🥂 Award-Winning Wiltshire Village pub with rooms | 🛌 10 stylish bedrooms | 🌳 In the scenic village of Ramsbury | 🍴 Seasonally changing a la carte menus | 🐶 Dog-Friendly | 🍼 Children welcome |📍 Ramsbury, Near Marlborough
Why we love The Bell at Ramsbury
“There are some foodie stays you just don’t forget – and the award-winning Bell at Ramsbury is one of those. Nestled in the scenic Kennet Valley and surrounded by the expansive Ramsbury Estate, this lovely pub with rooms serves up, without question, some of the finest food in the area. In one small mouthful, you will see why The Bell has recently been acclaimed by The Good Food Guide and The Michelin Guide. And after one sweet sleep, you’ll be checking your diary to see when you can book again.”
Under the culinary leadership of renowned head chef James Graham, formerly of The Three Daggers and The Pointer at Brill when it was awarded ‘Michelin Pub of the Year’ 2018, The Bell showcases an exceptional farm-to-table experience for you to enjoy whilst staying in one of its 10 uniquely decorated rooms.
Step inside the pub and you’ll find carefully restored architectural details like exposed beams, oak floors, working fireplaces, and stunning leaded windows complementing a curated mix of antique furnishings, vintage pieces, and estate-themed artwork.
From the cozy snug and formal dining rooms to the bright Café Bella, every space has been designed with pub comfort in mind. The space is light and bright but, most importantly, filled with a mix of people making it a real pub ‘pub’ – if you know what we mean. From local families and dog walkers to business guests and tourists, all are welcome here and it feels great.
The Food
The pub is owned by the Ramsbury Estate, known for its award-winning distillery, brewery, and sustainable farming practices; with James’ menus being inspired by the estate’s seasonal bounty. You’ll find sustainably-sourced Aberdeen Angus beef, lamb from the estate’s meadows, and wild game from Ramsbury’s own woodlands on the menu, along with freshly harvested produce from the estate’s Priory Farm kitchen garden.
For those seeking an elevated dining experience, The Bell offers a la carte dining and a first-class estate-led Tasting Menu (which we opted for), with multiple courses crafted to highlight the estate’s finest ingredients. It was a meal that will have a firm place in our memory for a long time to come. Every dish was truly remarkable, accompanied by James to explain the providence of the ingredients in it, so you felt properly connected to the food and land. Genuinely, we can’t wait to go back and are delighted that this gastronomic tour-de-force is only 35 mins away from Weekend Candy HQ.
Go on a Sunday and you’ll be in good company: the roasts are a local favourite, prepared with James’ commitment to flavour and sustainable practices, including whole-animal butchery—minimising waste and making James one of the pioneering chefs in this approach.
If you’re after something a little lighter, at the back of the Bell, you’ll find Cafe Bella. Here you can grab a cup of coffee and a homemade cake to start your day or compliment your lunch break.
The Rooms
The Bell offers 10 uniquely decorated guest rooms, each exuding tranquillity and style. Six rooms are located above the pub, while four dog-friendly rooms – including the room we stayed in – are in a converted coach house, set just across from the main pub building.
Every room features locally-sourced antiques, plush Hypnos beds, hypoallergenic bedding, and luxurious linens. Whilst there were a few teething problems in our room (no iron, questionable WiFi), the food made up for anything that was overlooked.
Doubles are available from £110 per night on a bed and breakfast basis, and families are warmly accommodated with travel cots provided free of charge, along with camp beds available for £50 per child.
The Location
The Bell is located in Ramsbury – a wonderful village of thatched cottages and a speckling of boutique shops – just four miles from Hungerford and close to sights such as White Horse Hill, Uffington, Lacock Abbey, and the ancient chalk downlands of the region. We walked to see the famous nearby Roman villa and incredible mosaic in Littlecote (the best preserved mosaic in the UK) – it was a hidden gem worth every muddy step.
The nearest train station is in Hungerford, with regular departures from London Paddington (1hr 7min journey). Note that taxis are unreliable in the area, so car travel to Ramsbury is recommended for ease.
Whether you’re here for the sensational food, the pleasant accommodation, or to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Ramsbury Estate, The Bell offers an unforgettable escape into the heart of Wiltshire’s countryside.
The Essentials
- The Bell at Ramsbury is a thriving 300-year old freehouse with restaurant, café and 10 individual en-suite rooms
- Rooms range from £110 per night on a B&B basis for two people year-round.
- Children of all ages are very welcome and dogs are welcome in the four coach house bedrooms at no extra charge
- Find The Bell in the centre of the very picturesque and ancient East Wiltshire village of Ramsbury, surrounded by rolling chalk downland
- Meals are served in the bar and two adjoining light and airy dining spaces warmed by wood-burning stoves or open fires
- Choose from a la carte dining or a tasting menu by multi-award-winning chef, James Graham
- Adjacent to the pub’s dining rooms, is the quaint and sun-filled, Café Bella. Popular with locals, it offers counter dining overlooking the open kitchen and a relaxed vibe
- The Ramsbury Estate Distillery and Brewery lie just three miles from The Bell, and offer regular tours, beer, gin and vodka tastings and a Bespoke Gin School Experience
- You can also bolt-on other experiences to enjoy, including foraging and off-road safaris
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