Blue Bell in Bolsover

Came to Bolsover for the day on my wife's birthday to have a pub lunch and to visit the castle. Having read the positive reviews we went straight to the Blue Bell. Walking into the beer garden at about 11.50 we saw that the view on a good day would be spectacular. Unfortunately the weather was bad so in order to eat inside we went to the door marked ‘Entrance’ which was locked. I checked on line and saw the opening time was 12 am (??)  so we waited. A few minutes after 12 the back door opened and we entered only to be told there was no food (no reason given). Although there was a sign at the bar, a notice outside would have saved time being wasted. Fortunately there are other places to eat so we went elsewhere.

Called in with colleagues for lunch. All meals were delicious. I had scampi with chips and mushy peas. The chips were amazing! Mushy peas a little dry but tasty. Definitely will go again. The gammon looked lovely with perfectly fried eggs. The jacket potato had a beautiful salad with it. But again those chips, fresh, not frozen and delicious

We visited as a group on a hen weekend and we were welcomed by staff and customers. The bar staff put a hen party play list on on Saturday and even though the pub was really busy on the Sunday, the landlady made a point of coming to speak to us and thanked us for our custom. Undoubtedly the best pub in Bolsover…..thank you for your excellent hospitality

Old management was great but new management even better, the new land lady cannot do enough to please you, fantastic experience, will be here every week post football!!

Lovely friendly pub. Good choice of drinks. Food is amazing and portion sizes are huge! Fantastic view from the beer garden. Will definitely be visiting again.

Absolute best place in Bolsover, cracking view and great staff. Called in on my way through Bolsover and was greeted by lovely staff even on a very busy day. Great selection of drinks, but the highlight was the bowl of chips that were massive. Couldn’t ask for nothing more from a local pub. Ps. They’re even dog friendly which was an absolute bonus!!

I and my colleague didn’t have much time for the business lunch and We found this restaurant close to a big car park. Welcoming staff suggested the best “fish and chips” I’ve ever eaten.

Don’t use this pub Very dirty Offers Happy Hour every day ????? But in reality is Monday to Thursday!!!!!! Service very poor staff not very friendly If only it had good management with the location and views and correct service and cleanliness it would be a gold mine

If I could give zero rating I would. Dirty beer garden , dog mess all over and flies. Smell disgusting.litter everywhere. Glasses were dirty so unable to finish our drinks, we just left - it was that disgusting we didn't want to stay a minute longer. No sign of manager or bar staff. Service terribly slow, took half an hour to get a drink at the bar and staff were talking very inappropriately Infront of children waiting at the bar, did not stop when realising they were in presence of children.

The food here is amazing I have eaten here twice now this month and have been very impressed with both the food and the service. We stopped coming here for a while because it went down hill but it is great now and I highly recommend it ❤

Just been to designer outlet at Mansfield Just went on trip adviser found this lovely place The lady was just having a minute when we pulled in we ask her if she was doing food She said she just about to finish but she said she make something me thinking might be a sandwich Omg fish & chips beautiful Nothing like home made chips Definitely come again Very friendly pub Thankyou again

Took 4 attempts and 30 minutes to order food as the staff didn’t know what was available and what wasn’t. The food then took nearly an hour to arrive. How it took this long was a mystery given any barely trained chef could have knocked it up in 10 minutes and only one other table was eating at the same time as us. It was bland, barely warm and greasy. The crockery was left on our table uncollected for 30 minutes until we decided to leave. The staff seemed reluctant to take our money which, frankly, I was reluctant to give them. Avoid unless you just want a drink in a tired, old, tatty boozer that will probably close very, very soon.

After phoning a week in advance the landlady allowed us to park overnight on the pub car park, the view at the back was amazing, the pub itself was a traditional working persons pub that offered a typical pub menu, the pie tasted home made and was superb, generous mixed grill, both came with loads of fantastic homemade chips. I would definitely recommend.

We have a meal here a couple each year when visiting the area but sadly this restaurant is not as good as it used to be. On our most recent visit we had to wait nearly 45 mins for food to come after we had ordered, some people's meals were not very hot, most of the lite bites which we normally have were not available.One of us found something in our food, no explanation or apology was forthcoming from staff. I think the management may have changed recently and sadly I will probably go elsewhere next time we visit the area.

Found this little gem while visiting Bolsover over New Year. Very friendly and got a dog friendly room. Could not do enough for us so thanks. Had a meal on our second visit and the food was lovely, all fresh and cooked to order. Worth a visit.

I've been eating my way round the very impressive menu...

Yesterday we visited & the service was quite slow. The mash potato very dried up, peas ok but the stew I would not recommend at all, 2 pieces of meat ... My husband's meal was very average. Meat dried out, chips ok & peas.

I'd been told that their Sunday dinner was really good so I decided to give it a go. It wasn't very busy but I still had to wait almost an hour for what I only describe as poor food. The gravy was some thin flavourless liquid, the beef and Yorkshire puddings were something that you'd find in a packet from a freezer shop. The portion sizes were quite small which was a blessing because I wouldn't want any more of that rubbish, the only reason I gave 2 stars was because the veg was nice. Won't be eating there again.

Very nice pub lovely view from the beer garden food was spot on home cooked staff very friendly and great cask ales would deffenetly recommend to friends and family

Always have a great time in here.. Brilliantly run pub Hats off to the landlady... Stunning views out the back. Great meals. Good beer. Highly recommend to anyone.

Meet here occasionally with an ex-work colleague. Always a good range of beers to suit all tastes. Pleasant surroundings, good service. Overall top pub in the village.

I went here on my business travel as saw the view was great, which it was from the garden, but not a very inviting garden. The barmaid was friendly and served well, the pub was dead.I ordered special ribs, they were really good however the chips that I was told were “proper chips, the best way” were homemade which is fine but they were brown, the oil must have been very very old!Overall I put a 4 because of how good the ribs and service were but he chips sucked

I am very sorry Blue Bell but to be honest, I was quite disapointed with your pies. Oh yes they taste fantastic, your chips are amazing, but your portions are appalling. I am not a big eater these days but even I was not filled by your pie. The pies you serve should be for OAP's, not an hungry, working adult.I love your pub. I always have. I have been going to your pub on and off for over 45 years. Lots of memmories. A very quaint pub and the best in Bolsover.I have also had a few meals there over the years, but previously I have left very full and satisfied, not this time.Please Blue Bell, make your pies bigger. You can charge another £1, the market will stand it, especially as they taste fantastic.

We popped in on the spur of the moment for Sunday lunch. We got a warm and friendly reception from Frank behind the bar. We placed our orders and it wasn't long before our meals arrived . The food was well cooked and tasty and they brought us extra gravy without us having to ask. Not bad for £5.50 each, and washed down with a nice pint of beer.. All in all a pleasant dining experience and we will certainly go there again..

What a gem of a find. The girl behind the bar was brilliant and very attentive with our little boy. The food was great for pub grub and the view was an unexpected surprise. A must visit if in the area and we will 100% be heading here next time we are back in the area.

Fantastic pies, lovely little pub . Shhhh Don’t tell everyone😉 this is a proper English village pub. Very friendly, great all round .

Needing to be fed and a rest from driving for several hours, we pulled off the M1 and headed for Bolsover hoping to find a pub that did meals, well we were lucky in that we found the Blue Bell.

We stopped at the pub as we were passing through Bolsover

We stopped off on the way through Blosover and saw this place, pulled into car park and the views from the outside table area are stunning. Old worldly type pub. Nice ambience to relax in. Excellent selection of beers. Staff very friendly. Thoroughly recommend.

I just wanted to update my review as last year I mentioned the beer garden was grubby. It's now fully refurbished and lovely with beautiful views over to chesterfield and beyond.

Had a lovely meal. Pleasant staff. Good clean traditional pub. Full of locals and people who said they always go there.

En el camino a estancia con amigos llamé a Bolsover donde solía vivir, fue un día muy caliente y necesitaba una bebida así que llamé aquí como mis abuelos utilizada para este pub de vuelta en 1930 y mi padre vivieron allí.

A nice pub with friendly staff. Food was above average and reasonably priced. The Sunbeam beer from the Banks brewery was amazing. Well done.

Como local, he estado yendo en el Blue Bell durante años. Me gusta la variedad de cervezas y yo siempre tenemos una cálida bienvenida.

Sólo pensamos en probar un pub país para comer y terminamos aquí, así que me alegro de haberlo hecho. . estaba delicioso. No ocupados agradable y tranquilo y la comida era muy sabrosa. . No tuvimos que esperar mucho tiempo lo recomiendo sin duda. Tuve el especial tarta de cordero con verduras y patatas acuñaron deliciosa. Personal muy encantador para

Hemos fallado a comer aquí de nuevo, después de haber llegado a 6. 20:00 y a pesar de la junta fuera diciendo que la comida estaba disponible hasta las 7 de la tarde.

We visited on Bank Holiday Monday with the family. Pub was less than half full but we there were very few menus available.Went to order but had to wait as only one person on the bar. We were told that they were very busy and there would be a long wait for food. Asked how long and told it would be at least 30 minutes before they could start on the food. We asked why this was when the place was no where near full. We were told that the other room was full (the room was no where near full and we were half the people in it!)From what we could see there were maybe a dozen people in.... And 2 people in the kitchen couldn't cope.Very poor.... So we left!

I caned in here on Easter Monday after visiting Bolsover Castle. There were 7 in our party and we had to sit in a room for people with dogs which was fine. After choosing our meals we went to place the order,only to be told the kitchen couldn't cope and she couldn't take our order for half an hour. On looking round the pub we said there didn't seem to be many people, the bar person (only one on) said well the other room was full. That was were we where and there were only 4 other people! We left! surely on a bank holiday it would have made sense to have more people on!

Our party of 4 adults and 3 children arrived for our evening meal around 7.30pm on Saturday evening. We walked straight through to the court yard to see the magnificent views across the valley. There was adequate seating but we decided to eat indoors as it was getting a bit chilly. It was surprising not busy for a Saturday evening but suited us fine, as it was therefore easy to get a table for 7 people. The service was good and although the menu was not extensive, there were plenty of options to choose from. All the food is cooked to order and gosh did it taste delious! We ended up with 7 clean plates! It was really useful to have a children's menu where you can pick from a selection of items. The food was served hot and was cooked to perfection. Portion size was also generous. The only downside was the limited stock of drinks but we all had something we liked, even if it wasn't our first choice. The prices were reasonable.... You get what you pay for and it was definitely worth it. We hope to visit again and I can't wait to have a pie next time. (This visit we had full rack of tins, lasagne, t bone steak, gammon, hunters chicken and childrens chicken nuggets)

This pub is up high on a windy hill next to the castle in a lovely little town. We chose this pub to meet family on Boxing Day as it was in a central location that made it easy for us all to get to.First impressions not bad, lovely old stone building but it was let down by rubbish and old furniture dumped in the carpark and garden.We arrived as 12 to an empty pub but it soon filled up with people coming in for drinks or food. The main lady that was serving gave a lovely welcome and was very friendly and happy to have a chat, the younger girl seemed a little unconfident (maybe just inexperience?)The menu had a good choice of pub grub and there was something for everyone, we chose gammon, egg and chips and fish and chips which arrived quickly and was very tasty. Nothing posh about the food but nothing bad either, just great pub grub for a good price.I would return again if I was in the area.

Good basic pub grub, cooked to perfection at a price that doesn't hurt the bank balance, a good range of real ales and a friendly face behind the bar too. If this place was our local we would be very well pleased

Been numerous times for a drink and have been a couple of times for food. Very friendly staff, excellent food, very reasonably priced.

We stopped her in passing on a family visit to Bolsover.I always think you get a good impression of a pub by it's toilets !These were modern, sparkling and well looked after.As we had our whippet with us we opted for the dog friendly bar and we found the locals present very friendly.There was an amazing range of real ales available and the lunchtime snacks were tasty and good value.This is a good local pub, without styling & false decor and the bar staff were very helpful.

Stopped for lunch to met a friend. Picked this pub because it was "dog friendly" This means they allow dogs in one room but do not provide water or anything like that specifically for them. I had a tuna mayo baked potato. The potato was good. the spoon of mashed tuna uninspired, the side salad lettuce tomato and cucumber - no dressing and the lettuce had clearly been cut and fridge stored for more than a day, was uninspired. Three of the other pubs in this part of Bolsover are boarded up so those who say best pub in the area are justified. for this part of the town near the castle. Its only immediate competitor is a weatherspoons. I expect their evening meals are better . There is a beer garden with good views.

Stopped here for a rest on the way home to Sussex from Scotland. We were looking for home cooked food and a friendly atmosphere and this pub delivers both. A locals pub, but we were made to feel welcome and the food was tasty and reasonably priced. This set us up nicely for the remainder of our journey home

Went last night for my dads birthday. I live in this town and its a lovely ' country ' pub. If you like real ales u must go ! Owner knows his stuff too. We had homemade pie, the meat was to die for. Hunters chicken was amazing and the trio of pies we more than enough !!! Very filling. The home made chips are amazing ! The new owners have brought this pub back up to standard. Will be returning again, and to have this view on your door step is priceless

Being local to the area all my life, I have seen the Bell go from a pub full of life to a very very sorry state. The pub tradionally saw itself as part of the community thanks to a previous landlord and it is now returning to status thanks to Frank and his family. The pub is open for Breakfast, lunch and dinner and is located slightly away from the castle near the church. The food is always of high standard and real ales are also available. If you are visiting Bolsover then the bell is a must for excellent food and drink away from the large chain pub outside the castle. I recommend dining and drinking in the lounge area of the pub that was built in 1742 as a coaching inn. The beams and atmosphere is everything a traditional English pub should have.

Very friendly and attentive staff. Loads of meat and plenty of veg on the Sunday lunch with the best gravy l 've had in a long time. Puddings looked good but we had no room for one! On a clear day the views from the beer garden are stunning.

Needs some TLC but is a very good pub with gorgeous views over to chesterfield that maybe you wouldn't expect! From a very grubby beer garden. Food etc average pub grub. Nothing amazing. Usual Bolsover locals so friendly n fun atmosphere.

Having heard that the pub had reopened we returned last week to see how it was. Nothing has been changed it still has the real ale and the food is good and homely. A really family friendly atmosphere when you enter. If you are wanting a change from the usual pub/ restaurants chain and are in the area this is it.

Such a gorgeous homely pub friendly and welcoming the views stunning cannot fault it in anyway well recommend it to my friends and family will defo be going again the owners r so welcoming make you feel welcomed strait away

A Family run Pub with a warm and friendly welcome with always some one to have a conversation with . A Free House with a choice of several Real Ales including Guest Ales and a Menu of real Home Cooked Food with Hand Cut Chips. The views from the Garden at the rear give a Panorama over Miles and miles of Derbyshire as it stands on the same elevation as Bolsover Castle (Only 200yds away).

We have visited before, we understand that it has had new owners. The décor still the same, pub!We had our granddaughter with us and she was accommodated well, the food was hearty, delicious and worth every penny.A little gem...

After some bad experiences in other pubs in the area, namely in the village of Scarecliff (think Royston Vasey) this pub was such a welcome relief! The landlord is relatively new, Marstons taken him and his lovely Wife (awesome cook) on about 5 months ago to run the place. The pub dates back to before Bolsover Castle (which you must visit if in Town!). Great choice of real ales, and a superb home cooked menu. My partner had the scampi and home cooked chips, I went for the rack of ribs. Wow! It was HUGE! Along with home cooked chips, garden peas, mushrooms, tomatoes and onion rings! Boy oh boy did I need a walk after that!They have a lovely bar area to sit and eat or just have a drink at the bar and banter with the locals. We sat in the function room as the heathen I am had to watch the football on BT Sport (only pub in Town that has it now by the way). After we played darts on a great board, and lots of choice of arrows! The pub is open all day, and we could have spent a lot longer chatting to the Landlord. A very knowledgeable and funny chap!Thanks for saving our weekend! : )

A home from home olde pub, families and "Dogs" are fully welcomed with food cooked and presented at high standards, Frank (pub owner) will make you feel welcomed, gladly take the time you know and serve good great beer at reasonable prices. If you are wanting a grand view, well Blue Bell has the "best view" all of Bolsover in the beer garden. So if you are ever passing bye, I suggest take a detour to this gorgeous pub... Its worth it.

This is one of the worst meals I have ever had we visited with friends for Sunday lunch the pub looks like it needs a good clean the staff were disinterested very slow and looked like they did not have any idea what they were doing. It was not busy but getting served was slow and painful and the wate for food after ordering was about 45 minutes when it arrived the meat was overcooked and dry and the veg were cold gray mush the gravy had a very strange smell and the whole thing was just inedible.

When you go up north you think you can't really go wrong with a pie, right?Wrong. The Blue Bell wins my award for worst pub grub I've ever eaten (well, tried to eat).My "pie" was presented to me in bits and resembled a big pile of dissected dog food. In fact, that's being harsh on dogs. I doubt they would go anywhere near it.If you've just come out of prison and horrible dinners shockingly prepared and foul tasting is all your body is now used to digesting then this is the place for you. Otherwise, avoid like the plague -which I wouldn't be surprised if I was told had started here.

We were driving back from Leeds, looking for a nice country pub to have a roast and the Tripadvisor reviews suggested we were onto a winner if we took a detour via Bolsover. "Gastropub" it is not. How misleading the reviews are and what a shocking experience we had. The pub interior is scruffy and dated, though I guess this could be seen as "quaint", however, this authentic décor, if that's what it's supposed to be, shouldn't extend to a sticky bar and grubby carpet. The service was very sketchy, it took maybe 15 minutes to order, but it wasn't as if the place was busy, just the staff seemed to be completely and utterly lost and confused. When "Orange juice and lemonade" was served with rancid squash, the alarm bells should have rung, but we ordered food anyway : One roast beef and one beef and potato pie. 20 minutes later, I asked if the food was being prepared, as we were now considering leaving, however I was reassured it was on its way. We went and sat outside on one of the rickety tables (the view is very nice though) and the food was finally delivered. The photos don't do it justice, but I hope they convey how revolting it was. I've genuinely no idea how this travesty took so long to "prepare". The beef was so over-cooked it was just inedible, the pie was laughably bad, apparently thrown onto the plate, a suet pastry in random lumps, with a travesty of a Yorkshire Pudding. The neighbouring country should hear about this and take out an injunction so they never serve such a mockery ever again. We were both staggered how they thought it was OK to serve these dishes and quite frankly amazed people were eating there. The vegetables arrived soon after and surprisingly looked OK, but unsurprisingly they were inedible, disintegrating as soon as they were touched because they were so tragically over-cooked. We didn't eat it, we threw it over the fence for the local animals to enjoy, but now I'm thinking this was cruel. An awful experience, but quite hilarious too. Avoid, would be our advice.

We had our evening meal in here it was busy at the time but we didn't have to wait long for our meals, both of us had guinness steak pie with homemade chips on the 2 for £12 menu the quality was really good, also the beers are well looked after if your a real ale fan your in for a treet the landlord was chatty and pleasent talking to us for a good while when he wasn't busy the pubs has vastly improved since it has re-opened its a proper oldy pub with a nice balance of customers.

The outside of this pub has not changed since it was build but the inside has had several makeovers over the years. I did nothave the food as it was one of those days when I only wanted a few beers. If you wanted to know anything about Bolsover that had tweeted your interest they would give you the local knowledge worth a visit.

myself and my wife paid our second visit to this establishment a few days ago and were highly delighted on both occasions.the landlord and landlady were very pleasant,attentive and friendly and we felt like we had known them longer than just a couple of days.in this era of manufactured microwave food what a refreshing change it was to be served with hot,fresh food and boy were we in for a very pleasant treat.we both opted for the garlic mushroom starters which,i have to say,were very very nice but both of our mains were what what we could only describe as dellicious.we both chose the guiness steak and mushroom pies and we weren't disappointed.the meat was to die for in a beautifully rich gravy topped with the lightest of puff pastry.the meal came with the best home made chips i have tasted outside of home and the mushy peas were spot on and when i say spot on i mean spot on.at 12 pounds for 2 homemade main courses this represents superb value for money.this couple deserve to take this delightfull pub of theirs forward and we wish them every success.cant wait for our next visit.by the way the beer aint half bad either!

been coming here over the last couple of years and the tenants have come and gone but the couple who have it now are first class.Walking in the door you can see the difference they have made to the interior the paint work has been spruced up and nicely decorated with photo and paintings from local artists.The bar/dining area as a nice fresh atmosphere only to be over taken by the wonderful aroma of freshly cooked food. The food I must say is just great my son is a chef/restaurant owner and he as taught me the difference between fresh and processed food. THESE MEALS ARE FRESH ! The couple themselves are perfect for the pub professional and attentive but with no 'airs & graces just what you want in a pub like this ,they treat you as friends not just customers .And don,t forget the wonderful view from the beer garden.So if your a visitor to the castle or just passing through forget weatherspoons and their microwave meals just walk round the corner and have a proper freshly made homecooked meal at the blue bell.

Great family pub. Excellent home cooked food. Pie is to die for. Lovely friendly Landlord & Lady and Staff. Amazing view over valley were you can see for miles on a clear day. Would recommend to any visitors to Bolsover if they want to experience the true historic town.

Frank Sharon and daughter Paige have got a job on to get the blue bell back to its former glory when kev had the pub , but in the past few weeks that we have been going they have made major strides the food is good value for, money although franks choice of music leavs a lot to the imagination

wanted to have a look at Bolsover Castle so looked for a nearby pub for lunch. I had scampi, my husband had steak and ale pie which were quite good. The landlady was very nice and chatty, maybe her hubby should also lighten up a bit. We did say "we wouldn't mind a look at your dessert menu" but he never came back. Pub could do with more light inside of it, the views outside are very nice

The pub smelt unpleasant the man behind the bar I think was the landlord looked untidy and made us feel like we were a nuisance for being there food took a long time to arrive and was not worth the wait we will not be going back.

A great warm welcome, I am so pleased this local pub has been taken on by this lovely couple. Already this place looks better after a redecorate in the lounge. New pool table in the games room with large screen BT Sport TV. The beer garden has amazing views over the valley and new picnic benches. A log burner for those cosy chilly days with new and old pictures of Bolsover Castle etc. Real ales include Hobgoblin and was very good. Frank and his wife have made a tremendous effort in making this the best pub in Bolsover

Food was only warm not hot. There was also no diet coke as the soft drink machine was broken which isn't good when someone has driven and wants a soft drink

I had my doubts about this place after trying to ring them to book a table and the two different numbers I found both failed to connect. An establishment that doesn't have a working phone line is worrying. However we said we would give them a try in order to support local trade so we did.I doubt that we shall go again. The menu had all the signs of it being manufactured food, the only item that had sold out was the meat and potato pie which is probably one of the few things they make from scratch. There were steaks but I wasn't willing to risk ordering it. With nothing taking my fancy I went for the cheese and broccoli bake and it wasn't brilliant, I would have been ashamed to serve it, just slices of potato and broccoli with sauce and far from baked it looked microwaved. The chips looked as though they had been cooked and left to go cold then put back in to warm up and the peas were of poor quality, starchy inside. Ok they were charging £12 for two meals but that will not tempt us back.The staff were pleasant but my overall impression is that they have taken this place on with good intentions but just do not have the skill to pull it off. It's a shame as Bolsover needs a good pub that also has good food and sadly, unless something drastically changes The Blue Bell will fall by the wayside yet again.

Under new management serving real ales pedigree marathons smooth EPA bottled beers and various larger's food served 12-8pm Sunday's 12-4pm meat and potato pie to die for average meal cost £6.95

went in just after they opened for a meal at lunchtime. very disappointed, had to wait a fair bit for our meal. when it came we were very disappointed with it, chips were not cooked fully and were hard in the middle

David (Chef) and Susan have just opened and have EPA and Hobgoblin cask Ale and started cooking food today. We had the EPA and Mansfield Smooth both very good. The pub has been closed for a few months with various caretaker managers, but this couple are determined to make it work, and have started with a limited choice until trade improves. We intend to go for a meal next week. Good luck to them both

Dingy bar, disinterested barman, chips which managed to be both overcooked and soggy. Complete let down as a lunchtime venue.

Went in after a walk to the castle, but was very dissapointed. The beer I had (real ale) was of sub par quaility and I was freezing the whole stay, maybe they should put that fire on.

The minute we walked in the door we were made to feel very welcome.From then on everything was fantastic, service and food which is fantastically priced.I would recommend to anyone but will say it is a pub that serves great food not a gastropub.

Super old style service with a smile. Great quiz nights with complimentary sandwiches. A super experience if you long for the old days.

Absolutely fabulous food, atmosphere and staff!! Went earlier for Mother's Day and thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of proper home cooked food and proper pub atmosphere. Thank you and Will definatly go back.

Fast becoming our favourite for Sunday lunch.3 courses for £10 though we only had the main course and shared a pudding because the portions are generous.lovely home cooked meat and Yorkshire pudding. Plenty of nicely cooked veg and amazing gravy.also had meals at other times and always well cooked and value for money.

We went early in the evening for tea and had a good meal. The choice of food was reasonable and was very well cooked, homemade chips were really tasty.The decor is very dated but fits in with the style of the pub. Staff very friendly.

We have called in a couple of times recently for a drink, not had a meal yet but intend to do so soon.The first thing that hits you when you walk in now is how much cleaner the place is and does not smell stale anymore as it used to under the previous management. Real ale was quite good.

If in the area, or visiting Bolsover Castle, then this is a great place for a pint or a bite to eat. The hand pumps have swan neck dispensers with sparklers, even on the southern brews, but the bar staff were happy to remove the sparker and serve the beer well. The pint I had was in excellent condition.The menu is good old basic pub grub, nothing too fancy, and all very well priced. There are baked spuds, sandwiches, and burgers. They also do an excellent all day breakfast.Far too many pubs try to be too fancy with their food, but this place is an all too rare simple pub that just does the basics very well.It was too cold for us to sit outside but the views our the back are well worth taking in.

love the place, had a few meals in there now & never had a problem all the staff are very welcoming & friendly it's a good old (not manafactured) pub with the cask beers kept to a very good standard , I took my mum for dinner there for her 80th birthday & she loved it, they looked after her very well. thanks

We have frequented the Blue Bell for many years and throughout we have enjoyed an excellent service. We were sorry to see the old landlord go but have not been disappointed by the new ones.We have known them since August 2013 when Tom and Adam started and have always thought what a first rate service they offer. Always pleasant and great with the younger ones.We arrived about 7:00ish for the start of New Year and elected to remain in the quieter side as that is what we preferred. Although the Karaoke in the other side did sound fun. Nothing was too much bother for them throughout. In addition, Tom and Adam were dressed in fancy dress and jovial from the offset. Putting their heart and souls into the nights celebrations. As mentioned in previous reviews they did at their own expense provide pizza for all who wanted, which was very much appreciated.We did observe three people walk in and the lady start complaining immediately; the husband/partner asked her to stop 'whinging'. She went on to complain about everything to do with the pub. I am sorry they felt like that and if they had felt so upset why did they stay until the end?Great service lads, great night and as usual warm family friendly environment throughout. You worked hard and do not deserve the criticism from one of the 3 people who arrived later!

I also live within a stones throw of the blue bell and a personal friend of the past land lord.The new management have worked extremely hard to make all (certainly what we have see) very welcome.I was in the pub on New Year's Eve and the so called "pizza boxes" were Tom and Adams free food provided at very short notice and very appreciated.The good is excellent and Tom and Adam try extremely hard to be welcoming and provide a good service.Really disappointed people feel the need to post such awful reviews and utter rubbish.Maybe enter the pub before 11pm and join the real regulars as all that I speak with are made very welcome and enjoyTirty from Boza

As a single woman I am wary of going in pubs I don't know. However, I had arranged to meet a friend in the Blue Bell and arrived slightly early. Although I was a stranger, I was warmly welcomed as a friend and immediately put at ease.

December, 31st 2012We have been a few times since it was taken over, (stopped going quite a while ago), decided to go for a drink New Years Eve with 4 friends(2 of which had never been before) and stayed to see the new year in. Had an amazing time, friendly atmosphere, found people quite sociable, hosts were brilliant, well done. Our friends have decided to make it their local.Tina x

we spent new years eve in the blue bell after being recommended by other locals. the welcome and atmosphere was brilliant. the landlord bought in a large selection of pizzas for the customers at his own expense and we were treat like regulars despite visiting for the 1st time since the new management had taken over. the doors were locked at 11pm to prevent late comers and rowdys from other nearby pubs coming in and spoiling the evening. despite this, 3 people did manage to get in and sat on the next table and did nothing but complain about everything. the blue bell is poles apart from what it used to be under the previous management, it is now clean, well staffed and serves excellent home cooked food and well kept cask beers. we shall certainly be calling the blue bell our local from now on.

We went here as someone recommend here to us and how lovely it was. Warm welcome from all the staff, log burner blazing away and what a great menu...home cooked and a great choices for everyone. Fantastic views from the beer garden and enjoyed a game of pool or two.Looking forward to going here again soon.

Went for Sunday dinner, generous portions of real vegetables. Everything tasted fresh and home cooked.The new owners have transformed the place. Welcoming and good value.

The new owners are Bringing this excellent real ale pub back to its former glory. The log burner compliments the warm welcome you get from Adam and Tom. The good choice of food adds the final touch, and you now need to book, as the word gets around that the Bell gets into full swing. If your visiting Bolsover highly recommended. Well done guys