Old Bell Restaurant in Wiltshire - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Had lunch here. The menu is a curious mix of restaurant dishes, but also with a burger menu. The burgers were nice (although the cheese was odd), but it seems out of place in a country hotel. They also bought us bread to start our meal which would have been nice if we'd had the restaurant dishes, but just plain unnecessary if you're having a burger. The chips to accompany the burger were superb though.

What a fabulous afternoon. The afternoon tea was exceptional. Staff couldn't have been more attentive. A lovely chilled afternoon with the best company. Thankyou. X

A delightful place. Had a lovely Tapas lunch served by Nicole who was so helpful, cheery and made our time special. Thankyou

Bar service hit and miss, restaurant food fantastic. A bit pricey . But you get what you pay for. Good quality.

Stayed for two nights to attend a local wedding. We had a delicious and well presented meal on our first night. Our Master Cosy suite was lovely and well equipped to the point we brought along our own Dyson hair dryer only to find we had one in the room. We also had a fridge which is always a big plus. All staff lovely and attentive. Breakfast was superb. Would highly recommend.

Delicious cream tea. Food was brilliant and so was the service. Price is higher than other places but the quality of the food and service makes it worth it.

Went for cream scones on my birthday...absolutely wonderful..

Beautiful hotel, excellent food and incredibly helpful staff. Absolutely recommended!!!!!

The Bell Hotel in Malmesbury offers a delightful blend of historic charm and modern comfort. Situated in the heart of this picturesque market town, the hotel provides a convenient base for exploring the surrounding area. Guests can expect warm hospitality, cozy accommodations, and delicious dining options. The hotel's historic character is evident in its architecture and décor, while its contemporary amenities ensure a comfortable stay. Whether you're visiting for leisure or business, the Bell Hotel Malmesbury provides a welcoming retreat with its combination of old-world charm and modern conveniences.

Quality establishment Excellent cocktails. Sat out front watching the world go by next to Malmesbury Abbey. All tables fully booked so couldn't eat but if fully booked it says all.

We didn't stay, popped in for a drink when we discovered it was the oldest hotel in England (1700s). The inside decoration is not what I expected, but interesting, with some original features

Great food, great service and great value for money! Perfect go a classy lunch.

This place holds a special place in my heart, as I stayed here for several weeks in the early 90's when my family had relocated to Malmesbury from the states. To see the hotel so vibrant and alive was heartwarming indeed. But, memories aside, this was the first time in 30 years that I ate at the restaurant, and my, what an experience it has become. The lamb sausage scotch egg was the best I've had in the UK, the chicken sandwish was perfectly seasoned and cooked, and the chips/fries were outstanding. Every item had a bit of flair to make it special, while still feeling approachable and comfortable. If you are in the area and are looking for a spot of lunch, this is absolutely where you should eat. Hope to be back again sometime soon!

Ben was extremely helpful and went out of his way to accommodate a booking that needed amending. A 5 star purely for Ben. Loving your work sir!

Ben is a legend, as simple as that! When the chips are down Ben overcomes. BOOK YOUR STAY NOW!

This is a truly beautiful building with really exceptional interior design throughout. The staff were really helpful and friendly and the food was fabulous. I couldn’t fault it.

We had a delicious dinner here and we will definitely return. The staff were very helpful and friendly. There’s a fab drinks menu with lots of alcohol free cocktails too!

Great location, friendly service and excellent food.

A charming hotel with great fire places and very pleasant communal areas. Staff are lovely and very helpful. Big thanks to Ben, Elina and Katy, along with the rest of the team, for making our stay so pleasant. The only qualms I had were the lack of noise insulation in rooms (big gap under door and flimsy windows) but I guess it's hard to fix that in historical buildings. Also, was surprised by lack of room service past 2030. Generally food was not served past that time. So something to keep in mind (ie don't expect them to be your fallback option). Food in the restaurant was tasty though. Worth a dinner booking.

This is a review of the hotel's new owner's new restaurant: "Saints and Sinners" (re-opened a few weeks ago). Put here as there is no TA listing for Saints and Sinners and this listing retains the old reviews and links to the new restaurant.Poor communication: I had a request in my reservation, which wasn’t answered. I emailed two days before, also with no response. I called 9 times with no response, phone was answered on the tenth call and my request was dealt with. Good ambience: some fresh touches to a lovely old building. Good cocktails: two excellent drinks. Limited selection of quality wine by the glass: I wasn’t ready to drink a whole bottle, but didn’t see any decent reds by the glass (so didn’t order any). Terrible cooking: while we waited (about an hour) we were given “Texan biscuits” as an appetiser… but they were very unappetising: very dry (they’re supposed to melt in the mouth - my guess is they were stale) and with a slight butter salt caramel coating, but nothing to counter the dryness. Like eating a week old scone with no butter... The “triple fried crispy chips” were pale, barely crisp and very dry/floury. Arranging them in a fancy tower didn’t hide how terrible they were. Steaks arrived - one as ordered (medium rare), the other was barely cooked (“blue”). Both completely dry, no juice/gravy atall. Also, we’d ordered two filets, but instead got a ribeye and a filet. They were supposed to be accompanied by “a rich bourbon glaze” but instead served with a thick dollop of chutney (?!) beside. The “blue cheese salad” was a tiny pile of green leaves with something that tasted like feta. It was embarrassingly bad. We ate a little bit, put much of the steak in a bag for our dog to eat later, and left. Service: was good when we were there and credit to the staff for deducting one main from the bill without being asked. (I guess they were also embarrassed). I was planning to come back with friends, but won’t risk it after this. We’ll come for a drink and eat elsewhere.

« Construit sur les vestiges des dépendances de l'abbaye de Malmesbury, il peut se targuer d'être le plus ancien hôtel existant en Angleterre, reposant sur des fondations datant de 1220 » (Wikipédia UK)C'est toujours un plaisir en Angleterre de "pauser" une heure ou deux dans un hôtel chic (mais pas guindé) et s'y offrir un bon thé (accompagné d'un excellent gâteau sablé - même non préparé sur place); le tout à un prix raisonnable.

The food was incredible and beautifully presented. I had the whole curried cod my husband had the lamb faggots. Probably the best meal out for years! Great service. Nice informal atmosphere.

Almuerzo delicioso y bebidas frías en el hermoso Courtyard. Acabo de almorzar con un amigo y fue un regalo fabuloso. El servicio fue impecable y la comida increíble. Ambos elegimos besugo y estaba cocinado a la perfección todavía húmedo servido en un risotto de chorizo, ¡realmente espero que esto vuelva a aparecer en el menú! Era un día caluroso así que lo seguimos con un helado y un glorioso calzoncillo fue un verdadero plato de decadencia. Gracias a todo el equipo que está haciendo un trabajo increíble en tiempos tan difíciles.

Fuimos por mi cumpleaños. Aprovechamos el 20% de descuento en toda la oferta de alimentos durante marzo, sumado a los cócteles 2 por 1, ¡una ganga!El servicio fue atento y una buena selección de comida (y cócteles!) El cóctel de gambas calentitas fue muy agradable. Teníamos carne de venado y carne para los platos principales y luego ambos habían escalfado de pera. Me encantaría probar el resto del menú. Porciones de buen tamaño también.Todo el personal muy agradable. Definitivamente recomiendo

Almorzamos aquí con amigos. Pensamos que era extraño que el Día de la Comunidad con la ciudad agitada, este restaurante estaba bastante vacío. Sin embargo, cuando llegó una fiesta esperando un menú especial pre-ordenado solo para descubrir que las cocinas no sabían nada al respecto, se hizo más claro por qué la gente estaba eligiendo comer en otro lugar. Disfrutamos de nuestra comida pero el servicio de bar y el camarero dejaban mucho que desear. ¡Lento, sin el comportamiento alegre que esperarías y en cuanto al vino! Descubrimos que solo tenían una botella de la mayoría de los mejores vinos de la lista. Terminaron poniendo cuatro en la barra desesperados para que pudiéramos elegir, ¡uno de los cuales era 90! Claramente, este restaurante está sufriendo de un mal enlace con el personal del frente y problemas de suministro. Qué pena, ya que está en un entorno histórico en la posada más antigua de Inglaterra con un ambiente encantador y buena comida.

Cenamos aquí durante una noche en The Old Bell.Gran servicio con comidas bien preparadas y ejecutadas comenzando con salmón ahumado curado con ginebra.El lomo de venado fue un plato destacado para mí que habría estado en casa en la mayoría de los establecimientos de alta cocina. La carne de venado era perfectamente rosa. Debería haber pedido un poco más de la deliciosa salsa (mencionada al personal).Volvería.

Recently 5 of us had a delicious lunch in this atmospheric pub. Although very busy the service was quick and efficient. All the staff were friendly and attentive. Where possible the food is locally sourced.

We were met with a pleasant surround that had clearly been refurbished in the last year or so. All felt very relaxed yet the food and it’s presentation were very good indeed. You always judge a Sunday Lunch by its roast potatoes and these were lovely crisp skins with soft, slightly fluffy insides but they were just a little too ‘dry’. The meat was beautifully cooked. The dessert was exquisite too and the staff were polite, friendly and didn’t hover despite it being quiet. A recommended visit for food!

We met up with some friends who had booked the four of us in for dinner. As we all arrived early we made ourselves known to staff and said we would have a pre-dinner drink in the bar. Half an hour later our friend received a call asking whether we still needed the table as we were late. Clearly a lack of communication here.Having placed our orders, cutlery for the starters was brought to the table for three of us, but not for the fourth, for which we had to ask. We also noticed that other tables were offered bread rolls whereas we were not, and again these were only brought to us when we asked.The food however was exceptionally good. Portions were on the small side as has been mentioned in other reviews, but the quality, presentation and flavour of every dish we had was very good indeed. The suggested wine pairings were spot on, and reasonably priced.But service was slow. We noticed other diners had come and gone while we were still waiting for the table to be cleared after the main course. Eventually we ordered desserts, which were also good.At the next table, a couple gave up waiting and cancelled the desserts they had ordered as their taxi was now outside. Then having eventually got their bill they had to hunt for a member of staff to pay on their way out. Not just us then.We tracked down a member of staff to get our bill, and asked to speak to the general manager about the poor service, only to be told he had gone home. The young waiter apologised and offered us drinks on the house, but we declined as we needed to leave. He said he would get the manager to ring us the next day… we are still waiting to hear from him.Had the service been up to the standard of the food this would be a five star review. This is a relatively expensive restaurant and the service really should be better.

The Old Bell used to be as dependable as a wood burning stove and just as cosy and welcoming...The last couple of years have seen a new owner and management team and its just been unpredictable from one visit to the next.Visited recently on a weekend evening for after dinner drinks in town and was just massively disappointed with the lacklustre service (the bar staff generally made you feel as if they were doing you a favour by serving you). The duty manager was slouched on a chair with her feet up on the reception desk (I kid you not!) and was more interested in chatting to one of the staff...whilst another customer waited for her to ‘become available’.This was once a fantastic place but has recently fallen into a being a very average place...which is a real shame...for a hotel which has been open for many hundreds of years, the current team seem to be on course to kill it off in just a few...There are better value, friendlier and more welcoming places to eat and drink in and around Malmesbury...try them instead.

¡Una comida en un restaurante caro debe juzgarse en su totalidad! Si hubiéramos tenido entrantes y platos principales, habría sido excelente. Las porciones son pequeñas, por lo que debe comprar 3 platos. La cocina no parecía tomar en serio el curso de postres / quesos, de ahí la rebaja. Mi compañero tenía el fondant de chocolate; si no puedes hacerlo bien, no lo pongas en el menú; la suya era una buena esponja de chocolate, pero debe ser suave y rezumar en el medio. Tuve el queso a las 9. 00 ¡esto era tres pequeños trozos de queso indescriptible, una rodaja de brie, un estilo cheddar gomoso y un poco de queso azul que era muy salado, PERO estos quesos eran directamente de la nevera! Como sabe cualquier chef respetuoso, debe servirlos a temperatura ambiente para 'resaltar el sabor'. Las cocinas a menudo no hacen eso, ya que puede significar un mayor desperdicio, pero a las 9. 00 con los costos de alimentos en aproximadamente 1 - 50 esto debe hacerse.

un edificio tan encantador en un entorno encantador en una ciudad encantadora. . . pero el peor almuerzo de unas vacaciones de dos semanas. Como escribió otro crítico que también tuvo que ir a buscar un camarero para obtener el servicio, un mal comienzo. La costosa ensalada César equivalía a un cuenco de lechuga sobredimensionada con algunas hojuelas de queso (posiblemente parmesano), algunos trozos pequeños de pollo seco y algunos picatostes y lardons, todo junto en un aguanieve suave. Una ausencia total de presentación o sabor. La ensalada de mi esposa debería haberse llamado "Caza el queso de cabra, ¡principalmente lechuga blanda! El servicio fue tan lento que pedimos nuestra factura tan pronto como llegaron las ensaladas y nos saltamos un postre. Una de las damas de la mesa de al lado recibió ¡El orden equivocado y esperó tanto tiempo para su reemplazo que ella se fue sin comer! Malmesbury y el histórico Old Bell merecen algo mejor.

Came to have dinner, the Menu had very little choice about 8 main and starters, the portions were very small and ater 3 courses you would still be hungry. the service was poor one minute you were swamped by wait staff the next there was none. the food was overpriced. I would not recomend this restaurant to any one

Had a lovely meal at the Old Bell with my wife after a break of a year or so. The new chef definitely seems to have taken the menu forward. Both the lamb and vegetarian dishes we had were excellent, as were the deserts. Service was extremely friendly and efficient also, particularly the restaurant manager.

Nos quedamos muy decepcionados con nuestra experiencia cenando en The Old Bell. No comenzó bien y tuvo un mal presentimiento cuando tuvo que encontrar un camarero para pedirles los menús 15 minutos después de que su mesa fuera reservada. ¡El restaurante ni siquiera estaba ocupado! El servicio fue muy lento, la comida estaba tibia y lo que recibimos no fue ni siquiera lo que se describió como los ingredientes en el menú con elementos que faltan o sabores completamente diferentes. Toda la experiencia de comida fue totalmente decepcionante. Pequeñas porciones hechas para verse bonitas y demasiado caras. Evidentemente, no éramos la única mesa descontenta con nuestra experiencia culinaria, ya que otros se quejaban también. No volveré.

I came here with my husband on a Monday night. It really is an attractive venue. We sat in the window and watched the sun go down. We had complimentary pre dinner drinks as it was my birthday. G and t for me. I had the asparagus and soft boiled egg for starters, more hollandaise sauce please. Husband had a pressed ham terrine. Both delicious. I had the recommend glass of Voigner with my starter. For mains I had the beef fillet with wild mushrooms, brisket and mash. I asked for seasonal vegetables to go with that. Recommended wine, red chateau neuf du pap. My husband had the lamb rump. Again both delicious. Too full for pud, so straight into coffee. I thoroughly recommend this venue.

Ambiente agradable en el lugar, pero pedí el pollo, que tardó mucho tiempo en llegar y cuando lo sirvieron fue extremadamente seco y difícil. . Podría haberlo usado para alinear las suelas de mis zapatos para nuestros futuros viajes a los picos. Puede verse bien en el exterior, pero nos decepcionó la calidad de la comida una vez dentro, especialmente teniendo en cuenta el precio. . .

Reservamos esto para una buena comida del domingo de Pascua. Comenzó bien, nos sentamos rápidamente en una buena ubicación y nuestro pedido recibido. Starter también fue muy agradable, sin embargo, las cosas se fueron cuesta abajo desde aquí. Tuvimos que esperar casi una hora para nuestros platos principales, mi carne estaba bien pero bastante seca. Luego, después de eso, nadie vino a nuestra mesa a tomar platos y ni siquiera nos ofrecieron postres. Estuvimos allí por alrededor de dos horas y finalmente nos rendimos. Alrededor de la mitad de las mesas hacían lo mismo y habían tenido suficiente, ya que no era solo nosotros. ¡Parecía que no había servicio en ninguna parte! La camarera se disculpó porque estaba muy ocupada, pero más de la mitad de las mesas estaban vacías. En general, el servicio horrible y la noche realmente decepcionante.

By what measure do you use to decide a rating? Today the measure was how well does management respond to getting things wrong. I don't think it would be fair to describe what went wrong, mistakes can happen. The point being that today management held up their hands to their mistakes and rescued what would otherwise have been a disastrous situation for us. Courteous acceptance and sympathetic consideration being the order of the day. Worthy of the 'Excellent' rating. Besides that my food was good, served by friendly attentive staff in pleasant surroundings. There were three Mothers in our party who I think appreciated the Mothers Day gifts.

Went to the Refectory restaurant today with friends fo Sunday lunch. Very disappointed with the service and to a lesser degree the food. We waited 10 minutes to be served at the bar on arrival, and despite the young man serving drinks saw me, he proceeded to ignore the fact that I had been waiting for so long. He was more interested in the customers at the tables in the restaurant. It would have been good to have been acknowledged and asked to wait instead of completely ignoring me. After eventually being asked to go to our table at 1.45 pm ( after booking for 1pm) the food was very average and not good value for the money. The wine we ordered was out of stock and we had to have an alternative. When I queried the service element with the young lady serving, she explained that she was trying to run the restaurant on her own with help from the man behind the bar, because they were short staffed. We have visited here several times over the last two years, but will think again about a return visit! We were especially embarrassed as we had recommended the Refectory to our friends..overall it was not a good experience.

Het oudste hotel van Engeland, van het jaar 1212. Heel vriendelijk, snelle bediening in een mooie omgeving hebben we heerlijk ontbeten.

Having arranged to have a birthday dinner at the old bell, we were sadly left disappointed.

This pub is said to be the older in the UK. Stopped in for lunch and the meals were very good. Staff seemed to be a little harried but that did not detract from a pleasant visit.

Mi esposa tenía vieiras para comenzar y dijo que eran excelentes. Ella entonces tuvo cordero tres maneras que disfrutó inmensamente. Mi principal de hoja de carne estofada era una delicia. Mucha carne que se desprendía del hueso en una rica salsa era muy sabrosa y abundante. Los precios para cada curso parecían razonables. 6 entrantes 19 - 23 para los principales, dada la calidad, pero 28 para los consejos de vinos el equilibrio y puede ayudar a explicar sólo 3 personas cenando en este martes en enero?

Really interesting menu with an optional wine pairing for each course which I recommend. Service is generally good with Sylvia from Hungary being the star of the show.

Tuvimos una mesa para 8 en el restaurante pero no nos quedamos en el hotel. La opinión general fue que la noche era demasiado cara para la calidad de la comida y el mal servicio. Los entrantes de salmón eran sosos y sin sabor. La carne servida en la costilla era una masa de grasa. Otros entrantes y platos principales estaban bien. Dos de los pudines pegajosos de toffee se sirvieron sin la salsa y uno de los postres se sirvió después de que los otros siete se hubieran comido. Para una factura de 400 + se espera mucho mejor.

Me alojé por una noche en el vuelo de la ginebra en una habitación principal junior. Nuestra habitación era amplia y muy cómoda, con vistas a la abadía. El baño era enorme, con una bañera con patas y una ducha separada. Nuestro descanso incluía dos gins y un plato principal en el restaurante más el desayuno. Había una gran variedad de ginebras y disfrutamos nuestra primera por la tarde en el soleado jardín y la segunda en el bar antes de la cena. El restaurante a la luz de las velas era encantador y ambos disfrutamos mucho de nuestros platos de cordero y ternera. Decidimos tomar una copa de las combinaciones de vinos sugeridas que eran buenas. La presentación del plato principal fue excelente, así que esperábamos algo un poco más refinado cuando pedimos el postre de arroz con leche en lugar de un plato de pudín cubierto con grandes trozos de fruta. Sabía bien, simplemente no se veía bien. El servicio fue excelente. El desayuno estaba bien. Un par de cosillas tardaron dos solicitudes y 45 minutos en obtener leche fresca para la habitación y nuestra factura era incorrecta ya que no se había aplicado la tasa de descanso especial.

Eating in this formal dining room was a quiet and elegant experience. Lovely decor, china, “real” napkins, proper wait staff, we might have been in the palace. My husband and I had the duck breast lunch with lemon posset for dessert. Both excellent. Service was slow, but perhaps by intention so we could savor. Don’t miss the abbey next door and the town of Malmesbury.

Excellent food, excellent presentation, Excellent choices for Breakfast, bread amazing, bakery excellent

Just next to Malmesbury cathedral. Historic building and lovely old world atmosphere inside. Bar food menu good for quick snack and local beer. Good value. The staff were very attentive and friendly. The restaurant looks good. If they have it on the chicken and salmon pies were enjoyed by our group. The hotel itself looks like it would be a nice place to stay.

A perfect celebration dinner - a fancy feel with very friendly waiters and waitresses. The atmosphere was quiet, but this was understandable for a Monday night. We loved the food, had all 3 courses and enjoyed them all. The lamb wellington was definitely a winner.

Sunday lunch for a party of 4. Tasty veg but the meat on three of the plates was poor, one beef portion riddled with fat, two small chicken portions largely bone. Poor value for money at 2 courses for £25. Didn't stay for the second course.

We love the new decor The bar staff are very friendly and helpful with a good selection of gin, whisky and cocktails. Restaurant service was good and the bottle of wine we had was excellent and good value. Sadly the food was disappointing and over priced for the what it was. One of the starters duck breast carpaccio was doused in truffle oil. It did specify this on the menu but it was totally excessive and over powering and I think an odd combination. The mackerel starter was better, the mackerel was good but the slab of fennel it came with was too big and also overpowering. Main course of chicken was fine but there was hardly any sauce. The main of turbot was bland fish with a really unpleasant ‘citrus’sauce which was identical to sweet sickly lemon curd. Really not good at all. The strawberry sponge with light vanilla custard was a massive pile of set custard/cream with a minute disc of sponge. All in all the proportions and flavour combinations left much to be desired.

Pre-booked a breakfast as was staying in the area overnight

I have several times since it reopened in spring 2018. Always excellent food and prompt and friendly service from well trained staff. I can especially recommend the jazz evenings.

We had booked to stay a couple of nights at The Old Bell, and hadn't even thought about dinner - but about a week ahead of our stay, the hotel phoned us to ask if we would like to reserve a table for dinner on either night. We decided to book in the first night.

We visited in April following the Old Bell's refit. Much prefer the decor now and we had wonderful service in the restaurant. our lamb wellington was cooked to perfection and when we requested truffle mash instead of the accompanying potatoes on the menu it was no trouble at all. Rather full we opted to skip desert and instead chose cheese and biscuits - we both received an entire plateful! We'll definitely be back!

Stayed at The Old Bell for two nights. The steak was excellent and it was difficult to choose what to have from the interesting choices. Lamb Wellington was very good and the fish choices looked out of the ordinary. Starters, salads and desserts were all lovely. Would make a point of going back.

My wife and I stopped at the Old Bell on our way home from our honeymoon, which included a meaI at the restaurant.

We had a lovely stay at The Old 'Bell Hotel. Are room was really nice. We had some lovely treats on arrival, Spent the evening in the restaurant. The food was great , we had steak, cooked just how we asked. I loved the deco of the whole hotel . I must say the staff were so friendly and helpful . Will definitely come hear again.

The staff and Chef were well informed to cater for my needs of a gluten free diet and I would recommend the Old Bell to other people with dietary needs. The staff were very good at checking things for me without making me feel I was being a nuisance. And there is a very nice atmosphere, relaxing and unpretensious with discreet efficient service.

We popped in for afternoon tea and given the cost, it was quite ordinary. The finger sandwiches were ok, but 2 out of 3 were salmon but the cakes and scones were good. With smokers adjacent, the overall atmosphere tasted like cigarette smoke and we were never asked if things were ok and neither asked if we wanted tea ‘top up’.

We ate here two nights on our recent stay.We thought that the centre window seat was the prime table position.First night I had the pie which was excellent and I noticed a favourite with the other diners then for the second night I had an enormous veal chop which was very good.Both were dscribed as "House Specials"Nice ambiance and good place to eat though the jazz night music was not to our taste.Breakfast was excellent with a good choice.

We ate here with friends last Saturday, our first visit since the refurbishment. It was very busy which was good to see and we enjoyed a G & T in the courtyard prior to our meal. There was an amazing thunderstorm with the lights flashing in the dining room which was quite theatrical. We had 4 different and all excellent main courses, I had a delicious steak, the others had lamb wellington, risotto and the halibut. Clean plates all round followed by 4 equally good puds. Good service and very pleased to see the place on such good form.

Took my Mum and aunt for their birthday dinner. I’m used to London service and prices so was delighted by the friendly down to earth personal service. The food and the wine were delicious, especially the halibut with citrus sauce and the sirloin steak. Three of us had the “zen” dessert and we all loved it. £228 for three courses for four people include £57 for the amarone and one glass of loverly Beaune de venise was excellent value! I doubt there is anything better within 10 miles. And there is the lovely location right next to Malmesbury’s beautiful abbey.

Visited following its lengthy closure for refurbishment. Definite improvement to the bar area and a new fresh look to the lovely dining room. Service was willing and friendly and a decent pint of local ale was served. The house Pinot Grigio however is best avoided.

Stopped by last week for dinner with my wife

I have visited the Old bell last Friday for the first time since the renovation. I have to say that the decorations are amazing and it is almost as it used to be 12 years ago. The menu is well written with plenty of choice...

I’ve always been a fan of the Old Bell having eaten and drink there regularly over many years.

Been in 3 times since the refurb but will not return. First 2 times was for drinks today was for food.

Simple, nice and good atmosphere place.

I am a visitor to the old bell every now and again, and in all the years I've been coming, it's remained pleasant and atmospheric, weather you're having tea in the garden or a drink at the bar, it's lovely.

Try the steak tar tar it just purely melts in ones mouth! Sit by a roaring log fire & be served by very knowledgable & engaging staff.

Popped in on spec the Friday before Christmas just for a drink but decided to see if they had a table free.... result quickly seated by attentive & cheerfull waiter, Drinks value was good with a awesome selection of Gins to keep the girls happy. We had 3 courses and all 3 were spot on - my wifes a picky eater and often sends food back but not today all 3 courses had no complaints from any of us.

Chose it for my birthday. Had very good food and wines to go with our courses. I`d prefer if there was one waiter or waitress catering a particular table instead of having 4 different people. Will return after refurbishment.

Beautiful situated in the old city center of malmesbury. The room was small but absolutely clean. The bathroom was clean and still with old, original looking instalation. If you stay at the old bell - please check the restaurant too - it was a delicious surprise! From the rich breakfast in the morning as well as the tasty dinner in the evening - in one word: perfect. I can recomend the Old Bell and will book there for shure again if i have to stay again in this Region.

I was staying with friends in town and they suggested lunch last Saturday. Although I grew up near Malmesbury I have never been to the Bell and I was really looking forward to a rather special occasion in the dining room. When we arrived, the person in charge of the restaurant (I cannot flatter her with a professional title) had lost the reservation. She could only offer us an unlaid table next to the serving area. Although my friends insisted that they had called to reserve the previous day, and pointed out an unoccupied table for four, she made absolutely no effort to resolve the situation. It was obviously that table, take it or leave it.

Today I was on the second day of a training course held at the hotel. Having selected a pre order option of a gluten free burger (without the bun) with new potatoes (as the chips aren’t gluten free), I was looking forward to lunch. I couldn’t have been more disappointed. What arrived in front of me was a naked beef burger patty and a pile of seriously al dente new potatoes. There was none of the salad that came with everyone else’s burgers, just a dry patty and raw spuds. I got the impression that I was somewhat of an inconvenience, that or whoever dished up my meal, gave up on presentation and just ‘slapped it on’. I found it more of a disappointment as I’d been singing the restaurants praises to my ‘out of town’ colleagues as I’ve been a fair few times before, this was embarrassing more than anything else and I will not be recommending it again.

Very impressed with the food. Really nice crab ravioli and a great Steak, very well cooked. Presentation was also really nice. Would be happy to eat here again.

Rare night out with the wife without the kids and we visited the this lovely place

We really enjoyed Sunday Lunch in the Old Bell - it’s a proper hotel dining experience: quiet service, very good menu including roasts and, while not cheap or pub prices, it was very good value for well prepared and well flavoured meals. Highly recommended and we’d love to go to The Old Bell again.

This is a lovely old property at the heart of a market town, next to its ancient abbey. The hotel used to be part of the abbey complex. The quality of the restaurant has been variable over the years. There is now a new management team and it is looking promising. Service which previously was well meaning but inept (sometimes with language difficulties) was noticeably tighter, while still friendly and charming. There was an efficient and knowledgeable maitre d' overseeing service - and, as so often, that made a big difference. First courses were obviously home made, and much better than my last visit. A tartar of sea trout and sea bass was bright tasting and very nicely presented, and a base of ginger bread was an inventive touch. A crab raviolo had extremely good, light pasta and a hint of lemongrass worked well, even with an over-plentiful cream sauce. It was Sunday lunch - not my favourite meal (sorry, heresy) - so it's difficult to say anything interesting about the main courses. The chicken was moist and the vegetables were pleasantly al dente. It would have been nice to have more non-traditional Sunday lunch dishes available on the menu, and the plates were a bit crowded - would have been better if vegetables had been served on the side. But, as roast dinners go, it was a good one. Puddings were very pleasant and attractively presented, but what was described as a cheesecake was in fact a set vanilla mousse (still very tasty though!) All in all, it looks like the Old Bell is on an up, and I am looking forward to returning, and trying the dinner menu.

Old Bell is has been our local restaurant for over 20 years and we could probably be described as regulars. Over the last few years the menu and quality has probably been solid but unremarkable. We ate there with family last weekend and were very pleasantly surprised by the much more interesting and adventurous menu which actually delivered. The service was attentive and friendly and service very well paced. We decided the meal was definitely the best we had had there in at least ten years. We have booked again for a few weeks time with some friends. Let's hope it continues.

We visited The Old Bell for lunch (set menu) and found it to be excellent value.Both courses we had were very tasty and good portions.The fish was perfectly cooked and the batter light and delicious. The staff were very pleasant and eager to please.I have given it four stars as I felt the surroundings could have been better. The modern mismatched furniture was not at all in keeping with such a lovely old building. From reading other reviews I suspect I would have preferred it's previous decor. Sadly this type of refurb is spoiling the character of many premises these days.

New management and l expect they are looking at the dining room decor.But this is still a special place to eat.A well balanced menu and affordable wine and attentive service.A table for two by the front windows allows you to watch the world going by.

we had a complimentory ticket that was a prize in a raffle for a one night stay for two including breakfast, as it was the wife's birthday I booked with Hannah who gave us a master suit the athalstan, when we arrived Emilly took us to our room it was massive,we did not dine there as I had booked a local restaurant but we had drinks at the bar served by Anna who we also met at breakfast which was excellent with a wide range of options, over all our stay was brilliant, all of the staff made us welcome the service was very good and the room was really clean as was the rest of the hotel, thank you so much

Most years in the past my wife and I have booked a table at The Bell for her birthday. This year was no exception and we duly arrived at the appointed time. Imagine our dismay to find the restaurant had been "gutted" and the wonderful old English decor replaced with ugly minimalist modern furniture. What a great shame!After a starter of artichoke soup which was spoiled by the fact it was tepid, my wife ordered a fillet steak with a side order of broccoli. When it arrived, the steak was not much bigger than a matchbox and not of the greatest quality. As for the broccoli, I couldn't even cut it with a knife! so it had to be left. As for my meal, it could only be described as average at best. We are both pensioners and this experience cost me a whole weeks wages from my part time job. Goodbye Old Bell, we won't be back!

Very disappointing to see a rather eclectic mix of furniture which doesn't fit with he surroundings at all. Dinner was significantly worse than on any occasion within the past twenty years of going to this venue.

Visited for afternoon tea. Comfortable surroundings, friendly team that served us and a tasty, well presented and interesting range of things to eat. Excellent value for money.

Lunch in the garden on a sunny day was great. We ordered different things, all well prepared and presented. Attentive yet discreet service, and great value. Booking is almost essential, I hear.

We were visiting the wonderful abbey garden nearby and decided to have lunch in this old, handsome inn.The set menu for £12.50 was incredible. the standard of cooking is very high, puts to shame lots of chain restaurants. I had the best caponata as starter ever apart the one I ate in Palermo. Lovely quality bread to accompany it. Then i went for the pumpkin gnocchi, my husband for the fish stew both very tasty. The wine is reasonably priced. The service is very good, attentive . The restaurant has lovely views of the hills and has high ceiling and light., nice old furniture. One of the loveliest places i have come across ever and I am 62!

New team at The Old Bell so decided to try it for lunch along with some friends. At £12.50 for 2 courses it was hardly a big risk. What we experienced was much better than the price would tend to indicate and both courses with coffee were really lovely, and the staff were great. We are quite local and are very pleased that The Old Bell is back!

food excellent and served by very pleasant and helpful staff - prices not too expensive for a onsite restaurant

Dropped in for lunch, on a recommendation from a local shop owner, and it didnt disappoint. Good value, set price menu (£12-95 for two courses), good real ale, a delightful restaurant room....and outstandingly pleasant and helpful young staff. The food was nicely presented, with generous portions, and tea/coffee being included was a bonus.

- choose if you fancy a old/historical charm- laid back place and town center to roam and explore- bit pricey but good quality food and service..............................................

We stayed at the hotel and experienced breakfast, dinner and afternoon tea. The food and service was excellent.

It was divine. Light, refreshing, tart and slightly sweet.The little macaroons added some wonderful texture to the creamy dessertExcellent

Stopped in with the dog for a pint and a sandwich and was blown away. Probably the best chicken sandwich I've ever eaten. Staff are excellent, food is awesome and the location is delightful

You would not want to take teenage males here for dinner. They would leave hungry, especially if they have the Stone Bass. We were served complimentary bread, a plus. All our main courses were very well prepared, another plus. The grass fed rump steak was very tasty, aged and cooked to perfection. The Stone Bass was fresh and perfectly cooked, but serving sizes were small.Local beers good, wine (Verdejo ) was OK, but poor value.

Very old pub - I think the oldest in England; good atmosphere, good selection of beers and gin! Food and staff good.