What’s that on the bench outside Sawley’s Bell ?

October 2023. Long Eaton.

The train from Matlock arrived at 17:04, and I caught the 18:04 back to Sheffield. So I make that an hour in total to walk the 2.7 miles to Rowells and back (52 minutes say lazy Google),

15 minutes for the pint, 10 minutes wait for the crispy beef and Singapore rice at Power Dragon* opposite the station,

and a couple of minutes to dawdle in the town centre looking for that pub with the Bass sign.

I’m fairly sure it was the Blue Bell “aka The Bass House”.

So how on earth did I end up with five minutes spare having picked up that precious white plastic bag ?

Well, I walked quick, that’s how, and suddenly the Bell (thought I’d been before, hadn’t) looked irresistible as all pubs do at dusk.

As you’ll know, five (5) minutes is exactly the minimum time required to deposit your Chinese takeaway on a bench, walk to the bar,

make a note berating the earliest pub sighting of a Christmas tree (23/10),

decide a half of Abbot (3.5) is the better part of valour,

count out £2.35 in exact coinage, marvel at the breadth of life at 5:57pm,

and then realise you’ve now got 2 minutes before the train goes.

Thank goodness that lift door was open when I got to the foot of the station.

*Chinese takeaway tick No. 507; NCTSS 3+ and the ONLY Power Dragon in the UK.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

13 thoughts on “What’s that on the bench outside Sawley’s Bell ?”

    1. That pub sign has lasted almost as well as rap – or whatever talking is called these days – music.

      The Royal Oak further up Tamworth Road – now flats, care home, or whatever – was the nicer pub I thought. Can you remind us, if that was a Bass pub? I seem to remember drinking it there.

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      1. Etu,

        The BLUE BELL INN sign on the first floor looks as timeless as the similar one for the Bell in central Nottingham several miles to the north-east.

        The sign above the front door looks typical Craft Union.

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