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Pub of the Year 2007
With consistently excellent beer quality, support for local charities and a friendly welcome, the pub is always well worth a visit. This proper family-run local has prospered in the hands of landlord Kev, his wife Pam, their daughter Angela and son Antony (also centre forward and penalty taker for the pub-sponsored football team!); who all do their stint behind the bar. A former coaching inn, the pub dates back to 1749 and was formerly a Mansfield Brewery house. Now part of the Union Pub Co. complement, the art of conversation can be rediscovered here as no loud music is played. The beer garden, which sits atop a crumbling cliff face, affords panoramic views of the Peak District and Crich Stand lighthouse. Six real ales are available at all times: two regulars, Jennings Bitter and Camerons Strongarm, and four changing guest beers. The choice of beers is even greater during the annual 'Neglected Shed' beer festival - look out for details of the next one planned for May. The pub also hopes to start offering food from mid-2007. In recent years, the Blue Bell has twice won our Special Campaigning Award. It is also the home of the Bolsover Alternative Committee, formed by some of the regulars, which has raised £19,400 for local charities and good causes since 2001. Recognition of its prodigious fundraising came via the Union Pub Co. Community Pub of the Year Award for 2006. As well as regular quiz nights (Monday & Wednesday), the pub hosts numerous activities during the year - including a Christmas pantomime - whilst the games room is host to darts, dominoes and crib teams. Taken during the recent, well attended presentation night, our photo shows Branch Chairman Rhoda Waygood and Kev Maidens with the Blue Bell's richly deserved award. Jim McIntosh
Andrea Waterhouse This webpage was last updated on Sunday, 07 October 2007 |
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Copyright © 1996 - 2007 Chesterfield & District CAMRA |
With
Community Pubs Week taking place in February, it is
appropriate that Chesterfield & District CAMRA members
have voted such an outstanding example as our Pub of the
Year 2007. The reasons for the Blue Bell’s popularity
amongst local drinkers are best summed up on the pub’s
own website: 'If it’s a real pub with real ales and a
real atmosphere you’re after, then you’ve found it'.