Spirits are High at The Bell Inn at Ladbroke

The Bell Inn at Ladbroke, Banbury Road, Ladbroke, South Warwickshire

It is always very encouraging to come across a pub which is thriving within its local community during these very difficult times for the pub & hospitality sector. Freespirit Pubs are a small, independent pub group with five properties – three with rooms, located across Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. I was invited along to one of its most recent acquisitions, The Bell Inn at the heart of the beautiful village of Ladbroke complete with thatched cottages & original village architecture in rural Warwickshire.  

Ladbroke is a village about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Southam close to the attractive towns of Leamington Spa & Banbury. The village occupies the land near the Lot Brook (from which it gets its name) and is in one of the least populated areas in the county. The population, fewer than 300, is not much greater than it was in 1086, when recorded in the Domesday Book!

Freespirit Pubs took over The Bell in March 2022, and following a major refurbishment it reopened with light, airy dining spaces in a rustic country style. It is everything a traditional pub should be with good food & drink, warm log fires, flag stoned bar, friendly staff & a delightful beer garden.

As my wife & I entered The Bell we were warmly welcomed by Poppy, the Bar manager who had worked for FreeSpirit Pubs for several years. She was an efficient, sociable & seasoned professional, nothing was too much trouble for her, which was really appreciated by my wife & I. All of the staff that I came across in the pub throughout our visit delivered a very high-quality service.

The Bell team is headed by General Manager Dani Mitova who has spent five years with Freespirit Pubs since moving from Bulgaria and has worked at most of the five sites. However, at The Bell, she is on a mission to be the best country pub in the region, an undertaking I believe she will succeed in very soon, having spent an evening at The Bell. Dani also took the time to engage with my wife & I in a period of genuine conversation.

The Bell is a very popular pub & restaurant with both locals & visitors from outside the village. Whilst enjoying our meal I noticed a number of people coming in off the street, not only to eat in the restaurant but to sit and enjoy a drink with friends. It is obviously still very much a local for the village community as well as a fine pub restaurant. It is also a very popular pub for visitors with their canine friends! I saw several dogs leading their owners from in off the street! Your four-legged friends are always welcome at The Bell!

In the bar, I noticed that there was a well-stocked selection of craft ales, ciders, spirits & local beers plus the staff are also able to prepare a range of delicious cocktails. The wine list offers a comprehensive list of fine international wines available by the glass or bottle. Whether you are looking for a suitable drink to pair with a meal or just relaxing next to the fireside or sitting outside on the small terrace or garden, there is something for everyone. Children are not allowed in the bar but are welcome in the restaurant.

Whether you are looking for a fine dining experience or prefer the traditional pub classics, The Bell is able to provide for every occasion & taste. The pub can cater for between eighty five to a hundred covers when full! From the outside The Bell looks quite small, but like the Tardis it opens up when you are inside to present a much larger space than anticipated.

All food is freshly prepared on site daily so if you have any dietary requirements, just let someone know at the pub when making your reservation and they will make sure they cater for your every need. The Bell takes village pub food to a much higher level. There is a large car park at front & rear of the pub.

The Bell has built up a deserved regional reputation for its food & drink. Head Chef Gil Davies & his kitchen team are passionate about sourcing only the very best seasonal ingredients & making them into enjoyable dishes. Everything on the menu is made in-house.Gil has been at The Bell since it re-opened and is a fervent supporter of sourcing local freshly sourced produce & only the very best seasonal ingredients thus helping to reduce its carbon footprint & supporting local businesses. The Bell works closely with local producers, wholesalers, fisherman & farmers. Animal welfare & sustainability are of primary importance to the kitchen team, as is their supplier’s passions & interests. The Bell’s Sunday roast is very popular as is the children’s menu, sandwich menu & home-made bar snacks throughout the day.

All of the food that I was fortunate to taste was excellent. I must admit to trying some of my wife’s meal and can vouch that all of the dishes were beautifully cooked and professionally presented to table.

Starters:

Scallops of the Day £13.95 – Pork Belly & Scallops! Worked very well together! An unusual but tasty grouping of flavours.

Butternut Squash & Sage Arancini, Red Pepper Tapenade £8.95 (v/vg/gf) Soft & slightly spicy Arancini

Mains:

Pork Belly, Bubble ‘n’ Squeak, Green Beans, Red Wine Jus £20.95 (gf) Excellent, essential crackling topped a piece of simply delicious pork belly. Loved the Bubble ‘n’ Squeak with small pieces of carrot, cabbage & peas. When cooked well you cannot beat pork belly and this was cooked well! Delicious.

Roast Rump of Lamb, Dauphinoise Potatoes, Peas, Lardons, Baby Onions, Red Wine Jus £25.95 (gf) Gorgeous piece of lamb, perfectly cooked how I like it, slightly pink! Beautifully cooked vegetables & the Dauphinoise Potatoes were to die for!

Desserts:

Warm Banana Cake, Spiced Rum Toffee Sauce & Biscoff Ice Cream £8.95 My three favourite ingredients to a fine dessert.

Dark Chocolate Mousse & Biscoff Ice Cream £8.95 (gf/v) What is there not to like?

Wine:

Red Wine  Italy, Merlot (V)         Bottle £23.00 

The Bell has a very comprehensive wine list from which my wife & I were recommended a bottle of Italian Merlot – Trevigiana Cantina. Red in colour with purplish reflections, hints of ripe red fruit on the nose. A harmonious & well-structured wine. It was the perfect accompaniment to her Roast Rump of Lamb & my Pork Belly.  There were over thirty listed wines on the wine menu which included champagne & sparkling wines. I thought it was an excellent & comprehensive wine list for a small village pub.

I think that The Bells biggest asset are the staff themselves, Dani, Poppy, Gil & his creative team in the kitchen, the bar & serving staff all contribute to an excellent professional service, they are a credit to The Bell Inn & FreeSpirit Pubs!

The Bell is a fine example of an old English village pub with loads of character, where the community comes together, and visitors are made to feel very welcome. You can grab a simple snack or stay and linger over a sumptuous meal in the restaurant area. For tasty food, quality ales & fine wines in a local friendly pub atmosphere, The Bell is a smart choice.

Have you thought about visiting a new pub restaurant, for that special dining experience?

Why not visit The Bell for that special occasion. You won’t regret it. I had a great time, and I shall be going back very soon! The Bell is a great local village pub with an excellent restaurant! By providing such excellent quality food and drink combined with the warm, friendly hospitality, this classic village pub is sure to win many awards for its food and hospitality over the next couple of years.

It certainly comes highly recommended from me!

Disclosure: My visit was courtesy of The Bell at Ladbroke, FreeSpirit Pubs & Bridget Stott PR

The views and comments expressed are as usual my own.

The Bell Inn at Ladbroke, Banbury Road, Ladbroke, South Warwickshire, CV47 2BY, 01926 811224.

bellinnatladbroke.co.uk

Do you want to know what else is on at The Bell?

BURGER NIGHT

Every Tuesday: Why not enjoy a towering creation from our burger menu & a selected drink – £16.95.

PIE NIGHT

Every Thursday: Tuck into a Chef’s pie & a selected drink – £16.96

FISH & CHIP NIGHT

Every Friday 4pm – 6pm:  Throughout November – Classic Fish & Chips to eat in/take away – £12.95

Comedy Night & Tapas: Monday 27th November: Comedy night with Tapas: So come and join us for a good ol’giggle!Starts 6.30pm for a delicious tapas sharing board. Then we will move from the dining table to the theatre as we welcome @RyanMoldComedy & Friends to the “stage” at 8pm for a show that will get you laughing.Tickets are on sale now direct with the team 01926 811 224. Tapas & Comedy £19.95pp or you can upgrade to include a jug of sangria for £24.95pp!

Charity Christmas Quiz: Tuesday 5th December – 7.30pm: We will be hosting a charity Christmas quiz in aid of Alzheimers UK. Tickets are £10pp and include some delicious half time food, with £2.50 donation on the night for the charity.

New Years Eve: Sunday 31st December: Bring in the New Year with style, join us for drinks alongside a special New Years Eve 3 course set menu.

Did You Know – Ladbroke village?

Despite a population of less than 300, Ladbroke’s history is full of characters and stories.  Did you know

Ladbroke church is over 700 years old. The inside was renovated by the famous Victorian architect, Sir George Gilbert Scott.

A hoard of Roman coins was discovered in a Ladbroke field.

The Domesday Book records that in 1086 Ladbroke was a thriving community bigger than Birmingham.

Much of the village was owned by Robert Catesby, leader of the Gunpowder Plot.

Prisoners of War were held in Ladbroke during WW1 and WW2.

A huge ammonite fossil was found here in 2013.

There are more than 50 bird species in the parish.