Pubs & Clubs
Events
Beers & Breweries
Pubs & Clubs
Events
Beers & Breweries
Join Us

Blue Bell Inn, Annan

You have visited this venue
View all visits

Directions

You want to visit - You have this in
Operator: Independent
10 High Street, Annan, DG12 6AG (View on Google Map)
No website available
  • Historic Interior

A former coaching inn dating from 1770 at the western entrance to the town. The Blue Bell is in a red sandstone building and is a busy, friendly pub offering up to four real ales. The pub is home to many community activities along with annual beer (late August Bank Holiday) and cider festivals.

There are traditional features in the Blue Bell, notably the inter-war panelling on the walls and the bar counter. These are retained from its time as a State Management Scheme pub from 1917 to 1972 . The courtyard to the rear of the pub features the original stables and also provides a pleasant seated area.

Real or bottled cider may be available.

CAMRA Dumfriesshire Area Pub of the Year 2024, 2023

Historic Interest

Former Gretna State Management Scheme pub. Mid 19th century incorporating earlier parts with some that date from 1770. Category B Listed. Historic Environment Scotland reference LB21096

Information for this venue is provided by the Dumfries & Stewartry - Sub Branch (Solway) Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Dumfries and Galloway
Last updated
13/06/2025
Last surveyed
10/04/2023
Leasehold owner
unknown
Freehold owner
individual
Pub ID
DUM/39
Asset of Community Value

One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest

Listed status: C

In 1917 all the pubs in Annan became part of the Gretna State Management Scheme, one of a handful of such schemes in the UK, and they continued to be owned by the government until 1972. The idea was to control the consumption of alcohol by workers in the munitions factories at Gretna and, under the scheme, the Blue Bell was refitted and is not much changed since. This former coaching inn, where Hans Christian Anderson is said to have stayed, dates back to 1770, but the red sandstone building is now mainly mid 19th-century, although it still retains its stables at the rear. The main change in the last 50 years has been the removal of a sliding screen on the left of the entrance which gives the pub an open-plan feel. All the walls are covered in inter-war panelling, as is the bar counter, but the counter top and back gantry have been replaced in the past 30-odd years. There was a tiny snug on the right-hand side until the 1970s. A short flight of steps to the left of the bar leads to the adjacent pool room.  This was formerly part of the living accommodation and there is nothing of historic interest.  The gents' is intact with its panelled ante-room, tiled inner room and original Shanks urinals.

Premium Access Required

You must be a Explorer Pass or CAMRA Member to be able to view specially curated GBG descriptions

Premium Access Required
Monday
Noon - 11:00pm
Tuesday
6:00pm - 11:00pm
Wednesday
Noon - 11:00pm
Thursday
Noon - Midnight
Friday
Noon - Midnight
Saturday
11:00am - Midnight
Sunday
12:30pm - 11:00pm

TasteMatch

Unlock TasteMatch and all of CAMRA’s online tools from just 99p/month with our Explorer Pass, or join as a member to get the best of pubs, beer and breweries plus discounts at the bar.

Current beers

This Pub serves 4 changing beers and 0 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen

Keswick - Thirst Quencher TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Keswick - Thirst Quencher
Keswick - Thirst Quencher Session Blond Ale • 4.3% Spotted twice
Keswick - Thirst Quencher
Keswick - Thirst Quencher

Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 5 days ago at Blue Bell Inn, Annan.

ABV 4.3%
Style Session Blond Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Phoenix - Arizona TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Phoenix - Arizona
Phoenix - Arizona Session Blond Ale • 4.1% Spotted twice
Phoenix - Arizona
Phoenix - Arizona

Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 6 days ago at Blue Bell Inn, Annan.

ABV 4.1%
Style Session Blond Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Kirkstall - Kirkstall Pale Ale TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Kirkstall - Kirkstall Pale Ale
Kirkstall - Kirkstall Pale Ale Session Golden Ale • 4% Spotted 4 times
Kirkstall - Kirkstall Pale Ale
Kirkstall - Kirkstall Pale Ale

Spotted 4 times recently. Last spotted 4 days ago at Blue Bell Inn, Annan.

ABV 4%
Style Session Golden Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Bowness Bay - Swan Blonde TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Bowness Bay - Swan Blonde
Bowness Bay - Swan Blonde Session Blond Ale • 4% Spotted 5 times
Bowness Bay - Swan Blonde
Bowness Bay - Swan Blonde

Spotted 5 times recently. Last spotted 3 days ago at Blue Bell Inn, Annan.

ABV 4%
Style Session Blond Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Mill Valley - Fudge! TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Mill Valley - Fudge!
Mill Valley - Fudge! Flavoured Speciality Beers • 4.6% Spotted 4 times
Mill Valley - Fudge!
Mill Valley - Fudge!

Spotted 4 times recently. Last spotted 4 days ago at Blue Bell Inn, Annan.

ABV 4.6%
Style Flavoured Speciality Beers
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Hush - Salt Town Stout TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Hush - Salt Town Stout
Hush - Salt Town Stout Session Stout • 4.3% Spotted twice
Hush - Salt Town Stout
Hush - Salt Town Stout

Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 6 days ago at Blue Bell Inn, Annan.

ABV 4.3%
Style Session Stout
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Tatton - Wintersfiend TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Tatton - Wintersfiend
Tatton - Wintersfiend Premium Bitter • 4.6% Spotted twice
Tatton - Wintersfiend
Tatton - Wintersfiend

Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 6 days ago at Blue Bell Inn, Annan.

ABV 4.6%
Style Premium Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No
Changing

Changing beers typically include: Five Kingdoms (varies)

Source: Regional


Your scores

Join CAMRA to access beer scoring and view scores for other pubs. Become a member.
Retrieving scores
You have no beer scores submitted.

Facilities
Sports TV Sports TV
Live Music Live Music
Occasional live music
Garden Garden
Courtyard to the rear of the pub
Family Friendly Family Friendly
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Camping Camping
Galabank Camping & Caravan Site (800m)
Events Events
Community related events
Games Games
Newspapers Newspapers
Smoking Smoking
Wi Fi Wi Fi
free
Features
Cask Ale Cask Ale
Real Heritage Pub Real Heritage Pub
Beer Festival Beer Festival
Annual Beer (late August Bank Holiday) and Cider festivals
Transport
Close to bus routes (130m)
79, 383
Nearby Station (450m)
Annan

Help keep our information accurate!

Notice an error or missing details? Help us keep our pub & club information accurate by sharing any corrections or updates you spot.

Suggest an edit

Nearby

Corner House Hotel
Pub, in Annan
Cask Ale not available
Published on 12-07-2015
Open
Shed
Pub, in Annan
Cask Ale not available
Buck Inn
Pub, in Annan
Cask Ale not available
Vaults Cafe Bar
Pub, in Annan
Cask Ale not available
Gracie's Banking
Pub, in Annan
Cask Ale not available
(Pub, External, Sign, Key). Published on 28-02-2024
Commercial Inn
Pub, in Annan
Cask Ale not available
Station House
Pub, in Annan
Cask Ale not available
Firth Hotel
Pub, in Annan
Cask Ale not available
Brig Inn
Pub, in Brydekirk
Cask Ale not available
Powfoot Hotel (Photo: Jim McMahon 28/04/2024). (Pub, External, Sign, Key). Published on 28-05-2024
Powfoot Hotel
Pub, in Powfoot
Cask Ale not available

Grab a copy of the Heritage Pub Guide for Scotland

Introduction This guide describes the 116 pubs identified by CAMRA as having interiors of national or regional historic or architectural importance, plus a further 24 whose interiors are of some regional interest. Scotland has over 4000 pubs so why do...

Historic pub interiors

Recently Viewed

(Pub, External, Key). Published on 07-05-2014
Open
Prince Rupert
Pub, in Newark
4 Changing Beers
  • Outstanding pub restoration
Street frontage with old Style & Winch tiling. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 20-07-2025
Closed • Opens at 4:00pm
Man of Kent Ale House
Pub, in Rochester
11 Changing Beers
Lincoln Arms, Spalding. (Pub, External). Published on 20-02-2012
Open
Lincoln Arms
Pub, in Spalding
Cask Ale not available
(Pub). Published on 25-12-2012
Open
Riddins Tavern
Pub, in Old Hill
Cask Ale not available
February 2017. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 19-02-2017
Open
Green Dragon
Pub, in Downend
2 Regular Beers
Phoenix Inn, Twyford. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 01-05-2013
Open
Phoenix Inn
Pub, in Twyford
4 Regular, 2 Changing Beers
Published on 04-02-2016
Open
Linford Arms
Wetherspoon Pub, in Cannock
4 Regular, 5 Changing Beers
  • CAMRA voucher scheme
Front of pub. (Key). Published on 22-09-2016
Open
Hogarths
Pub, in Hereford
2 Changing Beers
© Campaign for Real Ale 2023 - 2025 (ce-9)
Home