I have been to the bell several times now with friends the…read morefood has been excellent every time service has always been friendly and helpful very relaxing atmosphere.

Wow what a difference! New landlord and new menu - really…read moregood food and very good value, great beers and larger big car park. Had an amazing steak and looking forward to going back! The food is as good as the Woolpack just down the road but better value!

Warm welcoming staff. Reasonable prices for exquisite food. My friend and I had the lamb and burger…read morerespectively, leaving us with a smile on our faces and no room in our stomachs. Highly recommended for a nice meal and casual drinks.

What initially attracted me was the title. As a child, growing up in the Salisbury area (I won't…read morename the specific village because I still have family living there and I'd hate for them to suffer any reprisals for what I'm about to say.), I often attended a pub called the two bells and although it pains me to say it, it must be said; it was sub-par. Then a curious thing happened... as a Young adult, out in the world, leaving home for the bright lights of London, I discovered my new local was called the 5 bells. Reluctant as I was to visit a pub with Bells in its name, a combination of peer pressure and my own fervent clinging to the idea that you should not judge a book by its cover, I was convinced to attend. I must say I was glad I did because although the 5 bells was by no means excellent, it was significantly better than the pub of my childhood. "What if" I wondered to myself "the more the bells, the better the pub" it was a fleeting thought but one that was reignited when I discovered that there was an 8 bells! I must see it. Now the 8 bells is by no means local to me. In fact it is not inconsiderably far (an hour or more by car and 3 at least by public transport). But it was worth the trip. I ate well, I drank well and most satisfyingly of all I continued to prove my hypothesis that the more Bells in the pub title, the more enjoyable the experience. Please someone tell me if they ever discover a 10 bells! ‍

This is a local pub, its one of the cornerstones here in Summertown, Oxford. Its bigger than it…read morelooks from the street. There is ample seating with good spacing between tables. The bar isnt a cram you style either. The staff is friendly and down to earth. There are 4 areas to sit and dine or drink, one is outside protected by a pergola. I ordered the fish n chips, my craving was satisfied. This place does good business. The vibe is laid back. It definitely has the English charm that you come to expect from a nice pub.

Not sure about the mediocre reviews below. The food was hot and delish, the servers were so nice,…read moreand the ambiance was fun. I'll be back!

One of the absolutely best pubs (and restaurants) in Britain. As a pub fanatic, I've visited…read morehundreds of watering holes through the years, and the food has never, and I mean never, been this good. I've eaten at Michelin star restaurants that haven't had steak as tender and succulent as what we had here. The ambiance was romantic, quirky, and quiet, perfect for a night out. We started with a potato and leek soup and the Welsh rarebit. The soup was good, not exceptional, but good, and the rarebit was tasty. We continued with the special, which was a hanging skewer with melted garlic butter, corn on the cob, and chips. I can honestly say that I have never had such a delicious, perfectly cooked and seasoned beef skewer outside of Greece or Spain. It was an absolute experience simply eating it. One of those rare dishes that makes you pause and close your eyes at the sheer pleasure of the perfect taste. I never wanted it to end. My husband had the same experience with his assorted beef platter. The medallions were so tender you understand what the phrase "melt in your mouth" means. I only wish we had room for dessert, as the dessert menu looked utterly luscious. But we will be back, and soon. I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough.

Pretty good pub place and gets busy on a weekend. Service can be a bit slow. For appetizers, we go…read morethe hummus (3/5), fried whitefish (5/5) and baked brie (5/5). I really like the fried whitefjsh and baked brie. The lamb shank was good as well but a little bit dry. This is apparently expected of all pub foods though.

First time visiting, pub itself is lovely. Beautiful views surrounding and lots of seating. The…read moregarden area is huge and plenty of space, can imagine it being enchanting in the evening with all the lights. Roast however; meat was perfect and so was veg! Potatoes were re-heated and dry (even with thyme rub?), cauliflower cheese could have been more burnt and Yorkshire could have been cooked a bit more.. gravy was meh!! Food came out at a reasonable temperature, more close to cold side. Would say 4/10 on the whole. Service was quick and efficient and for this reason I will visit again and see if the roast dinner still gives me this opinion, I hope not and I do get my mind swayed in a positive light.

We visited the pub for a family lunch. Great pub, great garden, very clean and tidy. Service was…read morebrilliant, the staff really go out of their way to help. We had the sharing chicken kebab which was amazing, cooked in the wood fired oven gives it a really smoky taste. The fish and chips were superb, really crispy batter and just enough chips which were cooked to perfection. The kids had pizzas which they described as the best pizza ever. This pub is great for larger groups and families, the kids playground has to be the best in the area. An added bonus is the ice cream cart selling really delicious Italian ice cream. We look forward to our next visit.

What makes a true village pub? Well, how about one that's owned by its village: The Jolly Farmer in…read morethe centre of Cookham Dean. Faced with the insidious march of Beefeater conversions and gastro-pubs, fifty intrepid villagers bought The Jolly some 20 years ago with the simple objective of keeping it as a local. At the time, it made the national press, slightly derisively, but, with time, it's proved to be a huge success. It's still a free-house, the restaurant is still an add-on to the main bar and, good or bad, it's still frequented by a large number of villagers. You might be surprised by the number of brass medallions hanging by the log fireplaces, the number of strange old bottles surrounding the bar, and the photos of locals from previous generations supping ale on the adjoining village green but, equally, you might be relieved to find that a fast disappearing example of a genuine British pub still survives.

The White Horse pub first opened as The Mermaid in 1591, changed its name a handful of times, but…read moresettled on White Horse ever since the 1830's. Thanks to its central location and tons of history, it seems like this pub has suffered at the hands of tourists like myself in recent years. The interior is smaller than other pubs I visited, but could be downright cozy if it weren't for the people coming in, looking around, and then leaving after taking a photo or two. (Maybe I just caught a tour bus day) They have 8-10 beers on tap, offer wine, and was told that the fish & chips are tip top, though we just had a few pints on our visit. Service at the bar was friendly and prompt, and we snagged one of the few tables available to sit and people watch. Overall White Horse is a fine small pub and well worth a visit if you love historic buildings/businesses. You can be the judge of the rest.

Bijou and very old pub tucked under Blackwells. Bedevilled by tourist hordes much of the time (…read morelast visit it was notably a gaggle of dyed hair American pseudo students discussing what to be offended by next, while talking too loud , not understanding anything they've seen, and getting in everyone's way). However, if you're willing to brave that sort of thing, or are there at a quieter time, get yourself a pint of Guinness and a hot pastrami sandwich. You can thank me later.

Est. in 1242, the oldest pub in Oxford did not disappoint. Enter into a cozy, low-ceilinged old…read morewood bar with plenty of character. There is indoor seating in the room next to the bar, along with outdoor seating resembling a beer garden that also has a covered outdoor section. I enjoyed my sirloin English roast while having a few beers with friends. Will definitely come back if I'm ever back in Oxford.

Great to check out while in Oxford. Opens at noon. Sat in the patio and had fish and chips. Service…read morewas friendly. Inside the pub is tiny and quaint with low ceiling: it makes sense given its 700+ years old.