It might seem a bit reckless reading these Bath posts now, but my original plan had been to have a few halves in Bath and then take the train to Bradford-on-Avon (twinned with the real Bradford) where a trio of ticks awaited.
That idea went up in smoke as our Gang of Four stumbled into the Bell and spied more prime Boring Brown Bitter.
I ask you; Butcombe, Bass, murky Mango IPA and Otter in the same day ! Can you top that, Maidenhead ?
The National Beer Scoring System puts NBSS 3 at the level at which you may “cancel plans“.
Here, the Otter was a 4, but it was an astonishing buzz of pubbiness that kept us here rather than in t’other Bradford.
Old Boys with flat caps, studentz of indeterminate age, and a soundtrack that stretched from Canned Heat to “White Bird“by It’s a Beautiful Day, a stretch of about 24 months.
These photos aren’t filtered, so there must be some weird light in the Bell. At the time I put it down to the beer.
It was a wonderful hour. Even the reviving coffee was good. My notes say “She has funny cars”, “Not that you agree with wallhanging” and “Tronvones“.
One of those may be a song title.
NB The Bell isn’t in the Beer Guide, but a place open eleven days a year is.
retiredmartin 
Wouldn’t that be It’s A Beautiful Day’s, “White Bird”?
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Ah. That makes more sense. I even have that record, though I didn’t buy it in 1968 at the age of 3.
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Why not?
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I was waiting for the CD.
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The Bell. Another superb Bath pub. Was a GBG regular for many years.
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Indeed. We were surprised it wasn’t in, even before tasting the superb beer. I know it’s community owned, but perhaps licensee change ?
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Ah, tne soundtrack of my youth.
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The only similarity between Bradford-on-Avon and Bradford-on-‘t’Mucky Beck is the steepness of the streets.
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“She has beautiful cars ” Jefferson Airplane?
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Or “funny” cars, even? It was a bit early when I posted my original comment; especially for a Saturday.
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I knew what you meant Paul. Rarely hear that one in pubs !
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Did you ever get to Bradford on Avon ? We tried from Bristol & literally couldn’t get on the train -a 3 carriage one already full on arrival & several hundred people waiting to get on .We abandoned the trip & had a delightful day in Bristol instead
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No, though I did make it last time. Trains are very busy.
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Joan and I loved the Bell. And if I am not mistaken some of those people were in there when were there five or more years ago!
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Not the first time that someone has observed about the permanence of the regulars ;-0
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Such is a delightful thing. No doubt most pubs had this sort of “permanent clientele” in the old days; it’s nice to know some of them still do.
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And pleasing to know they’re still alive…
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Both us and them!
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“I ask you; Butcombe, Bass, murky Mango IPA and Otter in the same day !”
It’s a Christmas miracle!
“These photos aren’t filtered, so there must be some weird light in the Bell.”
I was thinking it was some sort of Christmas lighting.
““Not that you agree with wallhanging””
Give me a gibbet any day. 😉
“NB The Bell isn’t in the Beer Guide, but a place open eleven days a year is.”
(sigh)
Cheers
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It’ll be rammed later!
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It was surprisingly busy at 4pm on a Thursday considering it’s out of centre. Another great pub.
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Just noticed the BBNo ‘rip off’ which brings up the whole ‘originality’ theme amongst brewers, particularly the naming of beers; Discuss.
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