Nailsea pub Ring O'Bells up for National Pub & Bar Award

Ring O’Bells, located in St Mary’s Grove, Nailsea, was named the best pub and bar in Somerset in July, joining 93 other venues – one from every county in the UK – in receiving a prestigious award.  

After being nominated by its customers and winning in Somerset, Ring O’Bells has progressed to the next stage of the awards, which are run by Beer & Bar Magazine.

On the evening of Monday, September 6, the National Pub & Bar Awards will be held at 30 Euston Square, a Grade II* listed venue in London.   

15 regional winners and the overall national pub and bar of the year will be announced – with Ring O’Bells shortlisted in the south west category.

The evening will be hosted by restaurant critic Grace Dent, who writes for the Guardian and hosts its Comfort Eating podcast. 

She is also a guest judge on BBC One's MasterChef. 

Ahead of the awards evening, Ring O’Bells manager Rebecca Williams said: "We have been so mental here that we have not really had time to think about it!

"It’s amazing and it was so nice to be awarded the Somerset award in the first place. We have worked so hard to get to where we are at the moment.

"We are really grateful for what we have got and anything else is an additional bonus.

"I can’t personally attend on Monday because it’s my son’s birthday the next day, but my mum and dad are hoping to go."

Ring O’Bells is one of seven south west pubs and bars to be nominated alongside The Strawberry Thief (Bristol), The Rising Sun (Truro, Cornwall), The Pigs Nose Inn (Kingsbridge, Devon), The Old Granary (Wareham, Dorset), The Wheatsheaf Inn (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire) and The Hatchet Inn (Lower Chute, Wiltshire).

The Somerset award and national nomination are significant achievements for the family-focused pub, which has only been open for two years.

"We moved in in July 2019 and, when we took it over, it was pretty much abandoned, and we just wanted to bring it back to life,” said Rebecca.

"We wanted to do what was right for our area, which has been through a really tough time with Covid."

The pub recently improved its outdoor seating area by installing a large tent, making it ideal for people who may feel more comfortable sitting outside.  

Rebecca said: "Covid has not gone away, so it’s nice that we have got the option of inside or outside." 

There are six outdoor televisions, an outside bar, and a children's play area. 

Ring O’Bells regularly hosts charity fundraisers and has raised money for MIND, Suicide Prevention Bristol and Children’s Hospice South West.

In total, it has raised around £20,000. 

On the weekend of September 11 and 12, the pub will host Nailsea Bike Show, featuring a wide selection of motorcycles, trade stands and live music with all proceeds going to the children’s hospice.  

At the start of the pandemic, the pub delivered meals to vulnerable members of its community, and it also provided free packed lunches to local children during the summer holidays.

The pub serves delicious home-cooked food and offers ‘Di’s Pies’ on Wednesdays, Fish Fridays and carveries on Sundays.   

For more information, visit www.ringobellsnailsea.co.uk or visit the pub’s Facebook page.