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Bell, Waltham St Lawrence


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Operator: Independent
The Street, Waltham St Lawrence, RG10 0JJ (View on Google Map)

A classic half-timbered 14th Century pub, bequeathed to the village in 1608 by Sir Ralph Newbury. It doubles as the village local and a quality restaurant, producing exceptionally good food from fresh, seasonal ingredients and promoting real ales from small independent breweries. It offers-up to eight ciders and perries served from their cellar. Fresh bread is baked daily. You'll also find log fires in the winter and a good-sized beer garden for sunny summer days. There's a folk music session on the first Thursday evenings of the month. Easy wheelchair access is limited to the usually crowded main bar. Regular winners or runner-up in the local branch Pub of the Year & Cider Pub of the Year and made the last 16 for the 2022 national Pub of the Year competition.

Information for this venue is provided by the Reading & Mid-Berks Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Windsor and Maidenhead (B)
Last updated
21/02/2025
Last surveyed
07/01/2025
Leasehold owner
unknown
Freehold owner
Owned by a charity run by the villagers
Pub ID
REA/WALTHA010
Asset of Community Value

Two star - A pub interior of very special national historic interest

Listed status: II*

This fine timber-framed building originated as a house around 1400. Along with lands it passed into the hands of the village in 1608 for the benefit of the poor and needy in accordance with the wishes of Ralph Newbery (1535–1608), a local boy who made (very) good as a Fleet Street printer and publisher. It is said to have become a pub in 1723 and revenues from it still benefit the village. It has a pair of wonderful pub rooms at the front. The very atmospheric lounge on the right is especially fine with some Jacobean panelling on the rear wall, exposed arch-braced beams, a fielded panel bar front (possibly 1930s), a Jacobean mantelpiece and some fixed bench seating. The horizontal dado panelling is of considerable, though indeterminate vintage. Left of all this is an opening to the main bar where the counter is also possibly of the 1930s. Left again is the entrance corridor with a small snug (more old panelling) through a latch door immediately by the entrance. A little further in is a door with steps (and inclined slopes either side) down to the cellar. The corridor leads to a plain room at the rear which seems a relatively new addition to the public areas (note the glass-topped well).

General information about historic pub interiors

This fine, timbered building originated as a house around 1400. It passed into the hands of the village in 1608 under the bequest of Ralph Newbery, a local boy who made (very) good as a publisher in London. It is said to have become a pub in 1723 and revenues from it still benefit the village.

The best room is the carpeted lounge (note the interwar entrance doorway) on the right with exposed arched roof trusses, a fielded panel bar front (possibly 1930s) and shelving, some from same period and some more from only around 1990. The rear wall has some Jacobean fielded panelling with a lozenge pattern. Old wood surround and 1930s brick fireplace with a three bay carved Jacobean panelled mantelpiece. Just inside the room on the left there is a short bench attached to very old dado panelling and more on the front wall and around to the fireplace on the right. The baffles near the fireplace appear loose so possibly imported?

There is one of a number of very old oak doors at rear and beyond is a part brick part tiled passage with a stble door entry to the servery for staff.

Left of this is the main bar with a bare wood floor where the bar counter front looks to be an interwar. There is a small piece of the inter-war bar back but the top section has shelving dating from around 1990 and fridges have replaced most of the lower part. There is old wood surround and brick fireplace with ancient fireback and a log fire.. The bay window has exposed brick and some modern benches.

Front door leads to a passage and on the right is a ‘Bar’ door, but this is no longer in operation as entrance to the left hand bar is from a widish gap at the end of the passage. On the left of the passage is a latch door – open it and up a step you will find a very small, carpeted room with just one large table ready for diners. The rear wall is of very old timbers and includes two cupboards in the upper part.

The corridor leads to a plain bare wood floor room at the rear, which looks as though it is a relatively new addition to the public areas with a post-war brick fireplace and a glass topped well: here you can see a copy of the deeds.

General information about historic pub interiors
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Opening Times Unavailable

Current beers

This Pub serves 4 changing beers and 1 regular beer.

Regular and recently seen
Loddon - Hoppit
Loddon - Hoppit

Session Bitter

ABV: 3.4%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No

This beer is served regularly. Spotted 14 times recently. Last spotted 2 days ago

Facer's - Don't worry be Hoppy
Facer's - Don't worry be Hoppy

Session Pale Ale

ABV: 4.1%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No

Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 2 days ago

Changing

Mostly LocAle

Changing beers typically include: Loose Cannon (varies) , Stardust (varies)

The venue's range of changing beers regularly includes the following rare beer styles: Mild , Stout


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Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Reservations Sunday lunch only.
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Live Music Live Music
folk music session on the first Thursday evenings of the month
Garden Garden
Large with plenty of seating
Family Friendly Family Friendly
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Function Room Function Room
Upstairs (no bar)
Games Games
Cards & crib board, shut the box behind bar
Real Fire Real Fire
Restaurant Restaurant
Smoking Smoking
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
Real Cider Real Cider
Varied selection up to 6 plus 2 perries; more in summer
Real Heritage Pub Real Heritage Pub
LocAle LocAle
Quiet Quiet
Transport
Close to bus routes
Thames Valley Buses: 234 (Monday to Saturday - a circular service Maidenhead to Maidenhead.)

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