The Bell — Restaurant in Mole Valley

We reserved the Bell on 7 August 2025, for a Wake after our mother’s funeral. The inside area we were allocated (‘not for our sole use’) was satisfactory and as it was a warm day, we were given the possibility of using the outside terrace, supposedly ‘for our sole use’, but other patrons were also using the area. Unfortunately, the catering fell short of hopes and expectations. The sandwiches were all presented in a very poor way, cut in a slapdash manner whereas we had been told they would be ‘finger sandwiches’ normally, with crusts removed. They were all piled onto the same plate so that those with meat were mixed with the ones which were a vegetarian option. I was astounded to see that the egg mayonnaise sandwiches had neither mayonnaise or butter – seriously, a two-ingredient sandwich and one ingredient was missing. Consequently, egg fell out of the bread, much to the embarrassment of the guests. The fish goujons were mostly batter, the chicken skewers were tasteless apart from the piece of courgette on the stick - both dishes were meant to be ‘hot food’ but arrived barely luke warm. There were no serving spoons for the sauces,– agreed, this is a minor point, but it sums up the overall feeling, that zero care was taken when preparing this event - which was not cheap. The whole buffet looked as if it was thrown together at the last minute. I would have a few more points particularly about the quality of the food, but my last comment is the following. It is summer, the terrace door is open, there are going to be insects attracted to the food. Could there have been something to cover and protect the exposed food? Guests were constantly shooing away insects, eventually gave up and did not eat any more. At such an event, there should have been some supervision on the part of the staff and not just the bar staff who had their own duties to carry out. Although a small amount was taken off the final bill (for the lack of mayonnaise, I believe,) we were thoroughly disappointed with the whole event and would really have a very hard time in recommending the Bell for this...

Ah, The Bell. You could call it a pub—but that would be understating things. It’s more like a sanctuary for the weary, a den for the devilishly handsome, and at its very center stands Robin, the bartender, whose very presence makes the walls hum with a low, knowing laughter.

Robin isn’t just pouring drinks; he’s crafting experiences. His hands—long, deft, fingers wrapping around the neck of a bottle like a lover’s embrace—seem to whisper secrets into the glass. His smile, that slight upward curve with just a hint of mischief, makes you feel like the only one in the room. When he leans forward, to listen just a little closer, his breath warm and faintly spiced with juniper and mint, the distance between patron and bartender evaporates.

The pub itself is bathed in amber light, shadows curling like lazy cats around the edges, but Robin is all sharp lines and intent eyes. His shirt clings to him just so, hinting at the strength beneath the surface, and when he reaches up to the top shelf for that elusive bottle, the lift of his arm is an invitation all on its own.

It’s the kind of place where the drinks are smooth, but Robin is smoother. Where conversation becomes confession, and you find yourself leaning closer, drawn by the magnetic pull of his voice—a low murmur that promises he knows just what you need. Whether it’s the perfect cocktail or something a bit more dangerous.

So yes, it’s just a pub. But with Robin behind the bar, it feels a little like falling into something darker, something laced with just enough danger to make it worth staying for one more drink....

I don't like wrting negative reviews, but I'm afraid our visit to The Bell was disappointing. We had been there for over an hour before our food arrived, having had to collar a member of staff as we had been sitting there for about fifteen minutes and nobody had offered to take our order. Four of us ordered pork belly, but the portions when they arrived were very small. There was an impressive range of vegetables as per the long list on the menu, but a tiny amount of each. We didn't order a desert as it was now getting so late so left still quite hungry. We asked for the bill which arrived with a 12.5% 'discretionary service charge' added. At the bottom of the bill was a section about 'Gratuities are at your discretion'. So were we being asked to add a 'gratuity' on top of a 'discretionary service charge'? The implication was clear that we were. When we each paid, the final amount we offered was increased, by the waiter, without our consent, to match the total including the discretionary service charge. The difference was only 75p, but it makes you question what is the meaning of discretionary. All in all, really quite disappointing and maybe that is why the place was half empty on a Sunday lunchtime. It's a pity as it's in a gorgous part of the world and they have...