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Image posted by Just a quick pint, then I'm off
Submitted on Saturday, 2nd October 2021
With picture contributions to 11808 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (13 more images)
Detail Pages
The Lower Bell, Aylesford
Blue Bell Hill
Postal town: Aylesford
ME20 7EF
Served areas
Reviews of The Lower Bell (Average Rating: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Lower Bell
You can reach this Greene King pub using the slip road off the busy northbound A229. Not realising this, I lost about 5 minutes heading up to M2 roundabout and taking a southbound slip road instead.
It appeared that a wake was in progress, which was making the pub much more popular than it would otherwise have been. The pub features bare boards with the occasional path of carpet. Pale grey painted walls make it feel fairly anodyne. At least one TV was spotted (switched off), with music playing instead. Toilet facilities were lacking. The gents had no loo roll and the disabled toilet was out of service.
An outdoor drinking area was proving quite popular. There are both covered and uncovered outdoor drinking areas with the covered area located on some decking.
I could only see a single handpull on the bar. The cask ale is Greene King IPA. Level Head is on keg. The cider is Strongbow. Food is served here. There are condiments on each table but nobody was eating at 16:30 on a midweek afternoon. Sunday roasts are promoted.
The pub features a large car park and accommodation is also available here. I can't really find too much to recommend about this place but its popularity suggests it is doing something right.
On 4th October 2026
- rating: 3
[User has posted 3626 recommendations about 3624 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Lower Bell
Once a landmark inn on the main road between Maidstone and the Medway Towns, but now in the shadow of the modern dual carriageway. However, it still offers food and accommodation, and (in normal times) hosts regular live music, etc. Apart from that, the interior has been modernised, and the amount of outside seating has been expanded in what is now a split-level patio beer garden. As a Greene King house, I found IPA (£4.00, and in very good form) and Abbot available from the pair of handpumps.
On 30th July 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 9258 recommendations about 9258 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Lower Bell
A busy GK pub hidden in the shadow of Bluebell Hill and the A229. The name is historic and probably pre-dates the current pub building which is Victorian; there used to be a single narrow track up Bluebell Hill with a bell at each end to control traffic and prevent impasse. Its sister pub, the Upper Bell, was demolished earlier this year. A large bar is entered from the car park via a large outside terrace, and there is a separate restaurant area. The pub also does B&B at a reasonable price. A pleasant garden adjoins the car park. The décor is basic and dated, and the only ale on was Abbott which was in very good condition. There is a large TV and a gaming machine. The food is a bit too basic to justify the price. Live music is a regular feature. Fine if you're in the area, and it's in a convenient location between Maidstone and the Medway Towns, but I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to come here.
On 5th October 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3865 recommendations about 3823 pubs]
View more reviews of The Lower Bell (4)
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- Official site of The Lower Bell - www.lowerbell.com
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- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Lower Bell - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : Yes last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Car Park : Yes last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Darts : No last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Function Room : No last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Jukebox : No last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Karaoke : No last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Live Music : Yes last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Micropub : No last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Pinball : No last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Pool Table : No last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Quiz Night : No last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Real Cider : No last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- WiFi : Yes last updated 04 October 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
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