Bell Inn, Sheppertonback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I did the same three pubs as trainman in the previous review. Makes for a pleasant afternoon to visit all three however this is by far the best of the three. Could do it in reverse i suppose !!
The landlord kindly drew me a map to get to the other two. You have to use a footpath over the motorway incidentally. What a nice helpful gent he is and it really is a lovely pub. Note the pipe holder on the wall too, not something you see these days.
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Ignore my prev comment until it is removed, wrong pub, sorry.
Bell Inn was very quiet mid afternoon but enjoyed some Itchen Valley Pure Gold (4.8%) and Archers Crystal Clear (5%), also served Adnams & Courage. Clean carpetted bar area with a few nice framed prints around the walls and a dartboard at one end (although if it were in use it would be inhibit access to the loos), four round umbrella-covered tables out front toward the pavement. Nice enough pub but the value of a specific journey may depend the variety of guest ales. I threw in the Barley Mow & Harrow, and you can make a them a circuit from/to Shepperton stn by using the footbridge over M3 at the end of Old Charlton Rd. Check with Bell before travelling, the lunchtime hours are sometimes restricted.
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Good beer selection, 4 pumps - 2 mainlines plus Summer Lightning and Hogsback TEA when I visited at lunch but, whilst the latter was not quite rejectable it certainly was not in peak condition. They were serving plenty of it but no-one else, incl someone I presumed to be the guv, seemed bothered. The place was quite busy around 13:00 and noticeably a locals place, I liked the bouyant atmosphere and maybe I was unlucky with the beer but that doesn't mean I wasn't disappointed, especially in light of glowing comments attached.
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I've tried to review this pub several times, but always felt I would fail to do it justice.
This is a great local pub with a nice crowd, tucked out of the way but only 5 minutes walk from the High St. I'd lived in Shepperton all my life and didn't go there until I was 28. That's 10 years wasted as far as I'm concerned.
Mike the landlord is a great sort who keeps his beer so well that even the Courage Best tastes good. I can also vouch for the food, much of which is sourced from the local butcher.
They also have a boule court in the garden out at the back with boules available to borrow for those who fancy an outdoor alternative to the darts (or an afternoon of Francophillia).
Pete's right about wanting to keep it a secret, but then it's only fair to share this little gem.
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Right, I'll try again, my first review did not appear.
Great Pub & landlord, knows how to look after beer, keeps the lines clean and beer kept exceptionally well.
Saw darts on the bar so traditional games are catered for.
2 standard beers on from adnams & courage plus 2 guests.
Nice crowd, good atmosphere, glad I looked at the reviews from Oliver & Pete.
Will try the food in the future and post up results later
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I completely agree with Pete below. This is simply the ideal pub. Really friendly and welcoming, exceptional quality beer and food and a lovely beer garden. I had my pre stag do stag do here and they looked after us magnificently. We did a whole barrel of ale and the landlord gave us all a free whisky to say thanks! I can honestly say that it was my pleasure.
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I think this is the best kept secret in Shepperton. Due to its location you'd only go there if you knew of its existence. Old Charlton Road is a no through road and the pub seems to do its trade mainly from the residents of that road or the roads off it. It is only 5 minutes walk from the top of the High street. The inside is cosy and they have an open fire in the winter - beer garden in the summer. The staff and the landlord are very friendy. I have lived nearby for five years and only found out about this from a local resident. They serve food which looks very nice although I haven't tried this yet.
The landlady always has really nice smelling flowers in the bar area - if you like this sort of thing!
I almost feel like keeping this place a secret as it is so good. Good selection of real ales for such a small pub. The landlord is enthusiastic about his beers and asks your opinion while you're standing at the bar. A genuine decent pub - it is a locals local but they are really friendly. Try it out!
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