Bell And Jorrocks Public House

The Bell & Jorrocks is an 18th-century public house in the village of Frittenden, in the Tunbridge Wells district of Kent, England. It occupies a building whose earliest documented listing dates to 1741, although the structure itself appears to date from the early decades of the 18th century. Originally known as the 'Bleu Bell', the site then consisted of the pub together with stables and orchards; today it comprises the pub and an adjacent shop. The pub is a village institution, sitting in the heart of Frittenden and long used as a meeting place for local clubs and social groups. The pub trades as a traditional free house-style village local, offering a rotating selection of real ales, traditional pub food, and a programme of live music and events. Its website promotes 'Real Ale and Traditional Food' and highlights seasonal celebrations such as an Easter Weekend Beer Festival with a dozen or more ales, food served throughout, and an Easter Monday Fun Run with a barbecue. The pub also jokingly claims fame for its 'treacle mines', a piece of English folk humour. Ownership has changed many times over the centuries. The first recorded owners were the Lepper family — Moses, Mary, John and Thomas — with John Paine as tenant. Through the late 1700s and early 1800s the tenancy passed between local stable keepers, yeomen and brewers. In 1821 Samuel Shepherd, of the Shepherd Neame brewing dynasty, took over the lease and held it until his death in the mid-1800s; his will directed that the Bell be auctioned. It subsequently passed through various private owners, including carpenters and farmers, until 1863, when another large brewer leased it for 21 years to John Brenchley and to Edwin and John Stacey of Maidstone. In 1880 the pub, stables and adjacent shop were divided. After the Frittenden Provident Society closed in 1939, the Bell became a consistent meeting place for village clubs, hosting dance lessons, bowls club meetings and political meetings; vestry meetings begun at the church were even recorded as adjourning to the Bell to complete business. The Bell & Jorrocks remains an active, privately run village pub. It is listed on Wikidata as a pub in Frittenden, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. Its address is Biddenden Road, Frittenden, Kent TN17 2EJ, and it can be contacted on 01580 852 415. Opening hours published on its website are Monday and Tuesday 3pm–11pm, Wednesday to Saturday 12–11pm, and Sunday 12–10pm.

The Bell & Jorrocks occupies a building in Frittenden, Kent, whose earliest documented listing is from 1741, though the structure itself appears to date from the early decades of the 18th century. The site originally consisted of the pub together with stables and orchards; today it comprises the pub and an adjacent shop. The pub was first known as the 'Bleu Bell'. Its first recorded owners were the Lepper family — Moses, Mary, John and Thomas — with John Paine as tenant. Throughout the late 1700s and early 1800s, the tenancy changed hands repeatedly among local stable keepers, yeomen and brewers. In 1821 the pub was taken over by Samuel Shepherd, of the Shepherd Neame brewing dynasty, who held the lease until his death in the mid-1800s. Shepherd's will directed that the Bell be auctioned. It was subsequently owned by several individuals, ranging from carpenters to farmers, until 1863, when another large brewer appeared on the scene and the Bell was leased for 21 years to John Brenchley and to Edwin and John Stacey of Maidstone. In 1880 the pub, the stables and the shop next to the pub were divided. After the closure of the Frittenden Provident Society in 1939, the Bell became a consistent meeting place for many of the village's clubs and social groups, conveniently placed in the heart of the village. Dance lessons, bowls club meetings and political meetings were held there. It is even recorded that vestry meetings, commenced in the church, would adjourn to the Bell to complete business. In 1963 both village pubs — The Bell and another — were involved in events noted in the pub's own history. The pub continues to operate as a traditional village local, promoting real ales, traditional food, live music and events. Its website highlights an Easter Weekend Beer Festival with a dozen or more ales and food served daily, plus an Easter Monday Fun Run with a barbecue. The pub also playfully claims fame for its 'treacle mines'. It remains listed on Wikidata as a pub in Frittenden, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.

• 1963

  Both village pubs, including The Bell, are involved in events recorded in the pub's history.

• 1939

  After the closure of the Frittenden Provident Society, the Bell becomes a consistent meeting place for village clubs and social groups.

• 1880

  The pub, stables and adjacent shop are divided.

• 1863

  Leased for 21 years to John Brenchley and Edwin and John Stacey of Maidstone.

• 1821

  Samuel Shepherd of the Shepherd Neame dynasty takes over the lease.

• 1741

  Earliest documented listing of the building.

A traditional 18th-century village pub in Frittenden, Kent, offering real ales, traditional food, live music and community events.

• Real ales

• Traditional pub food

• Live music and events

• Easter Weekend Beer Festival

1. 1Real Ale and Traditional Food at the Bell and Jorrocks in Frittenden Kent - Real Ale - Camerathebellandjorrocks.co.uk
2. 2400 years of fine food and real ale form the Bell and Jorrocks, kentish Pubthebellandjorrocks.co.uk
3. 3Bell And Jorrocks Public Housewikidata.org