The Bell stocks seven permanent cask ales - Abbey Bellringer, Butcombe Bitter, Bath Gem, Hopback Summer Lightning, Otter Ale, RCH PItchfork & Stonehenge Danish Dynamite - plus two rotating guests, mainly from West Country breweries.

A very nice, dynamic pub in central Bath. Stopped in here on a Saturday evening in early March, 2013 just as a band was getting ready to start playing. The venue itself is nice with a decent (though not extensive) range of ales, plenty of seating, lots of beery ephemera, and good tea. The missus and I spent about 30 to 45 minutes in here listening to the band - which was a fine bluesy/ roots rock outfit - and enjoying our respective beverages (beer for me, tea for her). This place really works as a real ale house and music venue. Highly recommended.

Update - December 2012. Reported in November 2012 that the pub is up for sale. In early Deecember 2012 a meeting took place to consider the possibility of a community buyout. Watch this space.

Review based on a visit in 2006. Walcot Street is the centre of bohemian Bath and the Bell is at the heart of Walcot Street. A wide cross section of humanity passes through this place and a lot of them stay for a while, so its invariably pretty crowded. Best bet is to get there early and find a spot to sit while you work your way through the 12 beers on handpump (although only about five of them change on a daily basis). Most of the beers are from local microbreweries. There’s a big beer garden out back in what used to be the coach yard when it was a coaching inn. Its a venerable building with several rooms, although its really more about the atmosphere than the architecture. The only food available is nibbles and vegetarian sandwiches. Eclectic live music on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday afternoon, plus open mic night on Thursday. Wi-fi internet access and onsite launderette (that’s a first for me). A visit to Bath isn’t complete without hitting the Bell.

Good beer list with a couple rotating handles. I like the vibe in here. They have bands play, the patronage is mixed and the place feels like fun. Sadly, the beers don’t seem to be kept all that well - two visits and we barely found anything in good condition.

Quite liked the atmosphere of this place. Music ranged from old hiphop to flower child music. The vibe is relaxed and pleasantly flower child, and had a decent beer selection.

On my visit it was quite quiet, just a few stragglers at the bar, it had a run down feel but nothing bad about that, it seemed to be how they wanted it to be, a little old hippy with a bit of hoppy too. The beer was borderline, but I may have chosen a bad day. I’d go back.

Just for the history alone this place is a must visit. The locals get excited about vertical still-age Bass and it was in awful shape. I glad I only had two half pints and saw the place.

Only stayed for one pint, but wish we could have stayed longer, as there were several cask ales available. The atmosphere was cool a little run down, but with loads of character. Probably about a five minute walk from the main drag. Cheerful service.

A good pub to visit in the Walcot area of Bath. A solid range of west country beers are on offer and the service is efficient and friendly. A must for any Bath pub crawl.

One of the three places you must visit Bath. It will take just a little walk from centre but the beers from local breweries make its worth of it (10.6.2006).