Bell Inn in Aylesbury Vale

I had not been in the Bell since a Black tie New Year’s Eve party in 1970, when it boasted the finest wine cellar in Europe, owned by Gerard Manley Harris. Today’s Bell is somewhat tired by comparison, but the fire in the lounge was welcoming. This was an overnight stay to attend a 100th birthday party four miles away. The bedroom was fine, well appointed and an excellent shower. At breakfast I ordered Eggs Royale, which came with ham and not salmon, but I was in a rush, so I did nothing about it.

The excellent food was really delicious. Best burgers ever. Smiley and friendly waitress Amelia served us. Fantastic!

Stopped off for a spontaneous lunch. The service was quick, but not particularly friendly. The food was average, and the fries were like cardboard.

Waiting and bar staff all smart and courteous. Delicious starters (SO had two!) and burger and quite fabulous Cheesecake Trio dessert. Pity the only vegan dessert option was uninspiring (sorbet), seeming more an addition to tick a box than another attractive option that just happened also to be vegan.

This place was great, delicious food and great service, Owen was amazing, so helpful and kind, explaining the gluten free menu to my friend, a lovely young man

Booked for one night and a dinner reservation at the Bell Inn with my wife. We had a very large room with two single bed. The lighting in the room was not very good and only one uncomfortable chair two sit on. The bathroom was very modern and clean with a great rain shower. The restaurant in the eveving was quite which is just what we like. The service started very good but declined towards the end of the meal. At one point we sat after finishing our main to be left staring at dirty plates for some time. All this while a waitress cleared the empty table next to us. Oue desert order was then taken by a different waitress who i also asked fot the bill. Thie bill came came quickly by our original waitress. She did seem miffed when i gave no tip. If she reads this she will now know the reason.

We visited for my birthday. The restaurant was very well attended. Our waiter was excellent, very polite and knowledgeable. The food was excellent and very well presented. A good dining experience.

Brought friends for a Saturday evening meal as we’ve always had an excellent experience previously. Our friends were super impressed. Great service, delicious food and all left very happy. Thank you for another great evening.

Really lovely location, the food was great and the service was great. I’ve been several times now and am really impressed, would totally recommend it.

Stayed with my other half and my son last weekend in room 8 (family room) we were blown away by the size of our room. The decor was lovely, rooms clean, beds comfortable, bathroom spotless. Check in was smooth and the gent (sorry I didn't get your name) was fab. We had breakfast at The Bell each morning and cannot thank Tracie enough, very friendly and had loads of information about the area breakfast was delicious. Had dinner on Sunday night and it was amazing, the roast selection is good and very tasty. All in all a lovely weekend away definitely made better by the fab hotel and pub. We will stay there again in the future!

From Jackie the manager to the bar staff and not forgetting the breakfast gem Tracy, this place can’t be beaten on quality. Rooms are comfy and spacious Food menu is great and plenty of options at a fair price. Breakfast is served with a smile and nothing is to much hassle , big shout out to Tracy for this. Check in and out is swift and easy.

Another lovely meal at the bell again. Great food, steak for me, duck salad for the other. Always good service here, thanks to Andrew, Sophie and Elizabeth. The bell never disappoints. Tribute boy

I believe this place has been recently refurbished and it is a great vibe. The food was absolutely amazing. First night I had mushroom starter, burger and brownie all brilliant. B&b breakfast of scrambled egg on sourdough was amazing although I'd ask for butter on my bread next time. Second dinner I had the chicken pie and it was to die for. Service was friendly. The only downside of staying there was every single floor board creaked quite loudly and it woke my 3 month old every time I moved to put her down in the cot

Nice to see the character and features of The Bell haven’t been lost. The layout was good and the tables well spaced out, there was a good atmosphere and an interesting new menu. The squid in a tempura batter was excellent and my fishcakes were very good as were the chips and pea puree. I’m not sure where the chocolate brownie was with my chocolate bomb. It was all chocolate shell with not much filling or ice cream. The welcome could have been better but it was a busy evening but overall, the service was good.

After a busy weekend we thought we would treat ourselves to a lunch at the bell. Once again the food (crispy duck salad x2) was excellent,and the service from Jodie and Matt great as always. The Bell never fails.Many thanks from Tribute Boy

Another lovely meal after second lockdown. The rump steak I had was succulent and tasty. My wife had the crispy duck salad which was perfect. Thanks to Jodie Matt and Simon. The Bell never disappoints Many thanks Guinness Phil

This was our first evening out for months and all went really well from start to finish. The greeting, service, food and atmosphere were superb. Aisha looked after us very cheerfully. My wife and I, both in our 70s, felt completely safe throughout.

Another lovely lunch at the bell.A really succulent steak for myself and wife had the roast chicken which she thoroughly enjoyed.Thanks to Mark and Aisha for great service

We had been travelling on holiday for two weeks and we stopped in the village near Heathrow The pork with scallops was the best main meal I had on holiday Service was also excellent

We have been to the Bell numerous times and had some good food.This evening meal was really very good. I had a prawn and lobster starter, which was excellent - plenty of prawns and a surprising amount of lobster flakes too.Sea bass perfectly cooked for main course, decent sized fillets too with some well cooked vegetables. In fact, everyone in our party lived their main courses.The let down was the desert. Cheesecake with a sauce isn’t anything different to the rest; our other deserts weren’t anything special either which was a shame. Hence the 4 stars, not 5.Service was excellent.

Easy to book a table and request an area to take the dogs, friendly welcome, quick service with delicious food! Was a great meal out and will definitely be back again soon

We have been to lunch here before and were somewhat underwhelmed but thought we would try it again. It was reasonably busy in the main restaurant and although we had booked we were put in a cold room adjacent. The service was poor, in fact we felt we were a bit of a nuisance. Our gammon was tough and we took much of it home for the dog. The chips were not to our liking. In short it was a huge disappointment. We will give this pub a miss to see if it improves.

Went down there for mothers day with Family. Even before we could take a seat we were told about few items missing from the menu. It was Mother’s day and they were busy but they should have anticipated that. Anyway ordered our starters which was okayish. Mains were not great either, mushy peas were more puréed baby food, Was not given an option oh how the lamb was cooked, my other half found it very chewy. Again in Desserts they had run out of vanilla ice cream!! So most of the desert was served with either strawberry or pralines ice cream. But overall the desserts were much better thant the mains or starters. Will not be going there for a very long time.

The Bell Inn is a lovely old building, with lots of different rooms in which to eat; some have inglenook fireplaces and others are more modern. There is a massive free car park opposite and pretty gardens.Food is consistently good and the waiting staff are efficient and friendly.Lovely place to visit and would recommend it to anyone looking for a varied menu, good food and a lovely atmosphere.

We moved to Tring in August and were recommended the Bell Inn by my son. There is plenty of ample parking and we we were welcomed by friendly staff. The food was absolutely delicious and well presented. There is a lovely ambience and the whole place is warm and welcoming. Will be back.

We last went to the Bell many years ago when it had different owners and it was excellent, quite upmarket. Unfortunately on this visit the food was only just warm, my chicken was overcooked, the potatoes, carrots and cabbage tasted like they had been reheated. I did mention to our lovely server when she asked if everything was alright that the food was not hot, but as we had waited quite a while for our meal, I didn't want to send it back and have another long wait. My husband commented that his chips were hot, but didn't taste very nice, quite stodgy. The dessert was tasty, but again, not hot.The staff were very nice, so it was a pity the food let the Bell down. We often visit Mill & Carter restaurants, but the food here was very disappointing.

This is the second time we have visited in the last few months after years of absence. We had a tight schedule so opted to go straight to the mains, my partner ordering the roasted pork belly with scallops, I had the battered line caught cod .Both dishes arrived promptly and we thoroughly enjoyed them the service was efficient and friendly.It was an enjoyable experience.

Very impressed by the service, menu choices and good old fashioned English public house atmosphere. Food was very good, well presented and very tasty. Staff were attentive and the Inn was in very good order. Plenty of car parking and outdoor seating. Inside it is nicely furnished with plenty of room to enjoy your own space but not feel isolated from the rest of the clientèle.

No excuses because it was a Bank holiday, but it was one of the worst places we have visited. The table felt sticky and there was a smell of stale beer and the carpet needed cleaning.

Wasnt shown the midweek menu, so spent £22 more than needed to. Cod was slimy and wouldnt stick to the fork. Average service

We both used to be staff members here(kitchen and service)in the glory days of the seventies,so returning to the bell(what's left of it) was quite a nostalgic experience.but how things have changed.The first pint glasses were visibly not clean,pints served with fingers around the top off the glass. I asked for two beer mats for the table.reply"sorry mate,don't do em". Indifferent staff(young girls) with gastly visible tattoos all up their arms and piercings They seemed more interested in their mobiles tucked in the back pocket than the guests. They even clear glasses with their fingers stuck in them.We ordered the sticky plate,17.50.The dish description stated chicken skewers. we recevied two small chicken strips and six deep frozen,(obviously massed produced) croquettes that after be thrown into the deep fryer were still cold in the middle,one dip and a few pieces of thin fladell bread.After clearing our own plates to the bar,we querried the price and told the barmaid that we were not going to pay this rip off price,half the food was still on the serving platter.We were duly confronted by the bar manager and informed him that owing to our rights we were prepared to pay what we thought it was worth.He said,"it's on the house, but please leave now and don't come back" and instructed the staff that we were not be served anymore.

3rd visit. 3rd time of being impressed. Great roasts. Massive dinners. Nice choice of cask ales. 160 pounds for 5 of us. Niaomi served us. Very friendly.

1 night Sun/Mon - a family of 4. Paid £72. Large room with double bed and a sofa bed. Very clean. Sofa not perfectly comfortable. Check in/out quick.

We visited the Bell for the first time today, having driven past it on several occasions. The service was prompt & engaging. The lunchtime menu was interesting and tasted excellent. I have no hesitation in saying I will be coming back.

Para una tarde apareció en sábado almuerzo, alrededor de las 3:00 pm. Encontramos una mesa en la tranquila zona de bar a la derecha. Tuvimos que ir a buscar nuestros propios menús como nadie parecía estar allí, aparte de un macho que sirve detrás de la barra.

La víspera temprano y tranquila, hubiera estado más concurrido como mesas aún no liquidados (que podría haber sido). Bueno Meet and Greet y nos llevaron a la habitación del frente, ya pedí una zona bien iluminada. Menús de bebidas y orden tomen oportunamente y ambos tuvimos Tarta del día. bien presentada y una buena comida saludable.

We ate here twice in onesay so that must say something about the choice and quality. Food excellent. Lovely comfortable dinig areas well spaced from surrounding tables. Staff very friendly and helpful. Exceptionally good value for money

Had a lovely meal here, Very nice burger and chips, followed by chocolate dessert which wasnt so nice. Young lady who served us was very jolly and charming

¡Fantástico! Una cálida bienvenida. Camarero totalmente al baloncesto. Dos grandes cenas de asado. Sin duda lo recomiendo

Una excelente comida por 9 compañeros de trabajo. Todos disfrutamos de sus sabrosas comidas, que eran todos entregaron calientes con todo el mundo sirvieron rápidamente. Recibimos un servicio amable y atento. Este fue un seguimiento comidas después de una queja sobre un almuerzo de Navidad...

Dear mark thank you for responding I was not offered another meal as a replacement, the waitress took my plate to the kitchen, returned to say it was lamb , which it wasn't!! No alternative was offered, I asked to speak to the chef and walked to the kitchen only to be told he/she couldn't leave to see me, strange they can wander out to the bar area but couldn't talk to me, I didn't want to make a fuss but feel your comments miss represent what actually happened

Nice pub good atmosphere, good beer ,great staff.well worth a vist if your local .many different places within to sit and chill

We decided to go for New Years Day lunch having been for lunch at the end of November and had a good meal. Lunch was booked so we booked at 5.30pm Nice table but we hadn't been told there was a set choice menu when we booked, which then turned out to have some flexibility but we didn't discover this until we were looking at deserts. There were 5 of us, 3 starters came and then we had to wait several minutes for the final two which was ridiculous as they were soup so would not have taken long. We kept looking at staff to show we were waiting but they were not interested. The soup was supposed to be spicy parsnip but didn't taste anything like parsnip. 2 or the 3 who had ordered soup left most of it but the waitress didn't question if everything was ok. Next for mains someone had ordered cheese shuffle, didn't look or taste like a soufflé and when we questioned this they shrugged their shoulders. Three of us ordered roasts, yorkshire puddings were cold, again one person barely touched their meal and staff didn't check if anything was ok. Deserts were equally poor. The receipt has an email address for feedback which we have tried to give as staff were not interested in us at all but the email address is invalid - can't think why. Will not be returning in a hurry!

My first visit to this inn for business travel. The food was great-good, varied menu...a little pricey, but you get what you pay for

Ok for a quick snack, assume food microwaved. It is what it is, Vintage inns, overpriced for effectively mass produced processed food.

This was a really nice surprise haven't been for years and what a change. Really lovely decor especially as it was dressed for xmas. Food was just right for the price an easy place to go and get a really yummy meal.

Four of us booked a table for half six for Sunday dinner today, we arrived at approximately ten past six and we were seated straight away although we were early (which was a nice welcome).Upon arrival we were really pleasantly surprised by the decor of the entire building. The wood burning fires and tasteful fairy lights, accompanied by a cold winter night, made the atmosphere quite magical.They offer a broad range of wines, beers, ciders, and soft drinks - as well as cocktails and mocktails which is a nice touch. The food was really good value! The roast chicken was around £12 and for that you not only got a mix of veg and stuffing but an extra large Yorkshire pud as well. It was 1/2 a chicken per portion - so you definitely got your money's worth (we ended up taking 1/4 of a chicken home which the staff were happy to box up for us)!Staff were cheerful and attentive.We decided to book here on the spur of the moment as we wanted to try somewhere we had never been before. All I can say is our risk payed off - we will definitely be returning!

Very good value "Innkeeper's Lodge" pub. Room had very tasteful decor and was spacious & quiet. Ample free parking. Continental breakfast included in price but extra to pay for something cooked. Not a great choice for continental breakfast which was very disappointing: no cheese, cold meats, granola, yoghurt or croissants (although chocolate pastries were available) hence 4 rather than 5 stars!

We took the family for a large birthday celebration. The restaurant was fully decorated for Halloween , which they had taken huge effort over , and the staff were in amazing makeup and costumes! Lovely food and nice atmosphere.

Good local pub serving a varied menu and a great value lunch menu at £14.95 for three courses. Nothing unusual about that except that it's available until 6pm so early dining is a plus . Nice surroundings especially if you get seated in the room with the roaring fire Staff were attentive and helpful and friendly . Service was prompt . Potion size good and not ripped off with bar prices . Overall a good place for an informal lunch or dinner . Great for family or friends but try to book as it does get busy.

had a very good time over halloween weekend, all the staff were dressed as halloween characters, everything was decorated in cobwebs & spiders

Visited here on a Saturday afternoon, around 4pm. Pub was busy with a wedding party inside one of the side rooms..and a few other tables in the restaurant. Ordered food for outside, wasn't told about a wait at the bar, but our meals took over 30mins to arrive.. bit disappointing.. there were 4 of us eating & only 2 sets of cutlery were brought out..sigh. No one bothered to do a 'check-back' on us or clear our plates/glasses for the 2hours that we were there in the garden.. not nice being forgotten about! :( The chunky chips with our 'Fish & Chips' were not cooked all the way through..yuck! And the chicken breast on my salad was dry & tough..also the honey & mustard dressing it came with did not go! Way too spicy! :'( Usually the food is spot on, but today it was not. Won't be coming back for a while I'm afraid! Food is over-priced and not always up to standard. What a shame.

After a gap of 3 years and after reading some very positive recent reviews on Trip Advisor, we decided to book dinner at the Bell. On previous visits, the food was generally good but the service was always slow. How things have changed - and for the better! With 2 children aged 11 and 14 who want food immediately, we were hoping for a prompt service. After being shown to our table and menus handed out, our drinks and food orders were promptly taken. We ordered the rustic breads and assorted Meze- delicious ! The dips were amazing. We only had to wait about 20 mins for our mains.... we ordered pizza, burger, cod and beef pie. All lovely the only grumble, although slight, would be the strange looking purple carrots on my mash. As the waiter served me, he reassured me that in case I was wondering, the carrots were purple and not burnt as highlighted by other customers. They tasted better than they looked- stick to normal carrots. The chocolate brown I and ice cream and cookie puddings were equally delicious. Really pleased we decided to give The Bell another try. Well worth a visit.

Lovely rustic, beautifully decorated pub with very welcome and helpful staff. Very prompt service and delicious food. Only 4 stars from me because the menu has changed and the salads are not as good as they were. And a much smaller choice of food.

A lot of places you visit to eat have a limited gluten free menu but I was very impressed here! Delicious food and excellent service. Pricey but I thought it was worth it. The place has a lovely cosy atmosphere too.

Firstly I would like to comment on the service and the fact Katie could not do more for us from the original table for 5 to a full table of 14 in our own room made the pre wedding celebrations even more amazing. Then the food....for a very foodie bunch it surpassed our expectations well done XRegardsKevin x

Great rooms , great food and great beer. Only stayed the one night but wish it had been a lot longer.

The staff we welcoming and friendly throughout. The food was lovely, for a foodie there was lots of choice & the atmosphere was relaxed, even when we were the last standing in the bar & staff wanting to go home (sign of a good night when your sober & still the last standing). I will be recommending this pub and visiting again.

With every pub in the land seemingly flying the wetherspoons flag these days it is rare to find a a free house with all of the character and comfort of the Bell Inn.We popped in after making the most of an afternoon of glorious sunshine in the local area. The Inn looks as though it should inside and out. No gawdy burger and a beer for a fiver posters and plenty of original features such as the low beams and wooden stair case.What really gives this place the edge though is the staff. We had only popped in for bar food in the garden but a lovely young lady on duty today 20/07/16 at 17:00 gave us full table service and even gave our dog a much needed bowl of water. She was extremely friendly and helpful.We ordered the sticky chicken salad and ham, egg & chips followed by lemon tart and cookie & ice cream. The food was with us in a flash and was as tasty as it was quick to arrive. Sitting in the summer sun in such clean and pleasant surroundings was the icing on the cake.If you are looking for a typical British public house with excellent service and value for money then look no further. This place is a real gem and we will be back. Let's hope it stays off the wetherspoons radar. Thank you.

We went to this place last night to have dinner, as it was a lovely evening we thought that we would sit outside to eat. The tables were filthy the chairs had bird droppings on them.the whole area was just dirty and uncared for with empty glasses and bottles on most tables. We had one drink and left. They need to get their act together !!

Lovely location, and well spaced tables which is nice. Starters were pretty good, if a little under-seasoned. However, having established that one guest required gluten free, the dish arrived with gorgeous toasted crunchy bread which I couldn't eat. I requested something to put the potted crayfish on - perhaps celery or something - and got a saucer of rather lack-lustre celery! The mains made up for it though, and I highly recommend anything with their delicious crispy potato fries. The confit duck leg was delicious and they managed to knock together a pretty reasonable salad for my raw foodie friend. The fish looked good and husband's chicken pie also seemed pretty good. And the waitresses were really on the ball!

We made a reservation at the Bell Inn for 7.30pm and did not receive our main course until around 9pm. The table was not ready on arrival and you could sense the staff were very tired with no smiles. Both the salmon and fillet steak were both grossly overcooked although to be fair the fried seabass was good. Again the crayfish starter for 3 individuals was almost inedible and there was more salad than scallops on that starter.We were given 25% reduction on the total bill but I do not go to a restaurant for discount but rather expect good food and service; therefore I am unable to recommend this reataurant. I think they are trying to get too many customers through the door and consequently are unable to provide the necessary service. We were told that there was only one chef in the kitchen despite the fact that the restaurant was fairly full.

Good service tasty food interesting building.Very busy the evening we called in but a pleasant experience.

My husband and I were really looking forward to a Valentine's meal here and booked ahead a few weeks before. Understandably a Valentine's Sunday is going to be busy but the service overall was very slow. We had the Valentine's set menu which comes with a free glass of prosecco and we had to remind the waitress to bring this over. The waiting time between courses was longer than average which was fine yet the bill came instantly. We were not asked when we were eating if everything was ok with our food and two waiting staff asked us if we wanted anything else after our main when we had already ordered dessert as part of the Valentine's set menu. The food however was wonderful, lovely twists with every course. We will not rule out coming again but will avoid peak times I think.

Lovely bar / restaurant nice interior and very old Worldy combined with modern furnishings . Good menu and pk wasn't service . One criticism despite booking for 6:30pm most of the roasts unavailable which was the only reason chose this venue but anyhow great food

We eat here a couple of times a month. The staff are always very courteous, the ambience is lovely, very cosy. The food is good and I've never had a bad meal there.

Went with friends on a Saturday night. The very capable staff could not detract from what I thought was a very average meal. in fairness the other three in our party enjoyed the food but I was not impressed. I started with the black pudding dish. Great presentation but the taste was was bland. The steak pie I had stringy lumps of what I presume was steak. The best part of this dish was the sauce which was good. The sweet and coffees were fine but if you want great quality throughout go elsewhere.

The setting is very pretty and the Inn has genuine ambience. The menu is diverse and the food very well prepared and presented. The service is attentive but never hovering. A great night!

A friend and I went for a meal here on a Friday night while we were staying in the area. The food was very good but its much more of a restaurant than a pub. Food was very nice but more fine dinning than pub grub.

Great food and very good beers and ideal for a family meal. The service is good and very well run, would go back

Evening meal alone. Service was prompt. Menu is varied. Staff is friendly and food was well prepared. Moderately priced

We visited Thursday evening loved every minute ,amazing food cod and sweet potatoes frys followed by white wine spritzer staff as so attentive food was hot and cooked perfect.The bell is welcoming and not empty but not to busy.Beautiful setting decorated well very clean and would recommend all to visit.Our bill was £42 which was amazing value 2 main meals 1 pudding 2 glasses of wine.

I phoned the bell inn on the morning of the 15th September and fortunately we were able to get a table.The food was delicious and in keeping with the prices of good pub grub in the area. If I could fault anything it would be time, it was very slow and had it of been busy I could have quite understood but the pub was in fact quite quiet.We also ordered flat bread and olives to have 'while we waited' but unfortunately these came out alongside our starters, after querying where they were. They are on the menu as 'while you wait' if I had of known they would come out with the starter I wouldn't have ordered them.I would definitely return, lovely to have a good place to eat so close to home.

I thought the Bell was lovely and I am surpised by the negative reviews. Its had a stylish make over and is tasteful and comfortable.Four of us shared the Mediterranean mezze which was delicious. Followed by a choice battered halloumi and gnocchi dishes. Both of which were nicely presented and tasty. Nobody had room for a pudding-sadly!Service was efficient and friendly.I have no hesitation in recommending. Even though there was a wedding party in one on the rooms, we didn't have to wait very long for our courses and staff were attentive.

Have eaten at the Bell in all it's guises over the years. This latest reincarnation doesn't quite make it on any front. The menu looks impressive and the building is beautiful. But ... The service is so slow, we had booked for 8, we didn't get our mains till 9.30. One member of our party was told after we had ordered that his starter was no longer available. Having selected an alternative, the waitress then returned to tell him that his main was sold out. There was a live band playing which had not been mentioned when booking was made. No choice was given to be seated in the other room either on booking or arrival. It's hard to know where the failings occur, but one has to assume it is down to basic management.

We ate here yesterday evening, the service was extremely good and friendly from everyone. The food was good and excellent value for money

Went here for dinner with my family and was really impressed . The building itself is very traditional and well furnished .We hadn't booked and had a short wait before a table was ready which we preferred as too many restaurants say yes to get you in then keep you dangling !Our waitress and waiter were lovely , friendly and fun .The menu was really extensive and we all had different dishes .The food was of a really high standard and was well presented .We were all very happy with our choices .We will definitely return .

Most enjoyable meal last week. Can wholeheartedly recommend the haloumi and chips. Nice decor and surroundings with excellent service.

We had a great meal at The Bell, very attentive staff, good food and cheap fizz on a Thursday - what more could you want.

We had two rooms both of which were comfortable and modern. It was a perfect base before checking in to Center Parcs the next day. A nice touch was the fan in our room....appreciated given the overnight temperature. Breakfast offering was adequate. I was a little disappointed that there was no cheese or cold meats that have been offered at other IKL/Vintage Inn combinations. My son enjoyed his toasted sausage sandwich [extra charge]. A nice hotel with very helpful and friendly staff.

Live not far from the bell and go there a lot. But may not be going for a bit went there last week. Found a new menu from the last time we went about 6 weeks before. had a sea food sharing starter our fav, found it to be poor mains were all so poor in fact we used stay after and have a drink at the bar. We left as I need to get home as I was still hungry after half a roast chicken. Think I'll stay with the other pub in the village, and was very over price for the food we got the crows nest does half a roast chicken for less, also found the drinks are going up in price be a long time before we go back.

We popped into the Bell for lunch last weekend, and were surprised that despite some poor reviews the food was very good.Admittedly lunch is not a demanding meal to produce but what we had was good, salads were fresh and the ham and sticky chicken was fine.The prices are a bit high for what we got but not exhorbitant.

Our second visit to this pub and menu has changed a little. All still fabulous quality and great range to choose from. We shared a pork platter (black pudding croquettes, ribs, glazed sausages, pork cheek etc) and then lamb on the bone. A true meat fest so could only manage a mini choc pot for dessert. Practically rolled home!! Fabulous. And also great service even though it was a busy bank holiday weekend.

We had heard such good things about this place and so disappointed with what we received. The wine we ordered arrived open from the bar - used. Sent back for a new bottle to be opened at the table. Glasses were dirty - sent back for clean ones. Cutlery was just as bad. Service was not good. Food very ordinary not that hot either. I felt so bad for our friends who had taken us there, they spent all night apologising for the service etc of the place. So I am sorry this is not one I would recommend. They really need to do an overhall and get an understanding of what service good food and cleanliness is all about. We may just have hit a bad night but I doubt we will be taking another chance that it might be better next time. Mandy C.

It wasn't great - we ordered the lamb roast and the beef roast. The beef was better than the lamb which was tough, chewy, very fatty and full of gristle. The vegetables were good and so was the desert. Perhaps we had just chosen the wrong things on the menu so would probably give it another try. The staff are very nice and service was just about ok but on the slow side...not sure if that was to do with the kitchen or the serving staff.

Our local gastro pub that unfortunately has gone down hill. Used to be regulars but the service is always very slow and last time they brought deserts before clearing away the main course! We sat infront if empty plates for 30mins. There are plenty of other lovely pubs near by with much better service and more reasonably priced.

For several years The Bell has offered a very reasonable meal at a reasonable price. Sadly levels have started to slip.My last meal disappointed and the service was not up to scratch.The meal looked poor on the plate although in fairness my steak was cooked as requested.Hopefully they can get back to the expected levels of food and service.

Had a quick meal tonight in the Bell Inn Aston Clinton. Last time I had a meal and a stay there was about fifty years ago!! Absolutely not kidding. The ambience was great, and much improved, as it now is what a good country 'pub' restaurant should be. I welcomed that. It was bordering on being too pretentious for its own good back then when I last ate there.I had the Beef Rib there tonight. The meat was on a base of mash potatoes,and topped with fried onion rings. It was very nicely done although I would have loved a touch of green with my meat. The menu was interesting and varied enough, and was a good menu. My Sticky Toffee pudding was very good, and not sickeningly sweet.Didn't even look at the wine list as my wife wasn't having a drink. The Bell Inn was famous for their wines as the proprietor had personally brought back his wine from France those days.The service was good and friendly, unlike the 'old' days when they had a battalion of waiting staff often with a pompous French head waiter. Our waitress was efficient, cheerful and bright, and she will be off on her gap-year travels next week. One young girl seemed to have provided better service than the army the Inn had!

Oooooo fabulous. Beautifully decorated pub with great service and outstanding food. LOVED IT!!! I had the vegetarian gnocchi and cookie ice cream sandwich. Good portion sizes and exquisite food. We had a 7 week old baby with us and they found us a great space - quiet table beside a roaring open fire and plenty of space for a buggy without disturbing other guests. Delighted.

Visited with my wife for a meal on the way home from nearby Waddesdon Manor. As we entered the pub restaurant we felt we had made a good decision. Several rooms all nicely presented and atmospheric. It was a Sunday evening and we ordered a beef and a vegetarian Roast. Food was fine except that the roast potatoes, both 'duck fat' and veggie, were rock hard. We mentioned this to the waitress who suggested mash or chips instead and returned 5 minutes later with more roast spuds that 'were straight from the oven', of which 3 were edible and the rest had the texture of cricket balls. By this time we had resolved to give up, pay the bill and leave.That the kitchen and waiting staff could continue to send out food that was so obviously poor is disappointing.This pub has great potential. The building and setting are fabulous but it is let down by a lack of professionalism across the operation, the kitchen, waiting staff (polite but chatting amongst themselves and inattentive) and cellar (cloudy ale). Such a shame, an opportunity missed

This is not your average pub food! The menu was imaginative and interesting and we all enjoyed our dinner. The atmosphere is pleasant and the service very swift and efficient.

Visited with friends a few weeks ago and two of our party chose the fish cakes as the main course. When it arrived, we questioned the waitress if we had been served the first course portions of the fish cakes. There were two tiny fish cakes on the plate with a tiny bowl of salad.....would have been okay as a first course but disgusting as a main course. Even the waitress seemed embarrassed when she said that the first course was just one of these measley fish cakes. This is a pub which serves food,and average food at that. They seemed to have got above their station,especially with the prices they charge for the food they serve. We will not be returning.

Stopped by for a quick evening meal, while staying overnight elsewhere in the village. Food was tasty, price was reasonable, however the service was bad. The staff seemed to spend the most of their time chatting or checking their phones. Finally gave in after waiting 20 mins for a dessert to arrive, only to to greeted with "oh, did you order dessert?".Not a service level I would expect from an AA 4 star rated establishment!

New menu lots of choise - new decor very nice - efficient friendly service. Really enjoyed lunch. Shall definately go again very soon

Had the vegetarian pasta and it was nicely cooked. Service was reasonable attentive: our drinks were delivered to us when we ordered form our table. Menu is very predictable: there are too many of this chain in the area. Five Bells, Shoulder of Mutton, Fire Crest... The Bell has the best service however, which is perhaps not saying a lot. Have had poor service in the past, but its got a bit better in the past month. Still, if order a drink from your table, you often have to go and retrieve i from the bar.

We walked in the be greeted by, oh, no one! Waited at the bar while 3 bartenders chatted up a girl by trying to impress her with their non-existent wine knowledge. One said hello to us then chatted to his mate for another few minutes. I asked if we could order at the bar and he said yes, not mentioning that we should have a table first. Then back to chat to his mate. I asked if we could in fact place and order with him and he reluctantly decided we could. In hindsight we should have already left by this stage. So we order our food and a beer and lemonade. Have to rush to find a table. Find one, finish placing the order. Sit down on seats that are too low for a table, to comfortably eat off of. So we are starving, not eaten since 11am and its now about 7:30pm. Discover my lemonade is flat. Great. Then nachos come out, they don't look great but we'll try the taste test. Well. Stale and cold come to mind. Cheese looks and tastes like it has been melted on as part of the prep stage. At least an hour ago. Then it appears the microwave leader in the "kitchen" has put them in for a minute or so to give the impression that he has just whipped them up. Fail. Guacamole is pretty bad. Salsa is ok but not hard to get wrong from a jar. A young man asks if we are enjoying them. Not really. He says to us " what do you want me to do about it?" Well, apologising would be a good start. But no he just gets all nervous and leaves us there after offering to heat them up again. Sounds delicious, hot melted sour cream and re-reheated cheese. No thanks. So he leaves. We decide if it is worth complaining. It is. Off I go to the bar because frankly I'm worried about what the mains will be like. Microwaveable delights I imagine. Just because we opted for reasonably priced food does not mean we want indifferent service with attitude. I went to the bar and asked one of the bartenders to cancel our mains and for a refund. He didn't says a word but went and got another member of staff. I'm not sure what position he had as he didn't say or wear a name badge. So I say again I don't want our mains and before I can say much about anything else he toddles off to the kitchen. Eventually he comes back and joy, we don't have to have the mains. I also complain about my flat lemonade, awful nachos and bad service all round. He then tries to argue with me (!!!) about the nachos. Saying " nowhere on the menu says they are hot" it also doesn't state on the menu that they are cold and most people reading that they come with melted cheese would expect some degree of warmth. He doesn't have much to say about the bad service, not even sorry. Then only refund us for the mains. So we paid for awful nachos that wouldn't meet any food hygiene standards, a flat lemonade and a beer that although drinkable had it spoilt by everything else being abysmal. This is why we shall never eat at any pub chain in England. I would rather go hungry.