Campaign for Real Pubs: The Blue Bell

The Blue Bell, York YO1 9TF

A tiny terraced pub on Fossgate just off the heart of the city. The exterior is plain and unassuming with just a single window facing the street. The interior was remodelled in 1903 and is untouched since then. It’s a classic two-roomer, with front bar, rear snug, central servery and corridor along the left-hand-side. It has been described as “a symphony in brown”. Both bar and snug have extensive fixed seating. About six cask beers are served, but it’s more a pub for regulars and pub connoisseurs than beer tickers. Food is limited to lunchtime sandwiches. The declared capacity is a mere 60 people, so admission may be refused to large parties on weekend evenings, something to which the local CAMRA branch seems to have taken exception.

WHAT ARE REAL PUBS?

Real pubs are pubs whose primary function is still the original core purpose of pubs – for people to meet and socialise over a few drinks.

They may serve food, and very good food at that, but they don’t allow it to dominate to the exclusion of all else. They’ll probably have a strong core of regular customers, but still make casual drinkers welcome. They may well serve a good drop of real ale, but won’t be full of beer bores droning on about hop varieties and IBUs.

In many parts of the country they’re getting very hard to find. In recent years, the smoking ban, beer duty hikes, the demonisation of “one-drink driving” and the general anti-alcohol climate have all had their effect, but such pubs do still survive if you know where to look and deserve to be celebrated.

Although in many ways they are a laudable organisation, this blog is not connected with and does not in any way represent the Campaign for Real Ale.

The inclusion of a pub does not necessarily reflect a recent visit by myself, although often it does.

Campaign for Real Pubs

The Blue Bell

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