Bell Inn Reviews Summary

Service

Pros:

• "Staff who served us were attentive and helpful, even on a busy Friday evening."
• "Staff helpful and quick."
• "We had a friendly & welcoming server."
• "Staff were amazing, Food was excellent."
• "Staff very friendly as well."
• "Friendly staff despite being so busy."
• "The service we received was exceptional."

Cons:

• "Awful service. Half of the people I was with had to leave because either their orders weren't taken or their food never came."
• "The worst pub experience I’ve had in while - the lanky man behind the main bar has possibly the worst customer skills and attitude I’ve come across in a while."
• "Rude barmaid ignored us several times while we were waiting to be served then served someone else who had only just got to the bar."
• "Not enough staff when busy. One member of staff does not like to move too much and only serves people if they ask if she is serving."
• "Waited ages for service. Had to go and find staff to ask about each course."
• "Rude staff and no Gordon's gin, not that busy but staff standing around then walking off when I walked to the bar."
• "Manager on shift is one of the rudest bar staff members I have had serve me."

Atmosphere & Decor

Pros:

• "Great little pub, with good food, good outdoor area, and great options for drinking."
• "An excellent historical city centre Nottingham pub it's well worth Googling it first the history is amazing they're also known for doing very good food it has a well-disciplined atmosphere definitely a step back through the Mists of time."
• "Contender for best pub in the city."
• "This pub is great, bags of history, everyone's mum and dad used to drink here years ago."
• "Very historic building with good internal decor. Areas and toilets were clean and tidy. Staff were very friendly and drink prices were extremely reasonable."
• "Beautiful wood-panelled interior and a cosy, friendly atmosphere."
• "This is a beautiful historic building."

Cons:

• "Visited this pub for Christmas drinks and was disappointed... The pub was freezing cold, a member of staff tried to put heating on but it didn't work."
• "Good music. Poor attn to decor. Lighting ie chandelier with missing bulbs always and at a strange angle."
• "A traditional pub but rather dark, strange & more of a local's place in some ways, at least at lunchtime."
• "Room very cold and had to have door left open due to fire regulations as told by staff."
• "The main problem is the gents toilet near the front absolutely wreaks of piss."
• "The soap dispenser in the mens was empty on my visit."
• "Toilets were atrocious but maybe because of the foot fall on that particular day."

Food & Drink

Pros:

• "Quaint, oldey worldly town pub, probably built when Pontius was a pilot, lovely menu catering for all tastes, great range of drinks both in bottles and on tap, draught is particularly well kept and tastes as it should, food comes pretty quickly which is good for shoppers in a hurry, it's also great quality, piping hot and very fresh."
• "An excellent pub, as always was busy. The selection of real ales is excellent."
• "The food and drinks were exquisite and the atmosphere pleasant."
• "Me and my Partner both had the Cheese and Bacon Burger and it was amazing."
• "Amazing food at The Bell Inn for their seafood evening."
• "Food was delicious. We got ourselves Chicken Sharer Platter and I got myself Katsu Burger with slim chips and partner got Chicken and Mushroom Pie with spring cabbage and steak cut chips."
• "Good tasty well priced food."

Cons:

• "It was as though once cooked, the food was left under the lights, as it was an unusual length of time to wait for the food."
• "Visited Boxing day around 4pm had a pint of EPA as you can see in the photo it is very hazy /cloudy... There was no offer to change the pint and no offer of redress."
• "Very disappointed with steak and pudding."
• "Drink selection and price very good... but the food itself left a lot to be desired, all main courses very poor quality, none of us finished our full meals."
• "Two portions of 'triple cooked' chips, both not cooked through the first time! Steak sandwich, however, was totally overcooked."
• "Cauliflower cheese was awful!! Over cooked/mess."
• "Unfortunately the food was inedible. £14.50 for a Sunday roast with only carrots and peas for the veg."

Staff & Management

Pros:

• "Customers & staff friendly & welcoming."
• "To the member of staff who sought me out on the market square to bring me my bag that I had left at the Bell Inn, exceptional service!!!"
• "The staff are very knowledgeable on the history of the building."
• "We ate there today around 12,30. 2 couples 60ish. Thank you Michele (name on receipt) A lovely cheerful lady who went above and beyond to ensure we came away happy."
• "Staff were super friendly on our visit and whenever we are in Nottingham we make a point of popping in for a drink."
• "Service throughout our stay was good and attentive in a very busy pub."
• "Found this place by accident when looking for somewhere to have lunch. The staff were fantastic. Meal was really lovely."

Cons:

• "The Greene King label might turn some people off."
• "She needs to learn basic manners and understand it’s unhygienic."
• "The girl with the long red hair needs an attitude adjustment."
• "Rude staff... should be called bell ends after visiting again this week boxing day it's an overpriced over entitled people and the staff can't handle the pressures."
• "Sorry to say but your staff don't smile or make you feel welcome at all."
• "Not enough staff when busy... don't go on St Patrick's it is like a cattle market absolutely rammed."
• "Just witnessed bar staff pouring back into bottle of wine a glass that had been purchased and left the bar... customer said not been touched..not acceptable.. will not purchase wine here again."

Historical Value & Character

Pros:

• "An excellent historical city centre Nottingham pub it's well worth Googling it first the history is amazing they're also known for doing very good food it has a well-disciplined atmosphere definitely a step back through the Mists of time."
• "This pub is great, bags of history, everyone's mum and dad used to drink here years ago."
• "Very historic building with good internal decor. Areas and toilets were clean and tidy. Staff were very friendly and drink prices were extremely reasonable."
• "Steeped in history with a lot of the original architecture still in place."
• "This place is old, full of history, and a lot of fun."
• "It's like walking down a really old alley way and small pubs have been built down the sides, very much old traditional style, guessing pretty old."
• "I love this pub. Located in the middle of Nottingham, it retains its historical charm with a collection of rooms to suit everyone."

Cons:

• "Claims to be Britain's oldest inn."
• "Make sure to explore upstairs as the downstairs area lets itself down with electronic gambling machines and big sports screens which is too juxtaposed with this historic site."
• "The definitive Nottingham city centre boozer. It may not be what you're looking for, but no trip to the Nottingham pub scene is complete without a visit here."
• "An old, old pub but they don't rely on that or play up to it."
• "Quality old fashioned pub of many rooms."
• "The oldest pub in Nottingham (possibly), though Ye Olde Trip disputes that."
• "Very interesting pub, I haven't checked but they claimed that they are one of the oldest in the country?"