The Old Bell Tavern

Beer selection on tap was very limited. Service was hit and miss. Food was not good, seemed more like reheated frozen stuff.

Yes, it is possible to find a proper pub in central London, one that still has some personality, hasn’t been turned into a tourist central with inflated prices and sub premium service. None of those negatives apply here fortunately. The Old Bell Tavern is one of those proper pubs, just a great boozer. On Fleet St but easy to overlook, it’s a cosy place and serves Doom Bar. Prices are reasonable and I always get served pronto, even when it’s busy which it often is.

This cozy Nicholson’s pub is just a short walk to Blackfriars Tube Station, and is a great place to grab a pint. It’s very traditional and comfortable, with a fairly common beer selection. Excellent pub-​hopping location as there are a few other pubs within a block or so.

Fell into this place during the down pour of rain and being very tired from walking. Great bartenders. I tried their «worlds best fish and chips». I’m not a big fish eater, but I’m open to anything. The breading seemed a little too greasy and was falling off the fish so I just pulled it all off. It was decent. I liked the inside, nice and comforting. I just wish they had a larger selection of beer on tap.

Great atmosphere!
Cozy pub with friendly service & an interesting cast of characters when I was in around brunch time on a Saturday. I didn’t eat, but will next time. Food looked good & they had quite a crowd.
Loved the vibe of this place, good selection on tap as well.

Drinks are average price and the food was good.
I asked to try a light ale and the bartender gave me a taster of the tap all the way on the right (I can’t remember the name!). The beer was a good choice so I ordered a pint and ordered the chicken burger as well. The beer went down a treat and I mist say I was a little tipsy by the time the food came around!
The chicken burger was big. The chicken and bacon actually engulfed the bun that it was in. After a little cutting and stacking of the chicken, I took a bite and the chicken had a nice char-​grilled taste. The bun stayed together the whole time which is ace.
The actual pub is really old and quaint. The staff were very nice and the toilets were clean. All around a great new place for Friday lunch!

A decent little Nicholson’s pub on Fleet Street. Eight casks on hand. The pub offers the three ¹⁄₃ pint purchase offer, making it one of very few pubs in London to do so. Decent prices. Old boozer atmosphere. Worth a visit if you’re drinking in the area.

The portion sizes are good, just a shame you can’t eat it.
We popped in here a few weeks back for lunch, when we went to order food I was told that the kitchen was closed. It might have been good to have told us that before wasting 10 minutes of my life explaining what specials are on; which I could not order.
We thought we’d try again today and to be honest I wish we didn’t bother. I ordered a chicken burger; the chicken either had freezer burn or had been microwaved to death as the emaciated chicken breast had a texture more akin to biltong or the sole of my shoe. I asked for some Tabasco and was presented with some grey liquid in a Tabasco bottle. I’d hate to think how long that had been on the shelf. All in all, a very disappointing experience.
I didn’t bother with the beer, the plan was if the food was good we’d come back for the beer in the evening, needless to say we didn’t go back.

I have to give The Old Bell a raving 5 stars as it was the 3^rd stop on a pub crawl that I organized and we were rushing to try and get some food… at 9:00pm. They weren’t over the moon pleased (given that we were ordering a pie, fish and chips, tasting platter, nachos and chicken skewers… no small order) but they let us in and let us eat. I was shocked that they were okay w/​our huge order so late. The food was AMAZING and the beer was great too. They didn’t hold a grudge (although I think they intentionally put jelly on our nachos as a silent ‘F You’…but I was okay w/​it). and let us stay, drink and eat to our little heart’s content. For this patience, I give them 5 stars.
This pub is great for a Friday night out as it is full of energy and people. It isn’t slammed crowded but there is definitely a «happening» vibe. I highly recommend.

#3 on the Historic Blackfriars ale trail along the famous Fleet Street, down a little and across from the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is Nicholson’s The Old Bell.
Built by Sir Christopher Wren to use when planning his others works of St. Paul’s Cathedral and St. Bride’s Church, according to its website this pub has been licensed for over 300 years!
When I walked into this pub I adored everything about the atmosphere. You can side by the beautiful stain glassed front window, but be aware that it does get very chilly. There is also a big step to get into the pub and another tricky step to get up to the bar. Not too sure if it’s the best for wheelchairs. The restrooms are kind of small, but clean and reliable.
Further seating into the pub is cosy, warm and welcoming. There even is a fireplace going during the winter months, it almost impossible to feel out of place here.
I went by myself to write, the staff were very friendly, the locals were just as nice and I had a wonderful evening drinking Hobgoblin.
As per my other reviews, due to it’s location it doesn’t get that busy unless you contribute to the local work force. Definitely stop by and enjoy what seasonal ales they have, enjoy the comfortable seating and soak the historical feeling they provide.
Great to stay for the whole evening or for a relaxing pint after touring St. Paul’s.

I visited this pub late in the evening on a day when I was probably a bit too cold infested to be out drinking. So many of my impressions are slightly blurred. if you will. I remember getting a table and a nice pint of ale which are very important commodities to me. I remember it being cosy and I also remember having a generally good time here.
Despite its history (the pub has been around for over 300 yearsoriginally built to serve the masons rebuilding St Bride’s after the great fire) the pub didn’t really leave much of an impression on me though and although my drunken haze may well be to blame I don’t feel I can give more than a 3 at this stage. I will have to start the evening here at some point!

Bah mon vieux, voilà un lovely ptit pub, pourtant c’était mal parti aux abord de la City.
Le pub a beau avoir une petite vitrine, on s’étonne de trouver à l’intérieur autant de place, avec autant de coins différents: dans la véranda, au comptoir, au coin du feu, sur la terrasse.
Bonne sélection de ales (la London Pride est à £2,50) et de plats du cru (j’ai pris une petite ‘pie’ pas mal, mais les bonhommes sont forts en saucisses, il y en a une variété impressionnante!).
Attention quand il pleut le vitrail en toiture à l’entrée fuit et il faut slalomer entre les seaux d’eau. So nice, this is London!

One of the olde pubs of London screams the literature dotted around and inside this booze selling property. Owners Nicholson will have you believing this pub has been on the same site for eight million years or something like that. I am not saying that they are over egging this pub, but it is just those of their style. I find them over talked and under hyped. Don’t get me wrong, I am super grateful this alehouses remain fro over 300 years ago, but there is so many I am a bit blasé about them. So why should I visit the Old Bell on Fleet Street?
Well it does an excellent range of real ales, including London Pride at £2.50 currently. There is always guest beers available and a warm, cosy feel. They seem to have sausages as a speciality. Today’s sausage of the day was Pork and chestnut; god knows what tomorrows will be! The wood panelling is a feature of this pub, as is the crooked floors. They make you feel a little more drunk than you already are, but this is one only really to stop in if passing, you’re a real ale fan meeting a friend in the area or you’re a tourist looking for English ale and sausages for food.

This is a small pub, but it’s an absolute gem.
Its roaring fires, stained glass windows, and separate areas (one seating area in the front window, the bar area, more seats at the back, and an overflow into a small courtyard) mean it is great for settling down for an evening.
It can get rammed to the point of being uncomfortable in rush hour (lunch and immediately after the local office workers finish), but before and after then it’s a real pleasure to drink in.
The staff are generally on the ball, the beer is well-​kept and properly served (including the Guinness) and the menu offers good value without breaking the mould.

Very old and rather gorgeous little pub. Small, gets very busy but a real find. Staff a little slow and on occassion I have been given a double instead of a single g&t (!) but a favourite with local workers. Lovely fires and big wide old floorboards. Good choice of beers. Food speciality is a wide range of sausages, incl. vegetarian, which are fab. Wide range of other menu items, all good value. Once the after work trade has gone it is rather a quiter affair where one can sup and chat in front of the fire.