The Bell

The Bell

This pub was chosen for inclusion editorially by Londonist, because we like it.

A right ding-dong of a pub, The Bell sits 3 metres outside the City of London, at the scruffy end of Middlesex Street. Its distance from the main cluster of offices means that the bar attracts more of a mixed crowd than pubs closer to Liverpool Street, and it's all the better for it. Most people congregate in the downstairs bar, but there's also a quiet upstairs space, popular with pub meetups. London Historians, London Fortean Society and the Whitechapel Society all make use of it on a regular basis. The beer choice is OK, if nothing remarkable, but there's also a few in the fridge. A second function room in the basement harbours a pool table, darts and Nintendo Wii. All rooms sport a Noah's ark of dead animal heads for some reason.

The current pub has a long history, going back to 1842. Back in 2012, the landlord discovered some old dioramas of Spitalfields in the basement. They're now in the care of the nearby Bishopsgate Institute. Look out for the 'Ding Dong' art work in the windows, pieced together from thousands of bottletops by Robson Cezar.

Skeletal Mona Lisa. Wherever you are in the room, her eyes seem to be freaking you out.
Skeletal Mona Lisa. Wherever you are in the room, her eyes seem to be freaking you out.
The upstairs function room...where old chairs go to die.
The upstairs function room...where old chairs go to die.
The main bar.
The main bar.
A double Churchill by street artist Don adorns the pub's wall.
A double Churchill by street artist Don adorns the pub's wall.
Ducking out.
Ducking out.
img_0442.jpg
Another City-bashing sandwich board.
Another City-bashing sandwich board.
Careful not to accidentally leave your dog in this place.
Careful not to accidentally leave your dog in this place.
Note the bottletop artwork.
Note the bottletop artwork.
Horny, horny, horny.
Horny, horny, horny.
What the actual f*ck?
What the actual f*ck?

Address: 50 Middlesex Street London E1 7EX

Phone: 0207 247 3459

Email:
[email protected]

Website:
http://www.thebellpub.co.uk/

Monday: 11am-11pm

Tuesday: 11am-11pm

Wednesday: 11am-11pm

Thursday: 11am-midnight

Friday: 11am-midnight

Saturday: Closed or special event

Sunday: Closed

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