THIS cosy countryside pub has been ringing in the changes since a dynamic couple took it over and put a warm welcome and high quality food at its heart.
The Bell Inn at Broadheath, near Worcester has been run by Ian Davies and wife Lyndsey for the last 16 years. Since then, the couple has steered the business in a new and interesting direction which has won it a loyal following.
Lyndsey Davies, 45, a former primary school teacher, confesses the trade began as her 52-year-old husband's. However, she is fully engrossed in her role and is animated by an infectious enthusiasm when she talks about the pub and the restaurant.
Together with her husband and a team of loyal staff, they continue to improve the pub in Martley Road in Broadheath, deep in the heart of Elgar country, another of its many blessings.
Both have not only survived but thrived despite the blows that hit the trade hard - the credit crunch in 2008 and Covid in 2020. Previously the Bell was managed by the Hayward family for more than 40 years.
Judging by the reviews, the formula is working with a 4.5 rating on Google after 704 reviews, a 4-star rating on TripAdvisor after 417 reviews.
In 2019 they opened bed and breakfast rooms and in this area the business has really come to excel, rated 9.1 (superb') on booking.com after 812 reviews.
One of the first things that strikes you about the pub is how festive it looks and the effort put into decorating the building for Christmas and New Year.
Since Ian and Lyndsey took over, the focus has also become much more about food. Head chef Ryan Rainier, who has been with the Bell since 2018 and hails originally from South Africa, has played a big part in making this vision possible.
Meanwhile, manager Becky Probert has played a key role in front of house, making customers feel welcome which Mrs Davies says is important to the business which has up to 30 staff.
The menu is extensive including an impressive range of appetisers, bowls and boards, mains, pub classics, pizzas, Bell burgers and Sunday lunches.
Although the kitchen staff take pride in the quality of the food, affordability is also considered important by the owners.
A Sunday roast for example costs £14.50 for adults and £9 for under 10s (and includes a choice of roasted British topside of beef with homemade Yorkshire puddings or golden roasted Norfolk turkey breast with all the trimmings). The roast is served with roast potatoes, buttered new potatoes and a medley of rich seasonal vegetables and a rich meat gravy.
For vegans, there is a nut roast with vegan gravy.
All ingredients are sourced locally, including from Three Counties Produce with everything 'made from scratch' from dressings to desserts.
The menu is a mixture of pub classics but Mrs Davies says these affordable dishes are much better than you can expect to find in most pubs with the most popular being the Bell Classic (slow-cooked belly of pork with braised red cabbage and apple and a rich burgundy reduction).
The pub, part of the Stonegate Group, also provides many local ales such as Blonde from the Ludlow Brewing Company and ales from Teme Valley Brewery and Bewdley Brewery.
She added: "We are also lucky to have some really wonderful staff. We have also built up quite a regular trade and we have secured a lot of repeat trade. Everyone is made to feel welcome."
People visit the Bell from across Worcestershire and Herefordshire. However, the bed and breakfast attracts people from much further afield and staff have welcomed visitors from all over the world including Australia, New Zealand, various European countries and Kuwait.
So what do people love about the Bell? Mrs Davies believes it is a combination of delicious food, friendly staff, a great atmosphere and lovely rooms.
They feel they must be doing something right, she says, as trade is now increasing.
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The pub is also one which is close to the community it serves. A Christmas Quiz on December 20 will raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association because a local man, Scott Morris, is affected by the condition. It is hoped that donations will be made during the quiz to support the cause.
"We are very much a community pub," said Mrs Davies with the village's Christmas carol service taking place at the pub on December 19.
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The garden room was built from scratch by Mr Davies in 2021 during the third lockdown in just eight weeks. The room can sit around 45 people.
There are 30 benches outside with views out towards the Malvern Hills which makes it a popular spot in summer. An enclosed play area provides added appeal for families.
There are now two EV charging points at the pub which have yet to go live but will serve customers who have electric cars.
