NOTICE: Venues need your support more than ever as they recover following the pandemic.

Please be aware that venues may choose to keep some measures in place for the safety of customers and staff, and that opening hours and services may be different to those displayed here. Before visiting or ordering from any venue, we advise you to check its website or social media, or get in touch with them first to avoid disappointment.

If you see any details here that need updating, please let us know by submitting updates on the pub.

Bell Inn

18 Angel Row
Nottingham
NG1 6HL

View on Map

Social Links

Visit Bell Inn on Facebook
Follow @Bell_Inn on Twitter

Opening Times

Regular

Monday	10.00 am - 11.30 pm
Tuesday	10.00 am - 11.30 pm
Wednesday	10.00 am - 11.30 pm
Thursday	10.00 am - 11.30 pm
Friday	10.00 am - 00.30 am
Saturday	10.00 am - 00.30 am
Sunday	11.00 am - 11.00 pm

Meal Times

10 - 10

About the Pub

One of the oldest pubs in the country, now owned by Greene King. Past landlords names are listed just below ceiling level in the main back bar, where the main range of beers is sold. Two much smaller side rooms also boast their own bar, where a different beer may be available than in the main room. The old well, in the main bar, has been glassed over, and is now part of the serving area. Dogs welcome in two small bar areas

Historic Interest

The Bell is a Grade II listed building (No. 1271441) and is located in Nottingham City Council's Old Market Square Conservation Area. The Bell has an heritage interior rated by CAMRA as being of Some Regional Importance: "This late 15th century pub was re-fronted in c.1820 including 'Bell Inn' in relief letters. Most of the remaining historic fittings are from changes in 1928 situated in the two small rooms on the first floor now called the Belfry and laid out for diners so best to visit at a quiet time. The front room has fielded panelling to picture-frame height, a 1938 Tudor stone arch shaped fireplace with good panelled mantelpiece now painted grey (the bar counter here is modern) and some colourful stained and leaded windows; the rear room more fielded panelling to picture-frame height and it has a good plasterwork ceiling. On the ground floor at the end of a narrow flagged central corridor with bars each side you will find the main bar. It is situated in a 1928 extension, that was also extended back in modern times, and retains some original panelling but most of the fittings are modern. The only old items in the two front bars (one of which was formerly a wine shop) are the colourful stained and leaded windows from 1928. The other notable item to view is the vaulted rock-hewn cellar claimed to date from the 12th century and with rock pillars - guided tours are available so ring the pub for details." https://pubheritage.camra.org.uk) The Bell has an entry on Nottingham City Council's Historic Environment Record (HER) number MNU 425 and the cave cellars are recorded as MNU 9 (and British Geological Survey Ab2). Origins of the Name: Possibly from the De Angelus bell of the Carmelite Friary (cf. location on Angel Row). Equally possible is the area to the north of Angel Row and Market Square being associated with Oldfield's bell founding works (possibly also of monastic origin). In the mid C19 there were three further pubs in the immediate area of Oldfield’s works named the Bell:- on Parliament Street (now Blue Bell); in Pennell’s Yard (Bell Tavern) and in Swan’s Yard (Railway Bell Tavern) (see Nottingham Drinker 117). The former publican William Clarke (1798 - 1856), publican of the Bell Inn and first-class cricketer. He married Mary Chapman, the landlady of the Trent Bridge Inn, and they arranged for the land behind the inn to be made available. He opened the enclosed Trent Bridge cricket ground behind the inn and, from July 1840, it became the main venue for Nottinghamshire matches instead of the Forest racecourse, which was not enclosed. A stand at Trent Bridge has been named after Clarke and the pub bears a green Nottingham Civic Society plaque in his honour. In 1998, a Time Team spin-off, the "History Hunters", investigated the competing claims of the Bell, the Salutation and the Trip to find out which was the earliest pub. The programme concluded that although the Salutation was the oldest building of the three, the Bell was the earlier pub. The town's Alehouse Recognizances for 1756 show the publican to be one George Harrison, surety being provided by cordwainer Edward Hancock and linen draper John Smalley (NFHS Record Series Volume 94). Dedrochronology has dated roof timbers to circa 1430. Sometime before 1271, the Whitefriars (Order of Carmelites) established a friary on what is now Friar Lane with lands that included a guesthouse on the site of what is now the Bell Inn. The building was constructed as a refectory for the monks of the monastery on Beastmarket Hill. It is presumed that it became a secular alehouse in 1539, following the Dissolution of the Monasteries. (https://pubheritage.camra.org.uk) [Nottingham City Council; Castle Ward / Nottingham South Parliamentary Constituency]

Regular cask ales

This pub serves 5 regular beers.

Greene King --varies--
Greene King Abbot
Greene King IPA
Nottingham --other--
Nottingham Extra Pale Ale

Changing cask ales

This pub serves 4 changing beers.

Email this pub to a friend

Features

Real Ale Available
Real Cider Available
Member Discount Scheme
25p pint.
LocAle Accredited
Cask Marque Accredited
Historic Pub Interior
Interior of Some Regional Importance

Facilities

Disabled Access
Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals
Garden
Front enclosed patio area.
Dog Friendly
Front bars only.
Family Friendly
Function Room
Traditional Pub Games
Dominoes, cards, board games.
Live Music
Restaurant Area
Belfry restaurant upstairs.
Separate Bar
Sports TV
Wifi

View on Larger Map

Bell Inn

18 Angel Row
Nottingham
NG1 6HL

Sat Nav Reference

52.953523, -1.151921

Transport

Close to Bus Routes
Close to Railway Station
Close to Metro

Nearby Bus Routes (20m)

Various

Nearby Station (800m)

Nottingham

Nearby Metro (50m)

Old Market Square

Submit Pub Updates to CAMRA

We welcome the help of all users to contribute to this important campaigning project. Please use the form below to submit feedback or updates directly to the CAMRA branch for consideration.

Please note that any changes mentioned WILL NOT have an immediate effect on whatpub.com but will instead be emailed directly to the CAMRA branch Pubs Officer for consideration. If you provide your name and/or email address this information will also be visible to the Pubs Officer, who may use this information to follow up your feedback. IF YOU WISH TO CONTACT THE PUB DIRECT, PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS FORM.