The Bell Alderminster

There’s a spot here for just about everyone: a relaxed bar that’s cosy in winter and cool in summer, a more formal dining room, a shaded courtyard, an open paved seating area, and a big grassy space with picnic benches and trees for shade. Dogs are welcome too. We found the staff friendly and helpful, the food tasty, and the toilets clean and spacious. Plenty of parking, including overflow spaces. Would definitely recommend.

The food was nice, as you’d expect, but I won’t be back for a roast after paying £22.95 for what felt like a children’s portion. I support country pubs, especially now, but this didn’t feel like fair value at all. My roast beef came with two small pieces of chewy beef that weren’t pink as advertised, three small roast potatoes, a short carrot wedge, a little cabbage with leek, what seemed like a small amount of mash that disappeared into the gravy, a Yorkshire pudding and gravy. The vegetables were cheap choices and the portions stingy. I rarely complain, but when I realised there wouldn’t be any more vegetables, I did. Small portions might make sense for rich, high end food, but this wasn’t that. After I complained, I was given a Kids Beef Roast, usually £15.95, and it was about the same size as the adult meal I’d been served. It had one fewer roast potato but one extra small carrot. So the adult meal cost £7 more for an extra quarter of a potato. Bonkers, especially when the kids get more carrot! To make the price feel reasonable, management could add another potato or two, a parsnip wedge, a couple more carrot pieces, and maybe red cabbage and broccoli, without charging extra. Other pubs serve delicious roasts for the same price. The Bell is stingy. For adult diners, I’d say order the kids’ roast and add extra vegetables.

I’m cautious about eating out because of my sensitive stomach, but I had a really good evening at The Bell Pub Restaurant. The food came hot and fresh, and the chicken wings were especially tasty, full of flavour and cooked with care. I could tell the ingredients were good. The staff were friendly, attentive and professional from the warm welcome onwards. I asked for a Crystal Punch and was pleased with how it was made, and with how welcoming the waiter was throughout our visit. The atmosphere was lovely too. A note for the manager: you’re doing a great job. Please look after that chef and show him how much his skill and dedication are appreciated. I enjoyed the meal and hospitality, and I’ll recommend the place to others. #crystalpunch

We only stopped for a pint, and didn’t stay at the hotel, but the place left a great impression. The bar and restaurant are both huge, with lovely authentic decor and a great atmosphere. The restaurant was full, though we could still order food in the bar. There’s a varied menu, from more upscale dishes to fish and chips, and the locals made us feel welcome as tourists. The sticky toffee pudding was delicious, the drinks selection is excellent, and there’s lots of parking.