The Blue Bell — Restaurant in Great Britain

Update 8th January 2024. Sitting in the back room drinking. Yes, I know I've given it a 1*, but I do have a long-standing connection with this pub... The door opens, and I'm hit again by that flippin' fruity synthetic vape smell... I turn, and it's the man himself, Vapey the Pub Landlord... and he wasn't vaping he just ACTUALLY smells of vape. Maybe he's made of Vape? Please respond, Vapey... we need to know. Update 12th August. Puff, puff, puff, puff, puff, wheeze, grurn, puff, puff, puff, cough, puff, wheeze, grurn....... Update 28th May. Dear Landlord, do feel free to respond! Or are you too busy puffin' away behind your beer pumps with Grurny? Update 23rd May. 5* down to 1*. This is because I genuinely CANNOT BELIEVE that this pub permits vapeing in these tiny rooms. Who would have thought that SPOONS would prove to have more good civil sense than the landlord of the Blue Bell. But.... according to the plonkerish grinning/gurning barman on duty today, vapeing IS allowed, and apparently, the landlord himself vapes inside the pub!!! Thus adding a lovely, fruity, yet weirdly synthetic overtone to every single drink quaffed in the chuffing place. UNBELIEVABLE. The only upside is that the visit has got me genuinely intrigued as to what actually constitutes a gurn and when does it become a grin, and can I patent 'grurn' as a new descriptive term? Every cloud, huh! Thanks for that at least, Grurny the Blue Bell-End Barman. ( My original 2022 review follows) Me and my family have been visiting this wonderful pub these last 45 years. The Blue Bell is all that historic and beautiful York represents, distilled in a glass and served with simple style and a nice pork pie on the side if you're lucky. Great beer in a real drinkers ( in a good, friendly, pleasantly communal way)...

What a horrible experience.

Having ventured into York with friends, I suggested that we visit the Blue Bell in Fossgate.

In the past we had been presented with a note saying "Private Party" which was enough to deter non locals and the usual Hen and Stag Do's.

This night we were met by a large bouncer. No problem there but we we were told we must go in the front bar, though we had asked to go in the rear bar, which we did.

Having got served and having our drinks, I visited the toilets and on my return checked the rear bar. Almost empty! So I suggested to my friends we moved there. As we did so, said bouncer made a move and stopped us from moving.

I have no objection from this other than I have paid for a drink in the pub and am being stopped from moving around the pub. I also asked the bar staff what was the policy on this. At this point the bouncer intervened and I got the feeling that the barmaid was in a relationship with him.

Sad stare of affairs when I consider this pub was close to closing down not...

Purported to be the smallest pub in York, it's a place full of character, and we received a warm welcome. The interior is listed, so can't be altered, which is great, as there aren't many pubs like this left. If you want something historical, something different from the many faceless modern chain pub decors, give this place a visit. Groups aren't allowed, nor are noisy mobile phone users. There are two small rooms with the serving area in the middle, and a passageway to the side with a serving hatch. Theres also an outside patio area at the front. Talking to a local, the pub was forced to modernise the toilets by the Council in order to keep their licence, but before that, the toilets were apparently a bit of an "attraction" themselves, being outside, where you could well find snow in the winter. Both rooms would seem "full" with half a dozen people in, hence the "no groups" rule. Beer was good, also the pork pies. Photo is from the side serving hatch. Definitely...