools serve a series of small tables down the left-hand side of the pub, which extends a short way to the rear of the building. The servery has a rather basic curved tongue and groove counter with a simple bar back and blackboard lined canopy. There are plenty of dark wood timbers criss-crossing whitewashed walls, to give the place a real olde world feel, whilst the décor is a mix of old black and white photos of local scenes, and a few contemporary bits of art – a decent blending of old and new that didn’t feel particularly jarring.
On the bar, handpulls were dispensing Wantsum Coronation Session, Canterbury Ales The Friars and Long Man Best Bitter. A friendly barman offered a warm welcome and poured me a great pint of the Best Bitter, which slipped down nicely, and I was a little loathe to leave after just the one pint, as I would’ve liked to soak up the atmosphere a bit more and try some of their other ales.
I thought this was quite a modest little boozer that seems to be doing a lot of the basics very well. The limited but interesting ale selection from relatively local breweries seemed to help ensure a good quality pint and the service was bright and efficient whilst the pub maintained a warm, welcoming ambiance which encouraged a longer stay. One of the better pubs I visited on a recent trip to Canterbury and one I’d be more than happy to revisit the next time I’m in town.

Date of visit – 30th April 2023

On 29^th November 2023 - rating: 8
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