“It’s amazing to think how many thousands of barrels of beer have come down here over the centuries.” Hugh Kermode and Jeremy Cooper are looking at the wooden tracks, or cellar skid, in the basement of The Bell in Iden. As part of the team of villagers who are looking to re-open the historic pub, they’re passionate about making it happen – possibly this year. “The pub was the focus of village life for many years. It was a really good local boozer and it will be again.”
The Bell has been closed since 2023 and a village campaign to buy the pub has been hugely successful with 116 supporters buying shares in a community benefit society. Along with a major local donor they now own the freehold and will start working with architects to develop plans for the building which dates back to the 16th century.
There’s a lot to do before the first pint is pulled. On Saturday 30 May volunteers helped clear out the rooms and cellar, filling skips with pallets and old furniture. They also tidied up the garden ahead of a series of community pop up events later in the year. At the same time local volunteers were also hard at work across the road getting Iden Bowls Club ready for the season.
“There’s an awful lot of talent and determination in this village to make it happen,” said Hugh. “The fact it’s community-owned means there’s real support behind it. There’s lots of unrealised potential here. The garden is still one of the best pub gardens in the area and I can see it becoming a real jewel in the crown of the village again.”
Inside The Bell, work on a new kitchen is urgently needed, along with changes to the layout and the uneven floors. The plan is to make it a fully accessible local pub with great food but it’s an old building with low ceilings, awkward steps and little rooms everywhere.
The potential dining room is bright, with big wide doors that open onto the garden. The snug has an open fire place and the bar is still in place, though surrounded by walls painted a very dark blue. Upstairs the empty rooms could be reconfigured either for paying guests or staff. An outhouse in the grounds has already been converted into rooms. The pub cellar needs work too.
The project to reopen The Bell has faced setbacks, including funding complications and the changing economy, but Jeremy said having the community behind The Bell has kept things moving forward. “What’s exciting is that it’s people just getting things done. That’s the best thing about it. Now it’s time to get the village fully behind it and turn it back into a really good local pub.”
Image Credits: James Stewart , Hugh Kermode .