great English pub with wide range of ales and ciders.

An attractive old pub in central Nottingham. The Bell’s timeline of landlords - on the wall in the back bar - shows that it was looked after by the Jacksons for over a hundred years, from 1898 to 2002. In the ten years since then, possibly dating from the time that Greene King took over, it’s had four different landlords. At the front there’s a small cosy bar room with a low ceiling and I expected a crepuscular labyrinth of rooms at the back. I was surprised, then, to find that it opens out into a long, light(ish) hunting lodge style hall with wood panelled walls and a well, which can be viewed through a round window on the bar. It’s comfortable, relaxed and quite nice with efficient (if not smiling) service. There are 15 taps, although some of the beers were duplicated, and they serve their own beer (Bell Inn bitter brewed for them by Nottingham) as well as two or three other local ales. (Visited 13 July 2012).