The Bell Inn, Yarpole

We used to love this place. It's a beautiful old pub in a gorgeous village, which served fabulous food with charm & finesse. The building's still nice but the current managers (July 2012) are ill-tempered bullies providing substandard food extremely slowly.

Our starters and main courses each took over half an hour to arrive. The roast beef was full of gristle. We remarked on the slow service, at which the manageress went into an astonishing rant and blamed us! There is no mobile signal in Yarpole, and woe betide you if you need to use their land line - the manager will grab it out of your hand, cutting you off while shouting that he needs to process a credit card. The only reason we hadn't already driven out to find a mobile signal was the lateness of our food.

We felt sorry for the young waitress, who was clearly embarrassed, but left no tip as this pair of bullies refused to acknowledge a problem with their service. After argument they refunded one main course, which was left uneaten by the phone caller as he had to go in search of a signal. This couple's whole ethos is rude and confrontational. They're in the wrong trade.

Such a memorable small business! I'd been apprehensive that on the Saturday night it will be crowded and thus less than comfortable, yet it wasn't when I went, I really had the delight of being allowed to look into it myself and speak in comfort with my friends.

The wine menu was intriguing and the bar personnel particularly well-informed and very helpful. I can't wait to get back there and check out more food or do a wine sampling.

I have eaten at this establishment many times. It is more a gastro pub than a restaurant with a lovely relaxed atmosphere. The food always makes me go “wow,” which speaks for itself. The menu is a mix of pub grub and modern al carte so there is something for all tastes. I would definitely recommend to anyone who is looking for good food in a friendly and warm atmosphere.

we had an excellent meal, cooked by a good chef and lovely sweets made on the premises. would thoroughly recommend the Bell for good food ,service and food. beer very drinkable and kept well.

Firstly I would endorse review of 11/10/10.The Bell has certainly not regained the ambience or quality of food pre-Feb.2010

We booked a table for an evening meal in the restaurant,on arrival this had not been transferred from a note a diary on to the main table list for that evening.

Having driven 25miles for this 'special' evening we stayed and were found a table in a draughty unprepared back bar. Apologise were less that adequate as was the food, which did not match up to description on the menu.Crushed new potatoes better described as bashed and a cr me br l e with berries came with one under ripe strawberry. With so many excellent gastro pubs in the Shropshire/Hereford area I would not recommend or choose the Bell at Yarpole again.

10th october 2010 was an occation that my self & my wife had lunch at the bell.I dont often make public comments,but on reading the report by"HMM" I felt my lunch should be noted.1st class roast sirloin of beef needs a covering of fat,to teaderise,keep the meat moist & make 'proper gravy'& the fat can be cut off if desired. As for peeling paint you tell me when,this summer(ha ha)a out side revamp has been possable from june!! as for fag ends out side,Iwould rather them outside not near my roast beef!!!

Hm!

All of you who have praised this place to the skies since its change of ownership in June must be very easily pleased. We went to the Bell several times when it was run by a French chap - excellent food served in pleasant surroundings. We didn't, by sheer good luck, go there after it was sold in February 2010 and when, by all accounts, it nose dived.

It isn't much better now, despite a further change of ownership in June 2010. What is on offer is over priced pub grub. If the present owner once worked at the Stagg at Titley, may I suggest he goes back there to brush up on presenting a varied menu and on how a good ambience should be created.

We went there for Sunday lunch - nothing special and grossly overpriced. A warm welcome yes (although it would have been warmer if the log fire had been lit and the central heating had been on) but the whole place looks run down and ill cared for. The dead hanging baskets, the rubbish and the cigarette ends strewn around the front lawn don't give much of a first impression - nor do the rotting window frames and the peeling paintwork. And neither does the menu - a litany of spelling mistakes.

Not up to much.

A fine meal, one of the best I have had for a long time. I dined on my own. Will look forward to bringing my partner next time. Nice and friendly personal. You wont be disappointed. Ken Davis

i was very pleasesed with the food the atmosphere and the friendly service. The chef came out of the kitchen to make sure we enjoyed our food. Will go back again soon

Thanks to another change of hands, The Bell is up and running as a proper restaurant/pub once again. Delcious, filling food and good natured, friendly service as well as a greatly improved atmostphere mean we'll definitely be going back.

There were several children eating in the restaurant, a few drinkers outside and lots of diners eating at the tables around the bar. Definitely a step up from the previous landlord.