Pub - Staines
The Bells
The Bells on Church Street is Staines's most honest local - a Victorian real ale house where the cask is kept correctly and pricing reflects the neighbourhood.
Address
124 Church Street, Staines-upon-Thames TW18 4ZB
Hours
Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 12-10.30pm
Price
£
Features
Marcus Osei
Contributing Editor - Reviewed 1 March 2026
The space
The Bells is a corner Victorian pub on Church Street, away from the river and away from the town centre’s more recent development. The interior is unreconstructed - two rooms, a bar that runs the length of the main space, and a back room that gets used for darts and for the spillover when the front fills up. It is not designed for visitors, which is what makes it valuable.
What to drink
Two or three cask ales, always including at least one local or regional brew, kept in condition that reflects the care of a landlord who knows what well-maintained beer tastes like. Pricing is the lowest for cask ale in Staines, which is the correct reflection of its position as a neighbourhood local rather than a destination venue.
The verdict
The Bells is for people who live in Staines and want a reliable local, or for visitors who want to understand what the town actually drinks rather than what it shows its visitors. It is not a destination; it is a standard. Standards are worth documenting.
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