please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Bell in Fetcham...okay if your looking to go out for a meal in the evening its not a bad bar/resturant, the staff are polite and friendly, its clean and the food is quite nice...but this comes at a price, i personaly dont go to the bell very often, partly because of the prices, a night out in this place could cost you as much as 2 nights out in some other pubs, i wouldnt mind so much if it felt more like a pub but it just dosnt have that feel anymore, i agree with alot of the other comment about this place, i would personally rarther it was still a Hungry hourse, its a nice place to go for a meal and a drink but its not what i call a real pub, and its just too expensive for me to justify going out for the night with friends even if i liked it as a pub a bit more. I'll give this place an 8/10 for food n drink but not as a pub.
p.s Be carefull how you ask for the outside heating to be turned on in this place, the last time i heard someone politly ask for the outside heating to be turned on the landlord got the arse about it to put it mildly.... maybe the electricity costs too much for the amount of beer sold at those prices
|
I couldn't agree more with the last review. The most expensive pub you would probably go in, rude and miserable staff, very poor choice of food and absolutely no atmosphere.
|
Pretentious and up its own arse!
I do like the new style look which was completed but this with the combination of the over priced drink and food in my opinion makes it the most pretentious pub in Surrey, The Black Swan comes a close second but at least you can land your helicopter in the field next to the pub.
I usually go in with a few mates for a beer and a sandwich. The last round of four pints cost £14 and I ordered a BLT sandwich going at a whopping rate of £6.50 they never even had the decency to give me the nice part of the tomato I got both ends of the tomato and at £6.50 the least they could do is garnish with some ready salted crisps. It’s a rip off and I have decided to rather travel a mile up the road to the anchor which has is an old pub with an older crowd and the beer is marginally cheaper but at least you don’t feel as if you are paying off the renovation bill.
The light lunch menu is a real disappointment not a real variety and I am sorry but charging someone £5.50 for two slices of bread and grated cheese with pickle is extortionate even if you are sitting on Linda Barkers latest collection. The mains on the lunch menu although not a bad menu is again way over priced and they keep going up in price.
PS. Any self respecting chef isn’t going to use the ends of the tomato in a BLT so that must say something about the chef they currently have employed there. This is cutting corners to save a few pence and what a price to pay for doing it because you have lost my business.
|
Why would local_person rather have a down market Hungry Horse???
Bell refurb is fab and quality of food and wines is well worth the price
|
I personally have stopped going to the Bell after many years - shame coz it's a 5 min walk from me but the prices are ridiculous! and it's not the place to go for a quiet drink with one friend - there are no small tables - you feel stupid sitting at a huge table for 8 people just two of you! It has become more of a restaurant than a pub ... bring back the old Bell with the cheap drink and huge well priced pub meals - we don't need another restaurant in Fetcham - we need a good old fashioned pub!
|
Ahh the wonderful Bell in Fetcham.....hmmmm..
Well I have lived here for 15 years now and seen many changes good and bad. It used to be a classic "spit 'n' sawdust" pub with a public and saloon bar, pinball table, darts, fruit machine, warm beer etc etc and to be honest I actually liked that but times moved on and several transitions later (remember the Hungry Horse with its frozen food!...ahhhh...) its now more akin to a swanky wine bar in Kings Road.....and guess what...the prices match! If you buy two drinks, don't expect much change from a £10 note, one type of lager is £4.10 for a pint and a white wine spritzer is circa £5. No kids are allowed after 9pm, miserabvle gits, theres no real garden anymore to speak of as its been sacrificed for the restaurant, but you can sit outside and inhale the carbon monoxide from the road while sitting on expensive garden furniture...nice. The current landlord is not at all friendly or chatty, prefering to moan at you if you haven't drunk up at 11.01pm
The food has improved which is one bonus but the prices reflect this.
I can't help but feel that Youngs have simply seen a one pub village in an affluent area and set prices to match. I for one will not be visiting this pub very often which is a real shame as its 5 mins from my door. Take my advice, go to the Anchor in Bookham.
|
On arrival the ID Police were out in force, but once past this, the cold beers were served alongside an excellent cajun tomato soup and home made bread.
The surroundings are comfortable, spacious and the staff friendly.
Lacks a certain pub feel, more restaurant than pub, but has a large heated smoking area outside and plenty of outdoor seating. Several sofas inside plus a restaurant area.
Two pints of lager; Kronenbourg and Peroni came to about £7.50.
Also, the toilets are in a class of their own - very clean - refreshing for a pub toilet.
Overall this is an excellent place to visit for a few pints and a bite to eat.
cb2k4 - 27 Jan 2008 17:25 |
Have visited The Bell before and after it's most recent refurb. Looks clean, tidy and welcoming with additional feature of a timber covered heated area outside for smokers. The only downside is the price of the drinks. £3.40 a pint and the menu hasn't been updated since the last landlady left so I was hoping for a bit more imagination from the Chef....change of hands change of menu. It's OK but could take a few tips from another Youngs Pub, the Hand & Spear at Weybridge....great place to visit instead.
|
What a difference!! Youngs seem to have got it right at last.Great refurb,friendly new staff and a manager that you can talk to.Keep up the good work
|
Terrible management, actually have no idea about customer service. Meal was so bad (late, partially frozen, missing) it provided genuine entertainment. Offer of another meal there quite laughable.
This pub used to be good when they did an excellent quiz & didn't aspire to some ridiculous pretentions.
Rather foolish of them to stop showing sports too - they miss out on loads of business.
All this, with over-priced drinks aswell, makes this place perfectly avoidable.
|
The drinks are sooooo expensive! It is the only pub in Fetcham though so they can get away with it. I preferred it when it was a hungry horse pub - the meals were enormous - loads of veg! I went there the other Sunday - the hock of pork was good but the roast beef my friend had just wasn't enough - hardly any meat. Hate the wooden floor - just not a warm pub anymore - really cold and those high tables and stools - this is Fetcham not London! We don't want a young, trendy pub. What happened to all the small tables at a normal level where you didn't have to climb onto the chairs?
|
Overpriced Drinks! You are only a Youngs pub, but can take the p*** as you are the only pub in the area and can charge what you like for drinks.
|
The new managers have indeed revamped this pub. I have been visiting it for many years and I like many others was annoyed when it became a youngs pub. Although I did continue to drink here I did often question why. The food was awful and some members of staff were not welcoming, however sarah and richard have made a considerable changes to it. The food is of a good quality and the pub is noticable cleaner. Although there choice in management is not much to be desired. Both are rude, poorly presented and obnoxious, so if you do happen to visit this pub try the food as it is exsquisit however stay away from the shify looking males behind the bar as they will only make your stay there uncomfortable and you will wish you had not embarked on a conversation with either of them .
anonymous - 28 Oct 2006 00:32 |
I visited this pub by accident and was delighted by the warm welcome I received from the landlords, Sarah and Richard. They told me that they had recently taken ove the pub and thye would be revamping the menu. I had a meal from the specials list, a new idea from Sarah, and it was delicious. The beef stroganoff was delicious and the portions were excellent. The service was friendly and efficient. This is a pub I will be returning to, especially wiht the new menu starting in October. Well worth a visit.
|
This pub had really improved as a result of its revamp a couple of years ago but following frequent staffing changes it has really gone downhill in the last few months.
The drinks are have always been expensive but the recent meals I have eaten there have been very substandard whilst remaining pricey.
I think the Bell/Youngs are very well aware that they are the only pub in Fetcham and therefore feel they don't need to fight for their trade.
They claim to be child friendly but have no obvious children's menu (you have to ask for it)and the kids' meals they serve are small, unimaginative and have no vegetables of any kind! They also made us feel that our children were unwelcome and a nuisance.
On an adult only visit staff commenced stacking outdoor chairs inside the pub around us at about 10 o'clock! I think they wanted to get off early! It used to be packed but seems very quiet in comparison now, word travels fast in a village.
It is very sad to see the demise of the only village pub but they will have to improve considerably before I consider visiting again.
|
this is such an improvement .. went to Hungry horse to eat twice ..got food poisoning twice .. the new bell has good food and friendly service and a smashing pint of Youngs bitter - thumbs up
anonymous - 8 Nov 2005 20:47 |
The only pub in Fetcham and it's rubbish.
Recently refurbished but it's still the same old cr@p.
Some advice if you go there, you may need to take out a loan because the prices are steep.
Head to Bookham instead, some top notch pubs there.
anonymous - 16 Sep 2005 14:53 |
This is our local but we don't go there much since the makeover. OK it was a bit grimey when it was a Hungry Horse, but you could yet a decent meal and pint at a decent price. Youngs have done a nice job on the decor but you pay for it in the prices. The food menu is uninspiring and hasn't changed since Youngs took over. At these prices you could go to a good restaurant. Shame cos its about time Fetcham had a decent pub.
|
Isn't it amazing what a bit of TLC and a few pounds can do. When I last visited this pub in October 2003 is was a right ropey old dive.
Re-visited last night, and what a difference! This is what a village pub in Surrey should be like. Well done to whoever's responsible.
One piece of advice though, pubs don't have to be pitch black to create a homely atmosphere. A touch more light please! Only a small gripe, though. Recommended.
|
Well, looks like I'm the first person to comment on this pub now it's under Youngs ownership.
It's about a mile and a half from Leatherhead Station - cut through the fields past Fetcham pond to get there
I had never previously visited this pub, so I have nothing to compare it with, but it's very food and wine orientated and is clearly not interested in catering for the local beer - swilling fraternity.
It has that modern contemporary feel that Youngs like nowadays ( pastel colours, wooden floors, rugs, arty - farty pictures etc ) which traditionalists abhor.
There is no TV any more, so if previous contributor Ray wants to watch the footie in here, he is going to be unlucky.
The place seems clean and well run and the staff were reasonably friendly on my visit. Beer was ok. The problem is that the place lacks any pubby feel or atmosphere whatsoever and because of this, it can't see myself visiting again
|
The Bell in Fetcham has recently been take over by youngs and co plc. Please write in and let us know what you think
anonymous - 16 Jan 2005 16:25 |
The best pint of beer within a 20 mile radius - Greene King's Abbott Ale, served to perfection.
The stench of smoke is, however, almost overwhelming, but it's possible to almost escape being fumigated in the Family area.
The Hungry Horse meals are adequate in quality but Herculean in quantity. Try the excellent Sunday Roast.
I'm off there now to watch England beat Turkey on the big screen.
Cheers,
Ray 11/10/03
Ray - 11 Oct 2003 13:48 |
Once a filthy dive, now a decent family place, part of a chain, with OK meals. Amazingly, it's still the only pub in Fetcham.
|
