Address : 18 Angel Row, Nottingham, NG1 6HL
The casual visitor might look at the outside of The Bell and think “that’s a pretty good effort to make it look quite old”. But this is the real thing – regardless of what others may claim, The Bell is the oldest pub in Nottingham, part of which dates back to 1437.
The two compact front bars are the original part of the building, and well worth checking out at quieter times. At the weekends, you’ll have trouble finding a seat, with most customers ending up in the vast sprawling room to the back. Even this gets ridiculously busy at times, but your can’t argue with popularity.
The Bell is a Greene King establishment – but don’t let that put you off. On the bar is a great selection of real ales from local breweries, along with enough craft beers and ciders to give you wind for at least a week.
This really is a true Nottingham institution; look our for the board in the main bar listing its landlords and landladies over the centuries, peer down the barrel to the sandstone cellar caves below, where cock fighting once took place. And be careful when you descend to the toilets in the basement; slippery stairs and low ceilings can cause chaos.
Events? Occasional live music is on offer, but these days The Bell majors as a sports bars showing live games in the main back room.c
Food? A full Greene King menu of pub grub is available, including Sunday lunches and plenty of light bites.
People? The world and his dog gather here. Being bang in the city centre you can expect after work drinkers, shoppers, lively groups and tourists blocking the door as they try to work out where the oldest bar is.
Opinion? We have to say that The Bell has had something of a mixed reputation over the years. Being the oldest pub in town also makes it one of the busiest. But it ticks all the right boxes, especially when it comes to real ale – and that counts for a lot.
Getting here : NCT Green, Orange and Blue lines to Old Market Square/Angel Row, Trent Barton Indigo, i4, Ruschliffe, Cotgrave, Villager and Mainline to Friar Lane (5 minute walk). NET Trams to Old Market Square.
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