The Bell re-opened on 1 April serving liquid refreshments - food to follow soon

The Bell has been the only pub in the village for some years. Early records are a little sketchy but there are documents which show that in the 16th Century there was a great deal of “dropping in” at the cottage of one Thomas Chebsey and the map of 1639 shows that another Chebsey owned the site where The Bell now stands.

Ladbroke Innkeepers were regularly mentioned in past records, mainly on the occasions when they broke the regulations by selling their ale in unsealed measure and not at a penny a quart ! Owing to the large number of travellers pouring through the village in the 18th and 19th centuries the village was able to support 4 hostelries. These were The White Horse (later known as The Horse and Jockey) which was where Ladbroke Garage is now; The Swan Inn was located where Swan Cottage and Rose Cottage are in Bridge Lane and The Crown Inn near the junction of Banbury Road and School Lane (it gave its name to the present Crown Cottage) and The Bell Inn which alone has stood the test of time, still being open and busy today.

How did The Bell get it’s name ? If the pub existed in 1639 then it was named for the church bells that called people to festivals and other thirsty events. However the first time The Bell is documented is in the Manor Court Rolls of 1765. If it was either a new pub or renamed at the time, it would have been named for the Coventry Turnpike which ran past it’s front door and according to the rhyme still attached to the bell inside the pub:
“The Bell hangs high and hinders none,
pay the toll and travel on”

The Bell had an important place in village life when the Palmer family held the manor. The Bell and The Horse and Jockey (aka White Horse) were the favourite drinking places of Charles Palmer in the 18th century and the last Manor Court Roll was held at The Bell in 1853. At the court held in 1765, the bill from the publican, Richard Fisher, came to £1.7s.10d for ale served to 55 men and meals to 19 Jurymen and gentlemen (so no real difference to today then!)

Pubs have always been a hub of village life and during the term of recent licensee Ron Abbott it was often reported that he served more ales and meals than Richard Fisher did 200 years ago.

In recent years The Bell went through several hands with varying success but in November 2005 Ladbroke welcomed Nick & Karen and Gary & Vicki as the new management. The new dawn of the Bell followed the doors being shut for a while in the 2nd week of November 2005 and traded with good stead until 26th March 2006 when the Bell saw a face lift that retained it’s quaint old building style but brought the inside up to 21st century standards. The grand reopening was held at the beginning of June 2006 introducing good fresh food and discerning wines and beers.

Now, in June 2008 on Ladbroke Fete day, we look forward to celebrating our 2nd birthday after the refurbishment. Nick and Gary are keen to thank the village and friends for all support that has been given in re establishing the Bell as a key location of the village.