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Picture of The Bell
Image posted by john mcgraw
Submitted on Sunday, 30th October 2011
With picture contributions to 21062 other pubs
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The Bell, Tadworth

Withybed Corner
Walton-on-the Hill
Postal town: Tadworth
KT20 7UJ
Correct details

Served areas

Reviews of The Bell (Average Rating: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Bell

This pub is signposted from the road, but still requires a fairly long trudge down a muddy, pot-holed, unsealed road to actually reach the place. It’s worth the effort though, as you’re rewarded with a very pleasant, two-bar local’s pub, which was doing a roaring trade on our late Sunday afternoon visit. The two bar set up sees a parquet floored public bar occupy the right-hand side of the pub and a carpeted lounge bar through to the left. The public bar has a few tables and chairs to the front, some low stools in front of a low brick fireplace on the right-hand wall, which was thankfully lit on a cold February afternoon, and some comfier armchairs and leather sofas in a wider space beyond the end of the bar at the back of the room. The bar has very nice panelled counter with an attractive gantry and dark wood bar back. The walls have lincrusta covering the first four-fifths, with plain painted upper sections. There’s plenty of traditional décor throughout, including various mirrors, paintings (including a notable collection of the ‘dogs playing pool’ variety), old photos, horse brasses along the ceiling lintel, old lampstands, trophies, earthenware, a ship in a bottle and high shelves full of copperware. There is also a dartboard on the back wall, albeit in a closed cabinet, a lit stove that helped make the room feel a bit cosier, and a large TV screen was showing live Six Nations rugby to a small but appreciative crowd. The left-hand room has a similar servery down the right side and plenty of comfy banquette seating around the rest of the perimeter, with regular chairs in support. Décor is also similar to that in the public bar, but the room was so busy, I was unable to have a good look around and take it all in. The pub is dog friendly and seemed very popular with dog walkers, including one whose mutt left a mosaic of incredibly muddy paw prints across the otherwise lovely parquet floor.
There are three handpulls on the bar, but only two were being used, offering a choice of Fullers London Pride and Brakspear Bitter. After waiting a good while for someone to acknowledge us, we were eventually served by the friendly landlord, who dished up a fine pint of the Brakspear, which was enjoyed whilst thawing out in front of one of the fires. The lounge bar may have been particularly popular because of the free food that had been laid out on the bar counter on that side – the closest thing you’ll get to a meal here.
This is a really nice pub with a good, warm atmosphere, two well-appointed bars and some well-kept ale. The rather uninspiring choices of cask beer are probably the only thing that prevents this from being a bit of a destination pub, but there’s a nice bit of drama to be had in trying to find the place, and a very pleasant, traditional pub experience to reward the effort.

On 21st February 2022 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Nick Davies left this review about The Bell

The Rat, as everyone calls it including itself truly is a hidden gem. Little can have changed here in at least 50 years if not since before the war. It's a small, two bar pub a few hundred yards done a rough track from the sign on the main road in a strangely modest building. Inside the best room is on the left, open fire and a few comfy chairs, bar on the right with telly, darts and bar billiards. There's strong racing connections reflected in the decorations and bric a brac, its proximity to Epsom racecourse and the landlord being an enthusiast.

The beer is good, Youngs ordinary and Pride and a couple of guests, Hyde's Head and Tails when we called and in top form it was too. If you want food you might get a sandwich if you're there at the right time but that isn't what it's all about.

The Rat is a must visit pub, well worth a trip out

One word of warming, the unsurfaced lane up to it is in a dreadful state thanks to the frost and snow. Take great care with the massive potholes after dark, or park on the main road, or use the firm's car, or your brother in law's.

On 7th February 2010 - rating: 10
[User has posted 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Malden man left this review about The Bell

Stopped by while walking across Walton and Banstead Heaths. A little isolated down an unpaved lane, helping to give that country feel, The Bell retains the traditional two room layout with a central bar. A welcome from the cheery landlord, proper fires, though not burning on a mild day, horsey pictures and theme, toilets are Colts and Fillies....a bit naff....brasses, duelling pistols, books, mainly reference on a shelf. Darts in the vault/saloon. Dog friendly too, and a sign states walkers welcome so no snootiness here either, this is no "gastro" joint, in fact no sign of food at all.
The beer mats around the bar suggest a good guest policy but I reckon I was rather unlucky today, Pride, Youngs Bitter and GK IPA. The blackboard said the guest was Robinson's Wags to Witches, but not on the afternoon in question sadly. The Pride was a bit cold. I liked the pub and its ambience but only a 6 for now, a less mainstream choice would have gained a higher mark.

On 25th October 2009 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]

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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Nick Davies
Tadworth, 0.46 miles, 8 min walk (show)
Tattenham Corner, 1.81 miles, 34 min walk (show)
Kingswood, 1.9 miles, 36 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The Bell, Walton-on-the Hill
21st Feb 2022, 17:35
Review submitted by Pub SignMan
 
30th Oct 2011, 15:44
Picture submitted by john mcgraw approved

Pub Details

Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.

  • Accommodation : No last updated 21 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • Bar Billiards : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Beer Garden : Yes last updated 21 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • CAMRA Discount : No last updated 22 July 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Car Park : Yes last updated 22 July 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Darts : Yes last updated 22 July 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 22 July 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Function Room : No last updated 21 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • Hot Food : No last updated 22 July 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Jukebox : No last updated 21 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • Karaoke : No last updated 21 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • Live Music : Yes last updated 22 July 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Micropub : No last updated 08 February 2021 by Tris C
  • Pinball : No last updated 21 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • Pool Table : No last updated 21 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • Quiz Night : Yes last updated 22 July 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 22 July 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Real Cider : No last updated 21 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
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