The Bell in Dover

Walking St Martin's Way The beach at Dover to the Cathedral at Canterbury Well-deserved pints for 6 thirsty Pilgrims !! Ric the Rambler

Di passaggio, sulla Via Francigena. Un po' di relax nel prato di fronte al locale, in attesa che apra alle ore 12:00. Accoglienza davvero calda, due chiacchiere, un panino e una birra. Nulla di più, ma un ottimo ricordo di questo posticino immerso nelle campagne del sud dell'Inghilterra.

Bien authentique très British donc parfait pour la biere et accueil charmant mais contrairement à ce que l’on croyais il n’est pas possible d’y manger autre chose que chips et panini. Sinon franchement sympa, typique et chaleureux.

Only called in for a drink. Nice pint of directors, pleasant atmosphere, friendly staff. Nothing else to add.

My sister & I stopped in as we were hiking from Canterbury to Dover whilst on the Via Francigena. The staff was very warm, helpful (provided directions and signed our pilgrims' passports) & fun! It is a great spot for pilgrims to relax when making the hike from Canterbury to Dover. As one reviewer stated, call ahead if you'd like some food beyond chips or pretzels.

Popped in whilst doing a 50km charity walk. Lovely location, friendly staff and customers. Lovely pint of beer (Directors). We needed this beer after a long, tiring walk. Recommended.

Walked from Canterbury to Dover (first leg of the Via Francigena) this week with my two sisters & stopped at this pub in Shepherdswell. In fact stopped twice (at the end of our first day & the beginning of our second day walking. Both times the bar staff, as well as the customers, couldn’t have been more welcoming & friendly. It really was a pleasant break. Although they don’t serve food, if you phone ahead of time, then you can get something to eat, & some pilgrims we met on the way said it was excellent food

Jo and Steve White (the new managers) are very amiable and welcoming, in addition Victoria AKA 'Plum' is a continued asset, always serving drinks with a smile. There are plenty of events here to please all including; bands, solo singers and guitarists, quiz nights for charities - to name just a few!

Spent an evening in this pub. Band was fab. Jo, the new landlady, and her husband Steve, and all bar staff were very welcoming and great fun

So the pub is now in the hands of the lovely Jo assisted by husband Steve and the wonderful long standing barmaid Victoria, known to all around here as Plum. It's great to see so many friends and fellow villagers not to mention those from further afield flocking back now it's changed hands. Very favourable drinks prices, good selection on tap and most of all a very friendly welcome. I'm told that good home made food is soon in the offering. Can't wait for this. If you have previously been here and didn't want to return, all I can say is do, take a chance you really won't regret It! Every best wish for your venture and into 2018.

As the pub is under new management mum and I decided to give it a go. All very welcoming, great selection of snacks and cakes. Lovely roaring fire and a good selection of red and white wines. Lovely barmaid who talked us through the wine options. We will back to sample some more!

This picturesque little pub has on the 24th of October 2017 been put under the watchful eye of Jo, the lovely new landlord. With a free lunchtime buffet on the 28th October and live music in the evening, Jo is kicking proceedings off in style. Bar snacks, coffee and cake with music, entertainment and events are looking like regular features. Can't wait to see how things develop. Good luck Jo and The Bell Inn team!

The landlady was a bit curt and insisted on charging us 50p per water bottle. This was after us paying £4.80 for 2 other drinks and a snack. I had 98p of loose change but that wasn't close enough so I broke into a £5 note. On previous occasion I remember that they also add surcharges to card payments. The surcharge s I can grudgingly understand but to have to pay for tap water on the North Downs way just seemed a little unfriendly and petty. Sadly there isn't much competition so on a hot day, there isn't much you can do about it.

Immediately received an unfriendly welcome by being told that i was not welcome with muddy boots ( so i took them off) Despite the nice interior was told they didn't serve any food. She moaned that I didn't have the right change and when I wondered around obviously looking for the loo she made no effort to point me in the right direction. Crisp selection was very good though. I won't be back.

The landlady here is lovely. She appears austere but has a fab sense of humour. She is brilliant with dogs and kids. There isn't food I know but you are advised to go to the best place around. The barmaid is very chatty and the locals are welcoming. We love it here and drive a good 15 mins to come here. We have recommended it to family and they love it too. Go with a good cheer and you will be greeted with the same.

Unwelcoming, not a happy atmosphere, no food available, not even a basic ploughmans lunch. The landlady seemed not to care either way whether or not we all stayed or left! Very odd for such a lovely pub.

Simplemente el servicio más inútil, antipática y grosera que he sido testigo.

I first visited this pub in 2011 and returned in 2016 on a recent visit to the pretty village of Shepherdswell to find a new licensee has taken over. It used to be a wonderful pub. However sadly not anymore. Whilst being served on a busy village event which was raking in a good days taking, the Landlady was rude to a couple of hikers passing through who just asked for water. I returned two months later. No tables free and one had a load of children's toys on the table with no one sitting there and children running amok was not suitable. I won't be returning and instead have found more hospitable and cleaner pubs nearby. Such a shame.

Complained about beer that tastes bleachy - landlady argued that all her customers liked it and she was the landlady - what customers?! Saturday night and no one there! She then asked us to leave. Avoid this pub - I am a local and will sharing my experience - what a daft woman! Try the Wrong Turn at Barfrestone or the Carpenters at Coldred where they understand great customer experience!

decently served beer, but food frozen and microwaved. Not welcoming to strangers and visitors. Surly landlady.

Visited recently, everything seemed too much trouble by the blonde waitress who was clearly drunk and didn't seem to want to work there. We ordered drinks and she tutted that I stop her being on her phone and talking to someone at the end of the bar. We then needed an extra lemonade and she rolled her eyebrows and shook her head, I didn't want to spend another penny in there but unfortunately we had friends there too and was too late to change venue, I will never visit again, it's a shame as the landlady was lovely, really let down by a blonde lady with glasses, we then ordered the same drinks again and it was a totally different price to the first time. She's got to go

Arrived at The Bell in Shepherdswell, an area unknown to us, a very warm welcome was made to us by a friendly barmaid, we had a light bite and great conversation, the barmaid gave a idea of the local points of interest and East Kent Railway.All in all, a place we will be returning to in the spring.

Good atmosphere with a landlady who really tries to make everyone welcome!!Have not tried it myself yet but the regulars say the food is great too!Just don't turn up expecting food on Monday or Tuesday!Great place!

Visited several times just for a drink and always received a warm welcome from helpful friendly landlady and staff. Visited Sunday 15/11/15 for sunday lunch. Food excellent and good value. Good selection of roast meats and veg. You really need to try to taste how good it really is. Have booked again for end of month, can't wait. Big thank you to all staff at the Bell Inn. Also great selection of desserts, try the fruit crumble.

A charming, well decorated (spotlessly clean) country pub.Beautiful surroundings.I manage a B & B not so far away and recommend this place to all my guests. I took a couple of friends there last night to try the food out, as although I send many of my guests to the Bell and drink there from time to time (when I can get out),I have not actually eaten there myself, but the reports back to me are always good.I had lasagne with garlic bread along with Dave and Adrian had the ribs.All was well presented, tasty and pipping hot.I rarely eat a pudding, but thought i'd 'pig out' so I decided on the fruit crumble with custard (delicious), although tempted to try the fudge cake lol !Great hospitality, great atmosphere and very reasonable on price.Well worth visiting

Myself and 2 friends wanted to come into the pub on a Tuesday afternoon for a light lunch after returning back from long haul flight feeling extremely jet lagged. We had previously been told the pub doesn't serve food on only a Monday. We went in and asked for drinks and then asked for a menu and was rudely told that the pub does not serve food on Tuesdays and the bar maid pointed to a sign saying when the kitchen was open. We then wanted to pay for our drinks on card and that there was a minimum card payment of £10. We asked politely if we could pay £10 and then for change in cash to be given. The barmaid rudely said 'I'm a pub, not a Bank'. This sarcasm was not needed and quite frankly we felt like taking our business else where. It felt like it was a chore for her to have our business. We will not be returning. We can instead recommend the crown in Eyethorne where we had a complete juxtaposition of an experience.

Spotlessly clean, excellent food and beer and not expensive. If you want a high quality cheap meal then this is the place for you. The Guinness is first class. The food range is a bit limited but it is very good.

Good pleasenty presented home cooked Sunday lunch ... must be one of the best I have had ... will definitely be back again

Good pub, friendly staff and locals. Well worth a pint after a long walk in the surrounding countryside.The food is good and reasonable. Of note is the Brie and bacon baguette. Delicious. Dogs also welcome when on a lead, no being banished to a wet and cold beer garden because you have fido.

We had lunch at the Bell, visited because it had once been in the family.The owner was charming, interested in keeping a traditional village pub for the locals. she is working hard to provide service with value.The food was good and service also, the garden was simple yet effective and the inside was comfortable and friendly.Worth a visit

We can't reconcile our experience at The Bell with it's five rating. The welcome and friendly service was excellent; staff came out to the garden to take our order and again to tell us when the meal was ready. It ended there. Garden furniture was a miscellaneous collection of scruffy tables and chairs and the outside area generally needed some tlc. The restaurant area was dark and gloomy and the meal was just good basic pub grub, but with far too much vegetable/salad padding of the main course. Quantity, rather than quality.

Very nearly five! As fairly local River, Dover) we went to the Bell for a birthday celebratory meal on Wednesday last and couldn't fault it at all. Indeed it was so good we booked to go again on the following Sunday for another celebration. The place was packed and although the service was good the meal - a roast dinner - was nowhere near as good as the previous one. One of our number had an item from the main menu and his meal was very good so perhaps it is just a Sunday roast thing. Having said that we would not hesitate to go again but probably not on a Sunday lunchtime!

This place was recommended by the locals and we quickly found out why. Food was excellent and very well presented. The owner takes great pride in making her fare in-house; not ready made items will be found here.

We were house hunting in shepherdswell and decided to eat in the bell. Everyone was friendly and the meal good value for money. We have now put an offer in on a nearby property and look forward to village life and more meals at the bell

Under new management since summer 2013. Had a very pleasant evening with family tonight. Good hearty pub food - honestly priced and didn't disappoint. Would definitely recommend as one of the better country pubs in the area.

Un pub come si deve! Il cibo era ottimo e l'atmosfera mi è piaciuta molto.. Ci tornerò sicuramente se sarò di nuovo nei pressi di dover.Lo consiglio!