Pub Heritage Bell Inn
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Kent - St Nicholas-at-Wade
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed Status: II
The StreetSt Nicholas-at-Wade
CT7 0NT
Tel: (01843) 847250
Website http://www.thebellstnicholas.co.uk
Real Ale: Yes
Real Cider: Yes
Lunchtime Meals: Yes
Evening Meals: Yes
Bus: Yes
View on: Whatpub
The nineteenth-century frontage conceals a seventeenth-century half-timbered building. There seems to have been a refitting in the 1930s, as suggested by the date of 1937 on the hand-pumps. There are now four rooms. On the right from the entrance is a partition wall with a doorway to the public bar on right. Here there is an interesting ‘ducks nest’ fireplace (so-named from the shape of the grate). Bell-ringing is celebrated in the wheel mechanism preserved in the panelled passage from the front door. The left-hand front room has an apparently 1930s brick fireplace with a terracotta knight on horseback. Behind is a small room, also with an apparently 1930s brick fireplace with, left of the fireplace, a low door probably for storage. The rear right room has been brought into use, extended in post-war times, and modernised in 2020 so no old fittings here.
17th century timber framed building altered early 19th century. It appears to have been refitted in the 1930s (Hand-pumps in the bar are dated 1937) and has four rooms, three of which retain a good deal of 1930s fittings. Doorway in partition wall to the public bar on the front right with a counter that could date from the 1930s as the handpumps are dated 1937, bar back shelves difficult to date, left side lower bar back shelves looks old, a ‘ducks nest’ fireplace (refers to shape of the grate), more benches attached to the brick walls and around the front windows and grandfather clock in the corner. Wood floor and panelled wall passage from front door to rear with a similar counter to that in the public bar for service to the left rooms.
On front left is a small room with a part partition wall and part wall removed with settle placed there instead. It has old tongue and groove panelled walls, a 1930s brick fireplace with a carved minstrel on a horse (?) in stone at the top, bench seating attached to the panelling. Rear left small room has doorway, a 1930s brick fireplace, left of the fireplace is a low door to (storage?), just one large table for diners. Doorway to rear right room, which has been brought into use, extended in post-war times, and modernised in 2020 so no old fittings here.
Full Description
On front left is a small room with a part partition wall and part wall removed with settle placed there instead. It has old tongue and groove panelled walls, a 1930s brick fireplace with a carved minstrel on a horse (?) in stone at the top, bench seating attached to the panelling. Rear left small room has doorway, a 1930s brick fireplace, left of the fireplace is a low door to (storage?), just one large table for diners. Doorway to rear right room, which has been brought into use, extended in post-war times, and modernised in 2020 so no old fittings here.
