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4.3

Based on 1.727 opinions finded in 2 websites

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Nº 218 in 423 in Rother

Nº 60 of 107 Other cuisines in Rother

CUSTOMERS TALK ABOUT DISHES WITH..crabbeautifuloldchickencoffeefishlambhammeatcheesecookedmustsouproaststeakporkpotatoes

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Excellent food and service in a beautiful pub, worth a journey to visit, would be great if they had some craft beers either on draft or cans.

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Alex Powell . 2024-10-26

MORE AT Google

Good meal at the Bell. Really great vibe, service and food was very reasonable. Highly recommend the sharing starter!

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Alex Green . 2024-10-24

MORE AT Google

Ameizing food and 5 stars service. Thank you

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dumitru daniel . 2024-10-21

MORE AT Google

Beautiful pub with delicious food. Slightly expensive

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Charlene Higgins . 2024-10-20

MORE AT Google

Lovely pub, full of character with excellent service from all staff. The function area is the just right variety of areas for guests. Rooms available for b&b making it an overall very good venue

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Alan White . 2024-10-19

MORE AT Google

Very unique place. French horn urinals! Great service

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Barclay Curtis . 2024-10-19

MORE AT Google

Very poor choice of food. Venison burger tasteless and tough. Came with a freezer (not home made) hash brown stuffed inside. And served on a SMALL SIDE PLATE. ?? This is supposed to be a main course! Fries extra and MaccyD style tiny skinny fries. (and again from the freezer ) the pie was dry. The curry (very very mild) was just strange. The fish n chips came with the smallest pot of peas I've ever seen. Not worth the £130

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Steve Evans . 2024-10-18

MORE AT Google

This is for the restruant we cannot comment on the rooms. We visited the Bell last night for an impromtu meal as we were in the area (One of us is local to the area). We arrived at 8.10pm and asked what time the kitchen closes (8.30pm). The man (attitude makes me resistent to call him a gentleman) was very curt and just waved us to go and sit at a table. No drinks menu offered or available, that's ok it is a pub afterall so we ordered our drinks from another young gentleman (polite) then were given two menus and asked if we had any allergies, again not the politest or friendliest and certainly began to sour our experience. We both had the Ox Cheek which was lovely albeit a touch on the cold side, but we attributed that to the time of night and cleared our plates, very very tasty. The very sour moment was when it came to the bill. The cost was reasonable and a service charge of 12.5% is included in the costings, if the service is good we always tip on top of this. What galled us slightly, and yes this may seem silly to many but it is a priciple to us, is that a charity donation is automatically applied to the bill. Now this is apparently on the menu (the back I might add and given it is a single piece of A4 you aren't exactly going to read it like the latest pulitzer prize winner!!), when my partner mentioned that this is not clearly noted the server became rather defensive which unfortunately triggered my partner to become rather blunt. The point is the server needs to perhaps not just fling menus at people and actually explain that there is a nominal donation added as ultimately charity donation is a choice and we are both very specific to the sorts of charities we support (both have extensive experience working in the Charity sector) as much as this is a lovely idea, being informed to make a choice is important and knowing more about the charity that the funds are being donated to is always nice. Sadly this poor customer service and general staff attitude last night has put us off from returning with family and for considering as a venue for bigger occasions (one of the reasons behind our visit), such a shame as it is a beautiful location. Manners and politeness, go a long way and even more so in the hospitality industry. May be worth reminding your staff of this important fact.

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Phie . 2024-10-17

MORE AT Google

My daughter and her fiancee celebrated their wedding at The Bell and what a fantastic venue it was! The staff were helpful and welcoming, the rooms and decor are fantastic and the food was wonderful. I cannot recommend The Bell highly enough.

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Samantha Wright . 2024-10-14

MORE AT Google

I can honestly say that what's promised on their website bears NO relation to the actual experience offered to (dining) guests. We wanted to treat our friends to a bite to eat and then walk our dogs. So all four of us (2 couples) drove from St Leonards to Ticehurst to The Bell.  It has always looked so inviting from the outside. We walked into the bar at 4 minutes to 12, where there was no discernible presence.  I went in search and found people messing about in a room off the bar and had to say, “Excuse me” three times in an ever-louder voice until someone noticed me.  A young man came out and I asked whether four of us could have lunch.  He said, “No, our kitchen doesn’t open until 12”.  I replied, “Well, it’s almost 12 now, so we’ll wait and we’ll have some drinks first”. The bar was almost empty and so was the garden at that point.  As we had the 3 dogs with us, we said we’d go and eat in the garden.  We were asked if we’d booked (in an empty bar!) in the sort of tone that implied that if we hadn’t, there’d be no room to accommodate us.  I told him that we hadn’t and he didn’t seem to raise any objection, but neither did he do anything with the information. We were handed 4 paper menus and were going to order at the bar, but were told that someone would come to take our order outside.  In the meantime, one of our friends was ordering drinks to pay for and take out with us; it became apparent that the person who served drinks (not the same man) didn’t know where anything was and hadn’t familiarised himself with the contents or layout of the bar.  Perhaps, instead of having fun in the other room, he might have taken time to have a look around to see what was on sale! We got our drinks and 2 of us carried them while the others made their way to the garden with the dogs, but we were intercepted by a young lady carrying a tablet and were asked again if we'd booked, in THAT tone, implying there might not be room.  I said, “No, we’re walk-ins, there are 4 of us – is that alright?”  She said, “Oh yes, just didn’t want you messing up my bookings”.  An interesting response. Now to the menu.  What can I say about it, but, “Oh dear”.  The menu itself is a mess – horrible paper and it’s not very clear what’s going on, as it’s too busy.  It could be simplified and improved.  I also didn’t see anything about telling the kitchen if you have any allergies (I might be wrong, but I don’t recall it). Some of the dishes were of the weirdest combinations, with hardly any choice for vegetarians – no choice for vegans – and I couldn’t believe that one actually had to order fries as a “side dish” to accompany burgers!  Since when has that ever happened, anywhere?   It’s a damned rip-off.  You expect fries with a burger - you wouldn’t expect to order fish without chips. Someone came to take our order in the garden and insisted on calling us "you guys". We shuddered.  One of our friends ordered the venison burger and the other the vegetarian burger with Halloumi.  Both ordered a side dish of fries.  Neither my partner nor I eat meat, but we do eat fish, but apart from fish and chips (which we can get any day of the week in Hastings) there was very little on offer.  There was a dish containing tuna at over £20 - but not a nice Salade Niçoise – some sort of a decidedly odd and unappetising concoction with mussels and God knows what other ingredients lumped together by an indelicate hand.  Sometimes, less is more – a really good tuna steak deserves to the be the star of the show. I ordered the prawn cocktail; I really couldn’t see anything else I wanted to eat – in fact, I would have suggested leaving, but for the fact that our friends were hungry and had just purchased drinks for us. The food, when it came, was horrible (especially my partner's so-called "Feta salad") and I as horrified to find that this unsatisfactory “pub lunch”, without drinks, cost almost £100. The service charge was over £10 (at 12.5%) which I do not think is merited at all for the level of service offered. We will NOT be going back.

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Caroline Robertson . 2024-10-12

MORE AT Google

As celebrants, we at Kate and Kate just love The Bell, Ticehurst! The ceremony room is absolutely stunning, and the downstairs area is so quirky and unique. Even the toilets have a cool vibe! Everything about this venue is fabulous and completely one-of-a-kind. We highly recommend The Bell for weddings—especially the lovely nest where the couple can spend their wedding night. It's truly a great choice for any couple looking for a memorable experience! Becky, the wedding and events manager and her team are always on hand and will make sure your day is as special and fabulous as you are!

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Kate and Kate . 2024-10-10

MORE AT Google

Attended a wedding Autumn 2024. The venue space was fantastic, with two floors to allow for easy set up and clear away of various activities on the day. Food was 5* and the staff were consistently highly professional. Outdoor space had a nice view over the village center. Although the venue itself had limited parking, there are two nearby free car parks of ample size. The pub area itself, seperate from the event space, looked cosy and weathered without looking old or run down - the type of English pub that was once common but can now be rightly considered a gem. A class experience. Note: presumably due to the historic nature of the building, access for people with limited mobility might be challenging or even impossible for some spaces

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hjikle . 2024-09-29

MORE AT Google

More more more! Wonderful local, exceptional service and splendid food. I'd give 6 stars if I could

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Mark H . 2024-09-29

MORE AT Google

Lovely lunch with friends after a walk at Bewl Water. Limited lunchtime menu. Service was a bit confused with one of us waiting a long time for our meal. Was worth the wait

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Marie Bumstead . 2024-09-09

MORE AT Google

A lovely quirkily decorated old inn with good food.. A great atmosphere with a roaring log fire - my kind of place, just wished we lived closer.

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Michael Howard . 2024-09-05

MORE AT Google

Wedding review - Just fantastic! From our initial enquiry, show round, booking the venue, menu tasting and the big day everything was perfect. Becky, Jess and the team did everything for us making the day a breeze. All of our guests commented on how great the venue was, and how brilliant the food was. Our day was fantatsic and I don’t doubt that was because of The Bell Team. I can not recommend this venue enough. I look forward to going back to celebrate our 1 year anniversary.

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Analiese Doctrove . 2024-08-31

MORE AT Google

Had a lovely meal there with friends, really nice place, quirky decor and hilarious to pee into a trumpet urinal great humour.

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Christian Burton . 2024-08-27

MORE AT Google

Went here for a wedding ceremony and reception, venue great and staff wonderful. Did not stay at the Bell so can not comment on the rooms.

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Mel Voice . 2024-08-25

MORE AT Google

Had a fantastic lunch at the Bell today. Food was delicious & really well priced. There was a wedding which was obviously going to take a lot of managing. You would not know it, food was excellent & very well timed. Find Rae or James, nothing is to much trouble for these friendly and professional staff. Stay at the hotels it has wonderful rooms. Quirky in the most positive way. Jon & Kirstie

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jonbF7990QA . 2024-08-23

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Absolutely shocking just stood at that bar for 15 minutes waiting to be served and then the bar staff served the people that came in after me and when I mentioned it he said he would come to me next and then continued to serve customers that came in after me absolutely shocking and will not be going back

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Leon M . 2024-08-13

MORE AT TripAdvisor

This old village pub has changed enormously over the last few years and seems to be expanding even further into neighbouring properties. Nicely re-decorated inside. The first floor seems to now be hotel rooms. We had a pretty good lunch outside in the lovely garden area. The salads (£7-£9) were imaginatively put together and good value, the Beer Battered Haddock was OK, but fully priced at £18. A mysterious 50p donation to an unspecified charity seems to be added to every bill. Presumably most customers who would rather make their own donations, would feel too much social pressure to ask that this be removed, but it's presumptuous and poor form to be generous with other people's money, even small amounts.

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RoamingJeff . 2024-08-07

MORE AT TripAdvisor

A really tough review to leave. To be clear, the food was excellent! Sadly, the service (through lack of experience rather than anything malicious) was severely deficient. A party of two - we ordered two starters, two mains and a bottle of wine. We were sat outside the front so couldn't open a tab (totally understandable) so was presented with a bill. I explained that the order was wrong (4x mains were included rather than 2x starters and 2x mains). The bartender was very polite and corrected the mistake. The bill came to 108 pounds (not an insignificant amount) and I returned to sit outside. A while later, the mains arrived. The same chap who served us explained that the food would come at the same time because of the error he had made. We were now left with two plates of fish and chips, having not had our starters. The starters arrived approximately five minutes later. We were afforded one set of Cutlery each and so had to use the same knife and fork for both courses...not that they felt like separate courses. The food was amazingly good, and I can not recommend the quality of the food enough, however, having paid over 100 pounds for a meal for two it feels like the (acknowledged) error of the barman meant that our experience suffered significantly. A real shame.

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Ganesh Gnanamoorthy . 2024-07-27

MORE AT Google

Had lunch at the restaurant only. Great experience. Splendid food, nice and efficient staff, charming setting.

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brieuc verhaegen . 2024-07-23

MORE AT Google

Just perfect. Large gang of us took it over for lunch on a recent Sunday— food drink and service absolutely top drawer. As someone in the business of running quirky venues, I know when a place ticks all the boxes

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tim finney . 2024-07-21

MORE AT Google

Lovely food, atmosphere, staff and guests. Hope to return soon.

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Paul R . 2024-07-12

MORE AT Google

Was in Etchingham for our wedding anniversary.. We were recommend The Bell in Ticehurst. Did not stay at the hotel, but looked at the pictures, the rooms look spectacular. We went to The Bell for a pint, we were also looking for some food. The barmaid was able to book us in for dinner. We thought it would be just pub food, we were mistaken. The prices were steep, but when the food came out we understood why. The food was simply devine, and the service was on point. This is not just a pub, but in fact Michelin star quality food.

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Joseph Tanner . 2024-06-30

MORE AT Google

Its really nice place to stay with a good price value

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Tunbridgewells Station Cars . 2024-06-26

MORE AT Google

Superb. Visited for a work lunch and was very impressed. It's really quirky but really well thought out decor. Great food, visited with 8 other chefs from London, and everyone agreed it was top-notch. Had a look at the lodges and left feeling I need to get booked in for a stay. Hope to visit you again soon.

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mark Prysor-Jones . 2024-06-18

MORE AT Google

Brilliant local pub & restaurant. Also has rooms. Great food & staff. Highly recommended. If you come by car use the large car park around the back.

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David Matthewson . 2024-06-11

MORE AT Google

Very nice hotel with lovely rooms. We enjoyed to stay there for one night and also appreciated the delicious dinner in the pub below the rooms…

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Gwen . 2024-06-04

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Brilliant in every respect, thank you so much. The asparagus was cooked to perfection.

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Jonathan Frewen . 2024-06-01

MORE AT Google

Excellent food. I had the burger, but everything looked great. Character Inn/ pub in village location. Seemed popular with locals and walkers. Good selection of ales. Not cheap but reasonable value for money.

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Phil Andrew . 2024-05-28

MORE AT Google

Very satisfying lovely pub another lovely evening with food in the restaurant.

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Nicola Oliver . 2024-05-28

MORE AT Google

Beautiful pub, nice food but male manager with black glasses had a bad attitude and left a bad taste to our otherwise lovely lunch.

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Bthoelen . 2024-05-23

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Had a veggie burger which turned out to be a mushroom in a bun (the worst kind of veggie burger) and it cost £19.00, the same amount that it cost for a Wagyu beef burger or a massive portion of fish and chips. Bit of a joke, would have expected a mushroom to be less….

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Abi Chatfield . 2024-04-27

MORE AT Google

Superb lunch today. Great service and a great selection of food for meat eaters and vegetarians. Picture is of the chicken 'stew' starter.

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David Parnell . 2024-04-26

MORE AT Google

The Bell in Ticehurst is nestled in the picturesque village of Ticehurst, which is known for its stunning natural beauty. It's a place where you can find Pashley Manor Gardens, one of the finest gardens in England, and Dale Hill Golf Course and Hotel, a splendid course designed by Ian Woosnam. Now, let's talk about The Bell itself. This cosy and dog-friendly pub has a fascinating history that dates back to around 1560. And let me tell you, the quirkiness of this place is off the charts! Just take a peek at the gents' loo, where the functioning urinals are none other than Wagner tubas. It's a sight you won't soon forget! When it comes to staying at The Bell, you'll be delighted to find seven bedrooms above the pub, each adorned with its own silver birch tree. And if you're in the mood for something more rustic and romantic, there are four charming lodges to choose from. Now, let's get to the food experience. I must admit, my visit wasn't the best timing, as we arrived during the late lunch hours when the kitchen was almost closing. However, the staff kindly agreed to serve us lunch. The burger we ordered, though not particularly impressive, was a tad on the dry side. And the classic fish & chips, while flavorful, had a slightly excessive saltiness to it. But despite these minor hiccups, the overall experience at The Bell was still enjoyable. The staff, including the friendly and attentive Marcus (apologies if I misspelled your name), made us feel welcome. And I must give a shoutout to the young gentleman who went out of his way to ensure our satisfaction. So, while the food may not have been outstanding on this particular visit, I have no doubt that The Bell has the potential to serve much better dishes. It's a unique and charming place to stay, and I believe it's worth a visit for its ambiance and character alone. Cheers! Nick #Doctorfoodielondon

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Nick Ghateh . 2024-04-16

MORE AT Google

This is one of the best places to eat in the area and our favorite special occasion dinner. Always super friendly team, funky interior and top, top quality food - never disappoints. Couldn’t recommend more highly!

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Connie Lowman . 2024-04-15

MORE AT Google

Lovely pub. Full of character. Good food and a proper local pub feel. Dogs very welcome

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will silverwood . 2024-04-06

MORE AT Google

Poached fish dish very tasty but tiny portion for price

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NICOLA Barker . 2024-04-01

MORE AT Google

Poor service sadly. Bartender was very dismissive. Loved the interiors decor. Location is great and food looked great but wouldn't come back because of the service.

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Reuben Cook . 2024-03-31

MORE AT Google

We were recommended The Bell Inn and we were very excited to go but when we finally got to the pub we were disappointed with the service. The bar staff were very dismissive and we were made to feel uncomfortable. We were planning on having lunch there but the kitchen was closed (which is our mistake, we should’ve checked the kitchen opening times beforehand). However, after we were told the kitchen was closed the staff gave the impression they wanted us to leave by being very dismissive. We ended up having a quick drink and while waiting to get served a kind local customer told us The Bell Inn does nice food and that the kitchen is open all day. That said, the pub interior and exterior was beautiful and the food looked really good from the pictures we saw online.

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Hanora Antona . 2024-03-29

MORE AT Google

Best fish and chips we've ever tasted. The cod very tender and the batter was out of this world. All food is freshly prepared on the day. My pasta dish was also delicious. Popular pub with buzzy vibe. Highly recommend.

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Trish Martin . 2024-03-26

MORE AT Google

Had some drinks. Nice English country atmosphere.

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Rob van Kesteren . 2024-03-22

MORE AT Google

A meal of indulgence. A night to celebrate life before our second child was born. Great Jon alcoholic cocktail options which is always a huge win. The food was delicious and always moreish. I could have stayed for days working my way through the menu.

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JP Offord . 2024-03-18

MORE AT Google

Cool little pub. Good events in the summer

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Philip Mason . 2024-03-11

MORE AT Google

Fantastic place to visit will recommend two friends and family kind regards Ian Collins

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Ian Collins . 2024-03-07

MORE AT Google

Just been for a 2nd visit... A big thank you to all the staff, our beautiful accomodation was spotless and the service from you all so lovely..... happy, time for a brief natter and great at what you do.... you really made our stay, so thank you.

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Danny JP . 2024-02-24

MORE AT Google

It's possibly the most romantic pub ever. Beautifully old with a modern and very stylish twist. An absolute must for the discerning weekender.

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Mars Harrington . 2024-02-17

MORE AT Google

Nestled in the heart of Ticehurst this venue puts a huge amount of effort into ensuring the guests are welcome, the atmosphere in the bar and restaurant is a credit to the hard working staff.

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Jamie Dixon . 2024-02-15

MORE AT Google

Went for dinner. Very nice. Reasonably priced.

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Gillian Douglass . 2024-02-09

MORE AT Google

Lovely old pub, great beer garden, interesting gents toilets.

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alan ward . 2024-02-06

MORE AT Google

Average service while at pub for Saturday evening dinner with friends. Drinks order was forgot about, table took too long to clear after finishing starter and didn’t offer us if we wanted any further drinks despite all glasses empty (we had to ask). Main’s were over price for delivered quality and under seasoned.

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Anthony Dixson . 2024-01-30

MORE AT Google

Rooms lovely, evening meal was great, alcohol even better. Quality of breakfast was nowhere near as good as the evening meat, but edible. Staff very attentive and friendly. Rooms fully booked months and months in advance. Very popular place for wedding guests. Overall, great night away with family

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Jon Williams . 2024-01-28

MORE AT Google

Lovely pub, great outdoor space, fantastic food and friendly staff.

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Richard Godbolt . 2024-01-21

MORE AT Google

A pub that you wish was your local! A fantastic stay, food, drinks and staff all top tier. The pub and accommodation is decorated beautifully with such attention to detail. Would highly recommend for a 5 star getaway.

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Alex Baxter Smith . 2024-01-16

MORE AT Google

Great food and atmosphere at the pub!

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Radu Ursu . 2024-01-16

MORE AT Google

Quirky gastro pub and great food.

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Hugo Fierro . 2024-01-14

MORE AT Google

Beautiful dinner in a perfectly wonderful and quirky atmosphere. We were delighted by the ambience and staff and enjoyed an absolutely perfect starter and main and genuinely one of the best cocktails I’ve ever had. Same goes for the pork and polenta chips. Divine evening ⭐️

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Allegra Swann . 2024-01-07

MORE AT Google

We stayed in one of the lodges here with our 11 week old baby for my Birthday. The staff here were very friendly and welcoming. The young waiting staff in the restaurant were particularly kind and made us feel at ease. The food was delicious, we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner apart from a guest making it clear that our baby was disrupting her dinner. What let our stay down was unfortunately finding a pint glass put under our back tyre on purpose, if we did not notice, it could have given us a puncture. Not being from the area we could have been stranded with our baby. We were not impressed at all and could not understand why anyone would do that to a strangers car. It looked like it was done from one of the customers in the Bell.

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Lois Morton . 2024-01-06

MORE AT Google

Lovely service food was amazing definitely wil be going back restaurant was warm and cosy

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Terry Burton . 2024-01-06

MORE AT Google

Great Pub worth the trip and we snagged a rack of lamb out side from the medieval copper tardis. Great interior great lunch. & tha dawg was welcomed too. We’ll be back with Arni🤣 best of luck in 2024.

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Ben Oakley (BOG) . 2023-12-31

MORE AT Google

Visited for Sunday lunch in May and again for a weekday early dinner in July. Great food and service on both occasions in this lovely, traditional and slightly quirky decor'd pub.

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PennyPurples . 2023-12-30

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Stayed at the Bell with my husband, toddler and baby. The staff were so helpful and polite. Had cots ready in the room for us and high chairs ready at our table without us asking. Rooms were full of character and the pub was cosy and bustling.

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Rachel Chilvers . 2023-12-29

MORE AT Google

Lovely for drinks - food has gone severely down hill. Mediocre and over priced I am sorry to says. Service is extremely hit and miss, depending on “who is on” on the day. Ambiance lovely.

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G2600QUPTT . 2023-12-18

MORE AT TripAdvisor

I went here on Saturday 8th December, it was so lovely, cosy, welcoming to meet my family, we only had snacks but the staff very polite delivered first class snacks , I will definitely go there again. First class!!!

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Jacqueline W . 2023-12-13

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Went there with 5 friends, great setting and staff very friendly & efficient. The only complaint is the menu - which is very unexciting and overpriced. Most of us had the chicken Kiev which was certainly not worth the £25 (without veg) it was dry & tasteless, which I’ve seen on other reviews so don’t quite understand why they haven’t improved the recipe. The vegetables were equally tasteless. The venue is so inviting & as I said the staff were great but food not so good.

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Cash195 . 2023-12-05

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Delicious Thursday night dinner - but the male waiter was heavy handed and had a weird, impatient manner, a bit of attitude there. They were rushing us through our meal because they clearly wanted to go home. They rang last orders at 10pm Felt like Covid times again. Menu is limited too. This is not the first time we’ve been made to feel like this at The Bell. Friends have booked us for dinner in December, so we’ll give you one last try…

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955clareb . 2023-11-23

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Gorgeous pub, lovely ambience and staff, disappointing menu, disgusting food. There was nothing we wanted on the menu. No basic cuts of meat or fish. Even basic fare was unappealing. Once chosen, the batter was stodgy, the burger, tomato and lettuce had sugar in. Second time we have gone recently and same experience both times. A shame as really lovely pub

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Bad H . 2023-11-11

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Food was nice but a massive disappointment that having seen nut roast on the menu on the website, the actual veggie element was cabbage. And not especially amazing cabbage either. The accompanying veg were nice, as was the Yorkshire pudding, but with a modest portion size, it felt like a bit of a rip-off as it was the same price as the meat version. I'm used to paying the same and don't mind if I feel I'm getting a good alternative but this was a let-down sadly.

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cwblue2019 . 2023-10-15

MORE AT TripAdvisor

We've dined here a couple of times, in the week. Lovely Art on the wall, The servers are generally nice and the food's been ok. This weekend we went out of our way to try Sunday Lunch. We won't be making that mistake again. The pub is in a great location, the weather was good and we were in good spirits, at the start at least. The Ballantine of chicken was dry, weird tasting and frankly inedible. The roast potatoes had been sitting around and required a good deal of sawing with the knife to get through. All my wife could eat was the carrots, which, to be fair were nice. We waited and waited for it also.The server was ok untill he asked the question about seeing the substancial amount of food left on both plates, then went away and came back with a very dismissive explanation that the chef was sorry. No offer of a refund for the mains, and nearly £100 later we left wondering WTF had just happened. Just weird, we both wanted this place to be good, but it just isn't.

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J R . 2023-10-11

MORE AT TripAdvisor

This pub makes a great thing out of being quirky. This means that many of its features are just pointless and often irritating. The Bell website is gushing and almost completely uninformative. We stayed there to use a gift voucher issued by the Epicurean Club, now taken over by Loupe. It was the only hotel in the Home Counties that we could find that hadn't ceased trading with the Club. Warning to everyone- avoid Loupe-! That said, the room was pleasant, the bed comfortable and the staff friendly. The unhelpful website had suggested a gourmet experience, which we were looking forward to. But the only fare on offer was basic pub food, some of it given a fancy description, but still very ordinary stuff- chicken or cod. So we had sausages and mash, which were excellent but not exactly gourmet . The pub seems to be popular with the locals, though its drinks are expensive and the wine list ruinously so. Our experience wasn't bad, but I wouldn't recommend travelling any distance to visit the Bell. One can pay too much for quirks.

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645ceciliah . 2023-10-09

MORE AT TripAdvisor

The tasting menu was without fault, this is truly top quality food delivered in a fantastic air-conditioned setting. The stables is a small intimate restaurant attached to the main pub but the evening really was without fault. The excellent 5 course menu was supplemented with 2 lovely hors d’oeuvre dishes and sweet petit fours. The staff were excellent providing grey information on each dish. The stables is only available one day a week so be sure to book.

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665PaulM665 . 2023-09-10

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We had a lovely stay here. Our room was quirky and the food was delicious! For couples and families, this pub has plenty of character. We will be staying again :)

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899karleyk . 2023-09-09

MORE AT TripAdvisor

I have fond memories of this pub. Now, not at all. Greedy owners who have taken over a much loved local pub and driven out the locals with no regard to village life with outrageous priced drinks and food. Only suitable for those with high wages that don't mind being so outrageously overcharged and no soul. Shame on the owners, how can you ruin such a valued community asset, the local village pub.

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Suzanne H . 2023-08-07

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This Place has been on the bucket list for a while now, as the husband stayed here a few years back for work and fell in love with the place, knowing that I would love it! So for our 13th anniversary we decided to celebrate it here! Wow! Absolutely beautiful! Rae was so lovely and welcoming, told us a bit behind the bell and the history of it all. So lovely! We loved all the quirky things, and every time you looked anywhere you would notice something different! The rooms are absolutely beautiful! Extremely comfortable bed! The only 2 hang ups we had really were the pricing of the food, bit overpriced but lovely none the less. Just think £18.50 for a burger and fries (not even a salad on the side) is a bit excessive, and also when we were sat down and the waitress asked us if we wanted water for the table, we didn't expect to be charged £3.95 for it when she didn't actually tell us it wasn't free. Maybe if the food was priced a bit better value it would of been perfect! Other than that, it was great!

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Belinda C . 2023-07-25

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What more could you ask of a cosy, modernised but still characterful village pub! Delicious lunch, loads of local ales on tap, and thrumming with the vibe of local regulars enjoying a weekend lunch.

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OliwaVasicek . 2023-06-03

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We came here having had a great Sunday lunch on our previous visit, which was wonderful. This time the food was awful. The staff were very nice though. We were informed that they have their summer menu (all cooked on a barbecue). The menu looked pricey (and we’re used to eating out at nice places - price isn’t a problem for good food). So chicken (£22) and steak (£32) comes with sides as extra. These sides include such things as broccoli, sweetcorn and oven chips (described as skin on fries!). These side dishes range from £5 to £7! The broccoli and sweetcorn were in tiny portions and charred. The chicken had been oven cooked and finished on the barbecue. It was boneless and lacked crispness and flavour. The steak was simply inedible (tough, cold and devoid of flavour). We waited over an hour for the privilege of this food being served. Before two of the main courses arrived they attempted to bring us two burgers (someone else’s order). After we declined the two steaks they brought us two pulled pork burgers (we’d asked what would be the quickest). They were inedible as the sauce was so sweet. These burgers were served with a very cheap looking apple sauce. I really am so shocked that a Michelin listed restaurant can serve this food! To their credit the staff recognised the problem and didn’t charge us. We are not the only ones who are disappointed with the summer menu, there are two more reviews on the hotel website (for food).

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teabus . 2023-05-30

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Lovely staff, beautiful pub but the food was terrible. A mackerel the size of a sardine for £15, still half frozen. In fairness, the staff replaced it and this time it was cooked but even smaller. How I wish we'd taken photos. Eight asparagus spears...

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Melody C . 2023-05-28

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We came to visit on a Sunday with some friends. We spent hours here and eventually after eating we went and sat outside in the sunshine. Delicious roast dinner, a real good drink’s selection and a lovely area to sit in. What more could you...

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Teague R . 2023-05-09

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We were recommended The Bell by my god daughter and it did not disappoint. The food was delicious the setting quirky and charming and the wine was yummy. This was all enhanced by the excellent service provided by our charming and delightful waiter Oscar who...

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Guide27852052876 . 2023-05-02

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We have lunch at The Bell everytime we go to UK. As always, the place was beautiful, the staff very helpful and the food delicious. Nice to see that the quality remains the same year after year. We’ll come back next time!

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Goudannou . 2023-05-02

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I was disappointed with my dining experience at The Bell Inn. We were shown to our table by a waitress who apologised for the restaurant being empty. As we were being seated I overheard the waiter at the table next to us also apologising to...

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Darren B . 2023-04-10

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We had a lovely meal here (we were staying too). One review said this place has gone downhill which I find strange. The food was so tasty and we even had dessert which we don’t normally have- I could eaten all of them! It was...

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sbsully . 2023-04-06

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We loved our visit to the Bell in Ticehurst. Really cute and cosy inside. Lovely service - our waiter was a really friendly young guy who gave great recommendations, we had the cod fritters which were delicious, short rib and the sea bass for mains...

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daniellelD5031KQ . 2023-03-25

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I really struggle to find anything less than perfect with this place. The staff, service, beer and food are all outstanding. Yes it is quite pricey but it's in an expensive looking village and when things are this good who minds paying a bit extra.

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Phil B . 2023-02-19

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The husband came up trumps! Chauffeured to The bell on my birthday for one of the most amazing 50th birthday events. This is up there in our favourite places to visit, eat and stay and I couldn’t have been happier when we pulled up! On...

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Pompeygirl1972 . 2023-02-04

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Pathetic and stingy portion sized. £22 for a pasty I could have eaten 4 plates of what was served. Rip off Briton in a nut shell. Not only was the pasty tiny but the potato cake was literally a mouthful as was the butter nut...

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Ben C . 2022-12-27

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Was this the Head Chefs day off or has the quality really gone southwards. Menu is very limited and even then it wasn't good. I had a lamb shank (not difficult to cook) but it was presented overcooked. Came with a spoonful of watery mash...

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PADW1969 . 2022-11-08

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We stayed here for one night to celebrate my birthday and were fortunate to pick an evening when they were doing the taster menu. From the moment we arrived we were made welcome and all the staff were helpful and attentive. We were early for...

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Duffer56 . 2022-10-28

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We live locally and came with our family for a quick meal. Our meal was underwhelming and bland for the price point. We would love to support a local business however feel the food and service should be special when priced higher than other good...

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Roam10174471004 . 2022-10-10

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We booked at the new fine dining 'The Stables' restaurant. The service was attentive and informative and we decided on the surprise taster menu. It was a brilliant choice as the food was delicious and beautifully presented. My father chose the accompanying wine flight and...

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sandrawV4196EQ . 2022-10-01

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Eating here used to be enjoyable: the food was good and the atmosphere excellent. Now, the atmosphere remains, but the food quality is abysmal, tasting as if it's factory-made and reheated in the kitchen. And yet it's priced as chef-made.

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Terence E . 2022-09-30

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After having been recommended we were very disappointed in todays visit. The starters were very good except the crackers with the potted salmon were inedible. Mentioned this to the staff who were very good but no reaction from kitchen so left on plate! The main...

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A4505STchriss . 2022-09-25

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Our supper was delicious, and the glasses of wine available well thought out. All our food was well-prepared, and much was local. The pub was catering for a large wedding, but they coped very well and the wedding celebrations didn’t interfere with the packed dining...

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Readingtourist . 2022-09-03

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Came for Sunday lunch,excellent food and lots of it. My husband had beef which was good and I had pork with the best crackling ever. Quirky pub with very attentive staff

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Paul S . 2022-08-15

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Fantastic Sunday lunch, The beef cooked to perfection tasty and a nice cut veg perfectly cooked and a large Yorkshire pudding potatoes crunchy. My only very slight observation was not enough gravy but I think that’s personal taste more than anything else. Will be back...

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STMFs . 2022-08-15

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We stumbled upon this charming Inn while on a walking holiday in Sussex. The food, service and ambiance is top notch, with polite, well trained and friendly staff, we felt very welcomed and the quality of the food was superb. I had the smoked duck...

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jackson335 . 2022-07-07

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A typical English lovely old pub , serving Harvey's bitter, Nice courtyard garden at the rear. Also a hotel

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Christopher G . 2022-07-05

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Couple of great employees that they need to cherish excellent service and really contributed to a great day c

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Jjones1994 . 2022-06-25

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