It had been a few years since we had been to The Bell, indeed the pub had been closed for a while last year and re-opened, but not, it seems redecorated. The seating has been improved somewhat, albeit the tables now seem a bit low down. The place could really do with a lick of paint, the skirting boards in particular seem a bit grubby.
But we didn't come here for a fancy meal, this was a Thursday night pub classic and we started with a Garlic Butter Ciabatta. Which was quickly consumed and not bad. We followed this up with a double scampi and chips which was lovely, with very nice chips (fashioned into a tower for no good reason, really... entertaining as it may be, it was somewhat incongruous given the state of the skirting boards). A huge slice of lemon and peas (and a side bowl of salad, again for no good reason) completed a perfectly nice pub meal.
Perhaps we should have left it there, but no we forged ahead with a double Chocolate Brownie and ice cream, which was indifferent verging on disappointing. The top was positively crunchy, like a biscuit, and at first this seemed to have some novelty value but by the end it was just wrong. Brownie's should be gooey and chewy and full of brazil nuts, this was neither.
I would certainly go back for the scampi and chips but the brownie was probably the worst I've ever had, can't fault the lady behind the bar though, as she was working double time doing everything and we left her a sizeable tip for her trouble.
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