The Blue Bell

53 Fossgate, York, YO1 9TF Directions

   Open today 12:00 - 22:30

Business overview

Renowned as the smallest pub in York, The Blue Bell is an historic listed Grade II building with an Edwardian interior. It never has fewer than six real ales on sale alongside a selection of beers, wines and spirits. It serves sandwiches, and has a quiz night every Monday.

Reviews

A proper pub!!!!

4
This pub is so authentic - I mean this in the true sense, not made to look old but genuinely old!! - with very well kept beer (try Timothy Taylor's). The food is minimal but if you want a roast beef sandwich, straight off the joint this is for you.
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Lovely!

5
Cracking little pub, overlooked by many thank goodness. Great beer, great atmosphere, mostly locals. Very reasonable price for a bottle of champagne for you girlies so something for everyone. Small and cosy, but well worth a visit. Just up from the river. Oh I so miss York! Cant wait to move back.
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The Blue Bell

5
On entering The Blue Bell, you will find that it has that warm welcoming feel that any near-perfect pub should have. What makes it a MUST SEE is the fact that it is in the CAMRA national Inventory and has one of the most unspoilt interiors in the city.

The Beer is excellent too - with the rare opportiunity of having Tetley Dark Mild on draught permanently. Other permanents include Caledonian Deuchars IPA and Black Sheep Bitter. Guest ales feature from Adnams, Osset and Moorhouses.

A great little find if you happen upon it and well worth hunting out of you are on a real ale crawl in York
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James F Cullen

5
The perfect pub - looks like its never been refurbished. No music so you can have a quiet conversation as you drink the amazing beers (even mobile phones are banned!)

Not on the main tourist route so the people in there are local types.

Can't recommend it enough
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Small but perfectly formed

4
It's hard not to like this well known little precious commodity that boasts a perfectly preserved original Edwardian front bar - untouched since 1904 they say...

Locals remember the original landlady Edith - sitting like a brooding Miss Haversham ready to scare the unsuspecting half to death and the original ("jewish piano") victorian till has gone now as well.

They pack at least 6 real ales onto the bar itself and serve the back room through a hatch. Excellent tapas completes the offering for those peckish after good beer. Big on the old fundraising front as well, this pub offers all that is good about the british local. Shame it's so small but there again that is its USP.

Long may it continue to thrive...
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