Pub in London EC4

Old Bell

95 Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 1DH
Closest station: City Thameslink, about 2 min walk

4.5out of 5 on Google, from 1,257 ratings

Details last checked October 2024. Things may have changed since.

Old Bell, London EC4

About Old Bell

Classic real ale pub behind stained glass frontage, used by Wren's stone masons in the 17th century.

A Nicholsons pub with central bar, bare wooden floors and half wall panelling, giving the pub a warm and cosy feel. Said to have been first built for Wren, to cater for his masons rebuilding St Bride’s church after the fire of 1666: the crossed knife and fork in brass, set into the front threshold until the ‘80s, was considered to be a sign for the illiterate workmen. The back of the pub looks out onto St Bride’s Churchyard, and there is a little smoking space outside the door. Inside a U-shaped bar and a semi-separate drinking area. The walls are adorned with pictures and old press cuttings and announcements. There is an exceptional elaborate period coloured window to the front. At the rear is a corner cupboard carved with axes and daggers dated 1603.

Description from WhatPub, CAMRA’s pub guide, with a summary from Google Maps.

Features

  • Dog Friendly
  • Sports TV: Terrestrial
  • Serves Food
  • Serves Lunch
  • Real Ale
  • Real Cider
  • Disabled Access
  • Accessible Restroom
  • WiFi
  • Reservable
  • Good for Groups
  • Smoking: Veranda at rear
  • Accepts Credit Cards
  • Accepts Debit Cards
  • Accepts NFC

Opening times

Monday
12:00 – 11:00 PM
Tuesday
12:00 – 11:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 – 11:00 PM
Thursday
11:30 AM – 11:00 PM
Friday
11:30 AM – 11:00 PM
Saturday
12:00 – 9:00 PM
Sunday
Closed

As listed in October 2024. Hours change, and bank holidays differ: check with the pub.

Good to know

Operator
Mitchells & Butlers
Price
2 out of 4 (Google’s price level)
Phone
020 7583 0216

Photos

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Photos from Google Maps contributors, stored when the pub was last checked.

Google rating and reviews

4.5out of 5 on Google, from 1,257 ratings

  • 5 out of 5Ivy Macon Google, August 2024

    Beautiful, old, classic pub on Fleet street. Lots of dark wood, stained glass and little snugs. There is an enclosed front area with tables and there are lots of tables inside. It's pub food, but very good. My bacon and cheese burger with chips was £10, ample and delicious. Really wonderful pub in a great part of London.

  • 5 out of 5London Pub Mapon Google, July 2024

    Blackfriars 🍺 £7.50 Paulaner The Old Bell Tavern is located at the eastern end of Fleet Street infront of historic St Bride's Church. The nearest Tube is Blackfriars, it’s a five minute walk to get here. The Old Bell stands on the site of an earlier tavern, The Swan. The current Old Bell (previously the Golden Bell and later the Twelve Bells) has been greatly renovated but was originally built in 1678 by London’s most famous architect Sir Christopher Wren. This is a cosy one bar pub that has a ye olde pub feel. At the centre of the bar is a curved servery which is clad in dark wood…

  • 4 out of 51956gooneron Google, July 2024

    I visited this pub on a sunny, hot, Monday afternoon. The efficient air con was a welcome relief from the heat outside. I opted for a Camden lager at £7.15, the service was excellent. They had 5 cask beers and over 20 whiskies. The pub dates back to the late 1600's and the dark decor does give it an authentic look. There are various seating areas. This is in a good location being just 5 minutes from St Pauls. The toilets are upstairs which may be a problem for the less mobile. Please note that this pub is not open on Sunday's and they do serve food.

  • 4 out of 5Tony H (Barron of Beer)on Google, August 2024

    Nice little pub , with good service and very nice English Fish and Chips , worth a stop 👍🏻🍻 old and original decor to which is good to see.

  • 4 out of 5Mark Fieldon Google, April 2024

    My wife liked this pub more than me so I will have to give it four stars instead of three. Service was a little slow and they weren't that busy. I felt it could do with a tidy up, I don't like seeing cleaning stuff on show in what is a nice looking pub otherwise. Toilets for gents were a bit dirty. Dog friendly, cider selection not great, a recurring theme in pubs in this area I'm afraid.

Rating and reviews are from Google Maps, as they stood in October 2024. See the latest on Google Maps.

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