please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Exquisite, historic pub that reminds me of Holborn's Ye Olde Mitre and Preston's Black Horse. There are two bars and one has to stoop low to the serving hatch to be served at one of them. A half of a Rudgate Ruby Mild went down well as a I lounged comfily. There is a 'no groups' policy wildly emblazoned everywhere and which is a little heavy handed although the place is tiny.
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A re-visit to this little gem of a pub at the start of Fossgate. It’s 6.30 on a Friday evening and the 2 rooms were jam packed there’s even a couple of fellas standing in the hall way between the 2 rooms.
We managed to nab one chair & plotted up right next to the bar. On the small bar there’s 7 ales on, I had a very good pint of Treboom Breweries Hop Britannia @ 5.0%.
Stopped for just over 30 minutes before moving on and allowing someone else to take our space. The Blue Bell really is a gem of a pub and is one that I cannot praise enough, many more visits and reviews of this pub to follow.
Score’s highly from me.
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I had to fit in another visit to the Blue Bell during my visit to York and I managed to do this on Sunday evening. It was packed as always and this time, I forced my way into the front bar. The only drawback is that its popularity v size ratio is too high and it can feel a little uncomfortable. The beer range was Kelham Island Kelham Best, Bradfield Farmers Blonde, Rudgate Ruby Mild, Roosters Britannia, Treboom Hop Britannia & Timothy Taylor Landlord. Cider was Rosie's Pig. The Blue Bell looks so unassuming from the outside. But you just have to pay it a visit.
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This was the last pub that features in the current GBG that I needed to 'tick' in York. Having been too busy for us to stay when we visited a few days earlier I duly returned on a Thursday evening when it was a little quieter.
2 distinct drinking area's, the front room is a small snug while the smoking room to the rear is rather cosy. The snug only has enough seats for about 16 or 17 people and standing room for another half a dozen.
A good choice of ales on the hand pumps with 7 ales available . My pints of Roosters Longhorn @ 4.3% and Rudgate’s Ruby Mild @ 4.4% were both very good.
The fire in its original tiled fireplace was burning in the snug with a grate in front of it.
No hot food served here but they do sell fresh baked bread and home made pork pies.
A reasonable sized crowd in on my visit with lively chatter between the small groups and the 2 bar staff.
I’m glad I managed to get back to the Blue Bell as it’s a very good little pub selling extremely well kept ales.
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In a city with so many historic old pubs, it would be very easy to pass by the Blue Bell. That would be a huge mistake. Warm, friendly atmosphere - very much the feel of a local. Service was efficient and friendly and the Rudgate Ruby Mild was in excellent condition. The interior is a gem: Edwardian that has not been messed about, front bar, smoke room served from a hatch and corridor drinking also served from a hatch. 9/10.
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One of my very favourite pubs anywhere - a trip to York is not complete without a visit to The Blue Bell.
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This was so good on our recent visit to York we went there twice. Like mtaylor we got seats in the backroom into which the beer is served through a hatch. The front room has the full bar. There is a good choice of micros and the Treboom Yorkshire Sparkle was superb.
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First visit in 10 years, inspired by recent CAMRA fuss over admissions policy. Had forgotten how small it was, and was fortunate to visit on a quiet midweek and find a back-room table. Absolutely gorgeous, excellent Landlord (beer) and friendly young service. Surprised and pleased to see modern touches in beer range.
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A classic old style small two roomed pub with friendly staff and clientelle serving decent ales (they had a number of them on but I stuck to the Bradfield Farmers Bitter). Well worth seeking out a proper small pub as they should be.
anonymous - 13 Jan 2013 09:52 |
lovely old pub, probably smallest in york. two rooms witha corridor hatch and drinking area. 4 ales in superb order. must see pub
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Friendly locals pub. Small front room but nothing wrong with that. Browsing through Ouse Boozer, the pint of Landlord went very well.
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Yes, fortunately we did have the wit to look beyond the 'private party' nonsense and found a corking little boozer beyond the rather unwelcoming entrance. Not sure about the rationale behind that but I suppose if it keeps a few extra dullards out of the way then I'm not against it.
The interior was appealing and clear to see why it's National INventory-listed. Beers were brilliant too - trouble is I'm damned if I can remember what I had as the Bell was just one of around 8 pubs sampled in a single evening so consequently separating out my memories 3 days later is proving a little tricky! Oh well, this means it will at least mean this becomes one of TWG's briefer reviews, which I know will please some of my detractors of the 'anti-long-windedness' camp.
Not one of my most helpful and informative reviews but please don't assume this pub isn't worthy - trust in your Good Beer Guide and get yourselves there and I doubt disappointment will follow.
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Absolutely fabulous pub and one never to be missed. Very friendly barmaid; good beer; terrific interior and a great crowd of people (of all ages). One of the best on York and certainly worthy of a place in any Good Beer Guide and National Inventory. Highly recommended
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Just ignore the 'Private Party' signs, they appear every weekend. I think that they are displayed to put off the Hen/Stag parties for which York is well known.
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There are not enough superlative to describe this delightful pub, which is listed in CAMRA�s National Inventory.
No music, just the gentle sound of conversation. One touch of which I particularly approve is the notice requesting patrons not to use mobile �phones in the public bars.
Beers on offer were Timothy Taylor �Landlord�, Bradfield Brewery �Farmer�s Bitter�, �Farmer�s Stout� and �Farmer�s Blonde�, Rooster�s �Yankee�, Rudgate �Ruby Mild� and Ossett �Silver King�. All beers sampled were in the finest of fettle.
I was so impressed that I visited on four occasions over the course of three days, and have no hesitation in giving this absolute treasure a rip-snorting 9/10!
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Superb two bar Victorian pub with a fine range of beers. I was there early evening and the place was mainly full of locals all of whom seemed to be known to the bar staff.
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Excellent spot. Good beer, friendly bar staff. What more could you want?
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As always, well worth a visit for a unique British pub experience. Sadly I was only in York for a couple of days and met the Private Party sign on the door early Friday evening.
Not impressed.
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Excellent traditional boozer. Very small so can get crowded. Well worth a visit.
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Always worth a visit when in York. Good variety of micro brews that rotate frequently and all of which are kept in top shape.
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Excellent little hostelry!..A jewel amongst Yorks pubs
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Update on my Jan. 2009 review. Just a note to say the Private Party sign normally displays on Saturday afternoons so that the manager can ensure large numbers of pub crawlers or anyone looking a bit lairy will be dissuaded from attempting to get in, thus making nuisances of themselves. For the record the Blue Bell remains an excellent little boozer.
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excellent pub although the small size could put you off as not much room to stand in the two bars if all seats are taken, bar staff needed to be wrapped up during the december cold spell but the range of beers made up for the temperature.
lively mix of locals and visitors searching for a good pint, good selection of bottled beers too.
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Tried to vist last weekend, but they seemed to be having a weekend long private party.
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Ignore the Pubmaster signage and fairly bland exterior and enter this pub situated just off the main city centre area.
As you do, you enter a traditional interior which has not been decimated by the breweries or pubcos down the years like so many others.
Its interior is authentic from 1903, a small room at the front hosts seven real ales, mostly from micro breweries, whilst a similar small room at the rear has access to the bar via a serving hatch - perhaps the best however is the small serving hatch facing the bar from the corridor area where a small wall mounted seat affords room for one man, his favoured newspaper and his favoured pint - Fantastic !
This must be how pubs were back in the day, great interior, good atmosphere, great selection of real ale - and a must visit for anyone visiting York with an interest in real pubs and real beer.
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Great little pub, with the emphasis being on little. At least 9 real ales on handpump when I visited last week and plenty of surprise bottled beers. Two differents brands served very nicely. Service could have been cheerier! Not bad prices except the bottled beers. Lovely to see the original insides of this pub kept intact. Will definately visit again when in York. The only downside is that it is so small, not many seats available, however its downside is its upside too if you can get one of those seats!
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If you only have time for one pub in York make it the Bluebell.
Totally delightful,cosy and friendly.Rudgate Ruby Mild has replaced Tetley's mild.Delicious!
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There's nothing I can add that hasn't already been said. A glorious example of a British pub. Outstanding. And so say all of us.
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Enjoyed a beer here last friday night, great character to this place and friendly barman witha sense of humour to add.
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The Blue Bell is a small traditional pub in the centre of York. A blackboard outside describes the pub as an "Award winning real ale pub with a 1903 Edwardian interior". It's a Grade 2 listed building. It's York's smallest pub apparently and, once we step inside, we quickly realise why no groups are allowed.
The front bar seems to be the haunt of regulars and is a small intimate bar with much wood panelling. The walls are decorated with certificates and awards from CAMRA and other consumer organisations. It is also clear that the pub raises a lot of money for various charities.
A corridor on the left leads through to a rear smoke room which is serviced from the main bar via a serving hatch with a glazed glass screen. Unusually, this narrowish corridor has a serving hatch of its own and a small drinking lobby. The smoke room also has dark wood panelling throughout and its walls are decorated with interesting old photographs , including some of Yorkshire County Cricket and York City Football Club teams. This room has round copper topped tables and fixed seating with old bell pushes still in situ. Needless to say, there's no TV's or fruit machines. Period music was being played during my recent early evening visit. The pub is listed in CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.
It's a Pubmaster pub. On my recent visit, 7 real ales were on, including TT Landlord, Deuchars IPA and Black Sheep, which I gather are the regulars. 4 guests were on - Copper Dragon Golden Pippin plus beers from Rooster, Rudgate and Saltaire ( Blackberry Cascade !) The Copper Dragon - � 2.85p - was in good condition.
This is one of York's must visit pubs in my book and you really should try to do this one - but don't turn up mob handed, as you won't be allowed in.
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Excellent little place, linked to the Hairy Fig deli down the road, from where you can make up your own tapas, take back to pub and enjoy with yer pint.
The ticket only business is a ploy to allow the Landlord to keep out the f++kwits
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Ossett Silver King is a welcome regular beer at this pub.
They don't allow groups of people. So if you're in a group, go in two..by two..by two.. by two etc etc.
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First time back in York for over three years last Sunday, made a beeline straight past may other fine pubs to the Blue Bell, desperate to renew acquaintances...only to find it shut for a private ticket-only party.
Not happy.
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Very interesting pub, two rooms with one bar serving both sides. Friendly barmaid serving a selection of local and guest beers ( 6 on our visit). Seemed a tight fit when it got busy. Well worth a visit.
lotus - 22 Mar 2010 18:20 |
Hidden gem of a pub, on the CAMRA National Inventory and in the York Historic Pub Guide. The modest red tiled exterior and Pubmaster sign don't exactly draw you in, but a treat awaits- a side lobby has two etched doors accessing two rooms, a tiny front bar room and a rear 'smoke room'- now akin to a snug, so narrow is it. This room and the lobby both have hatch access to the bar.
The rooms are wood-panelled and traditionally furnished throughout, with the bar room only having enough room for 3 or 4 tables. Traditional pub games are available in this room.
It is apparently York's last surviving intact Edwardian interior.
The Pubmaster sign is a bad portender because these pubs were bought by Punch Taverns, scourge of drinkers everywhere, but happily this pub is now allowed to take part in the Locale scheme which has seen it's previously solid but unchanging beer range improve. Osset Silver King and Golden Salamander complemented the usual Landlord, Black Sheep and Deuchars on my visit.
Salamander in fine form.
This pub has always been a must visit when in York for me and now the beer range means it's even better- not to be missed.
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Can't believe its the first time I have had a drink in this gem of a pub, but I have looked in when visiting York before without buying a drink. Made it to the bar this time and enjoyed Moorhouses Pride of Pendle and Rudgate Ruby Mild. Lovely friendly atmosphere in the front bar.
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Nice enough pub this. Serves a range of ales, which are well served. Food is more snacks than 3 course dinner, but adequate if you want a quick bite with your beer.
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Sneeked in here whilst wifey was shopping in M&S. Walked into the small front bar with its Edwardian interior, dark wood walls, big old fireplace, grandmother clock stopped at 9.39 and flowers on the bar (how sweet).
A few old guys sat around, very relaxing, read my paper.
Beer - 7 real ales were available a good choice too including a dark mild and a lager beer from Harviestoun. I had a pint of Adnams served at a hint below room temperature (possibly the ideal heat) and very good it was too.
The multitasking barmaid/landlady was busy cleaning away as well as being a good hostess.
A good hideaway 7.
anonymous - 16 Oct 2009 10:21 |
Blue Bell pub Fossgate. I went February 2008 and had the best pub meal ever, it was a Spanish all day breakfast. It cost about �3.99 but was tasty and with the fresh basket of bread was very filling. The beer was excellent! We re-visited Feb 2009 and alas no Spanish all day breakfast. Was there a change in landlord????? Can someone please let me know I'm gagging to know?? Cheers!
joeMc - 26 Sep 2009 20:29 |
Still one of my favourite pubs in York, handy for the centre, but it avoids big groups, if only for its size. Tight and friendly bars, I like the back room with the serving hatch, the beers are listed in there. No food, but the gentle hum of conversation makes it a worthwhile place to be. I love it.
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A true English pub.
Cosy and compact bars with a good range of Real Ale.
Lovely pint of Black Sheep.
The staff were very friendly and despite being busy were very attentive.
Great atmosphere and a must for all lovers of Traditional English pubs and good beer.
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2 bar areas but overall the place is tiny. Great range of ales and brilliant staff.
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A very small pub but very traditional with welcoming staff and well kept ales. Worth a visit!
alexw - 25 Aug 2009 19:58 |
Now this is what I call a pub. Two bars accessed via a corridor which itself has a small drinking lobby. The front bar is small and cosy, and was rammed on our visit. Down the corridor, beyond a door with 'Smoke Room' engraved on the glass is a slightly larger bar, with a fireplace. The pub has dark wood panelling throughout.
Seven pumps with an unimaginative selection - I saw Deuchars, Black Sheep and Landlord as well as Tetley Dark Mild. I plumped for two pints of Copper Dragon Golden Pippin which were good though a degree warmer than I would have liked.
This is a marvellous pub though, and an essential place to visit when in York.
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Revisited last night after 25 years. Mrs Pinder has long since gone but the latest hosts are friendly and welcoming as is their superb and unspoiled establishment. My missus and I sat in the front bar and immersed ourselves in the atmosphere and several pints of Copper Dragon! An absolute gem.
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My idea of heaven. Great beer, amazing environment, a proper pub.
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Like having a drink in somebody's living room. I was a complete stranger but there was none of that "you are not a local" atmosphere that you get in some similarly small pubs. A game of Scrabble was in full swing, a lively discussion was taking place on another table, and I was left alone to savour the atmosphere and the very well-kept ales.A gem of a pub.
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Ahh, finally made it into the legendary Blue Bell in January for my birthday and was glad I did, it lives up to its reputation well.
Packed to the rafters on a Saturday evening (no wonder) I only got as far as the small, basic front bar but was lucky enough to bag a table next to the fire!
Plenty of good-natured hubbub from the locals, had a bit of banter with one of the punters, all good fun.
Beer range was good given the size of the place and the quality was excellent.
Only stopped for a couple of halves but fully intend to show my boat race in there again within the next 18 months!
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Did you know that all of the commercial outlets on Fossgate were originally constructed to the specification that their premises be thirteen feet wide? I didn't and my enlightenment didn't come out of any guide book, but instead from the quietly welcoming and authoratitive landlord of this charming, 'proper' boozer. I was also further educated in the appreciation of Osset's ales. Two small bars, both warmed by open fires with at least half a dozen handpumps on the go and one of the most relaxed and congenial atmospheres I've ever come across in a York pub. I can recommend the stilton and blueberry toasties as well. Excellent - one of the few pubs on BITE I award a 9/10 to - still in search of the perfect 10.
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Doesn't look much from the outside, but is an old, small traditional local inside. You have to bend down to order at the hatch in the back room which looks like a 1930's sitting room. Good selection of well kept beers always available. Has a charity do once a year when they close Fossgate and have stalls/seats spread out across the street. Proper pub.
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Great little pub, with the emphasis on little. The two bars are tiny, but this is a really atmospheric old pub, just like pubs should be. The guest beer was Oakleaf Hole Hearted.
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One of York's best pubs, TT Landlord was fantastic. The place is very small but you can be assured of a fine pint served the way it should be. My only wish is that they had a branch location in the USA.
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Really good real ale pub. Several good pulls on at any one time and all are well kept. Can get packed when it's busy, but it's worth a stop in!
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Made to feel very welcome by landlord and woman behind bar. Enjoyed a well kept pint of Titanic Captain Smith's. Very cosy place. I cannot imagine what it's like when very busy as it is so small. Only managed a fleeting visit but definitely intend to return and stay longer. Several hand pumps including Timothy Taylor landlord.
Sign on entrance that says no stag/hen parties, so guaranteed to keep the riff raff out.
Traditional boozer.
Slake - 13 Jun 2008 21:54 |
Best pib in town. great ales well kept. A pub for grown ups. No burberry in site.
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We found this pub recently and visited it on three nights running, it was that good. Don't expect flashing lights and loud music, screaming students or Saturday night scuffels. This is a traditional, quiet drinking house with just two rooms. The kind of place you can go for a quiet drink, or even better, take your dad for a pint, ("I remember when all pubs were like this"). As good a range of beers as you are going to find anywhere in town.
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It's all good. Have been visiting York to drink good beer for nearly thirty years, yet last week was my first visit to the Blue bell. I am disgusted with myself for missing it for so long. The visit was particularly welll punctuated by Dot the fine barmaid.
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Got in before the post 5pm 'rush' -cracking pint of Everards Stout (�2.65)..sat in the back room -very accomodating staff.
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Loved the staff, the patrons, and the Landlord/s (Jim and Sue Hardy). The atmosphere is brilliant. If you want that friendly feeling when you walk into a pub, here it is!
EricD - 23 Dec 2007 08:39 |
Called in here last Saturday as part of a real ale pub crawl. If you enjoy a friendly welcoming boozer serving a wide range of spot on ales then this is the place for you. Smashing time guaranteed.
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A newspaper cutting on the wall describes this as the "most accidentally perfect pub", which is a nice way of putting it. I only "explored" the tiny front bar which had wood floor, walls and ceiling, old fireplace, bench seating, lots of clutter, subdued lighting and crammed with atmosphere. Some 7 hand pulled ales available. A real Gem and by far the most original and charismatic little pub I could find in York.
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Without doubt the best pub in York, a huge achievement given the very stiff competition. Just been voted CAMRA York Pub of The Year for 2007 and richly deserved. Outstanding range of superbly kept - and served - beer, superb unaltered interior and very chatty, warm feeling from the clientele. Rammed full at 8.30pm on the Saturday, but miraculously emptied out a huge group of people all at once to allow us a comfortable couple of pints in the smoke room.
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not bad
cider fizzy but not strongbow ewww
saw a bloke wearing his jumper slung over his back with the arms draping
over and hanging down his chest, said vermin was telling golf jokes while others around table laughed inanely
nice pub mind
we would go back
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Thanks to Stu.search.4.mild for locating this only outlet for mild in York.
A cracking pint of Tetley's MILD. Why oh why do the herd proles drink tastless eurofizz when you can drink MILD (which by the way aint weak) and wake up without a headache and ready for more.
A greta landlord who as Stu says takes no messing from the chavs and lager head proles.
Will be back for more MILD in the BlueBell when next in York.
Remember the motto NO MILD WALK OUT.
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After years of drinking Sam Smiths keg MILD in the Hansom Cab it was a real pleasure to find Tetleys MILD here when we visited at Easter. As far as we know this is the only cask MILD in York. Landlord was very friendly and informative in our quest for MILD.
Mainly well behaved and sociable customers, unreasonable rowdiness was soon quashed, thankfully a landlord who stands for no messing.
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Never been before and how we got served I don't know very busy pub is an understatment, both rooms very full, I know there small how he puts a beer festival on I'm going to have to visit, ended up sitting in the corridor. This pub had 6 yes 6 real ales on Adnams Bitter, John Smiths Cask, Greene Kings Abbot, Timothy Taylors Landlord, Deuchars IPA and Camerons Strongarm Ruby Red, how do they do it. Terrific atmosphere for a pub thats like a Tardis. Next time I visit I will make sure I'm one of the first in, great place.
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Cracking tradional boozer.Always had an excellent pint here,this time it was Abbott Ale.Its a cramped 2 room pub with a side passage to join them.Sat in the back room this time.On the food front,they appear to have gone back to the doorstep sandwiches-which fits in with the pubs image-rather than the tapas etc of a few years ago.
Best to avoid this pub if you're in a large group-as it IS small.My favourite York pub.
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This is a great pub with excellent beers. Beer festivals in the street in the summer were fantastic. Not sure if they still do them.
It's defiantly worth a visit. Full of character. And while your down that way carry on to the Black Swan, a little out of the way, but defiantly worth the walk to another traditional English pub full of history.
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A very intimate two roomed pub in the middle of York. You get the impression of visiting someone's private home. Panelling from the early 1900s. A must visit pub with well kept real ale. I had a nice pint of Jennings Cumberland Ale.
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A York institution. Tiny cramped Edwardian pub - at the weekend you'll probably end up standing in the corridor. Good beer, friendly staff, unique experience. Definitely worth visiting.
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Nice small pub!
Kerei - 18 Jul 2005 14:18 |
Very nice inside decor which features early 20th wood paneling and six real ale pulls to choose from. The staff was helpful, but this pub can get very crowded to say the least and you may have very little elbow room to enjoy your pint. Several locals recommended that we see the pub, not only for its history, but also for the way in which they treat the beer (very nice-lines well cleaned and cared for).
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Visited 11 Jun 05. This is certainly a tiny pub, which should exude charm and friendliness. Unfortunately I have to agree with the review left by Mark Blyth, it was not particularly pleasent. We were left in no doubt that we were largely in the way of both the staff and the locals.
The real ale, we had Moorhouse Blond Witch was in good condition, but surely a pub is more than just a beer dispensing emporium.
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An excellent little pub in the middle of town. I find it very difficult to fault this pub at all, the beers are great, nice hand-pulled range, the staff have alway been friendly, and the traditional setting is really pleasant. On some evenings it can get busy, and you might struggle to find a seat, but otherwise brilliant. Also they have an annual beer festival where they close the road outside, put out tents and seating, and have a BBQ. Great fun had.
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Visited this pub for the first time last weekend and enjoyed it. The beer was very good and the pub was quite atmospheric. It is a very small pub (described in the York Pub Conservation Group's book "Historic Pubs in and around York" as "compact and initimate") and on the Saturday evening that I went it was extremely busy and there was little room to move around. The interior is fantastic and I would recommend that anyone visiting York spends some time here.
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I visited the pub on the 7th February. The beers were well kept (although the selection not very exciting: Adnam's Broadside, Deuchar's, Abbot's and something else I don'y remember). The rear room is a relaxed great place for a chat.
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Probably the most unfriendly pub i've ever come across. Bar man very unpolite, and other 'locals' very intimedating. A woman in the pub known to us as Noddy Holder-a-like was also very rude. Barman then asked us to leave the pub for an undisclosed reason and confiscated our drink (3/4 full). Fair enough if we had actually done anything. After speaking to some local students we heard that this pub is always like this. WHAT A HOLE!!! p.s. I think their chess set is missing a rook!!
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After traveling for two weeks in
search of pubs and perfect pints,
I happened upon this small gem,
run by a couple, divided into a
small front wood-paneled non-smoking room with a fireplace; and a rear smoking room. The bar cleverly served both. Tapas were
offered as fare, and the people were cheery and socialable. One of
the most pleasurable pubs I experienced...
cybervulcha - 23 Dec 2004 02:50 |
Great, great boozer. This place has some fine ales and the interior is what I'd imagine a pub to look like. Snug, public and I think a saloon bar (don't shoot me if I'm wrong about one of those) so all the beery boxes have been ticked me hearties.
I would recommend to anyone, especially visitors to England wanting to know why we have pubs. This is the reason why.
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Traditional small old cosy pub in the center of York.Customers from all walks of life together with the occasional tourist.A CAMRA winner where you can sit and chat with anyone. Best sandwiches made daily with Tapas as an alternative! A jewel of a pub.
John Yates - 5 Nov 2004 12:29 |
