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116, Foregate Street, Chester, Chester, CH1 2HH
Country village pub (within Greater London)
Situated in an unspoilt country village, this welcoming pub is a popular focal point for the village community. Re-opened on 14th September 2024 under new management.
The current Grade II listed building dates from the 18th C and is part weather-boarded and part tile hung. The interior layout is relatively unchanged with separate entrances for the two areas. Various changes were made in both the 1930s and 1960s but the pub still retains plenty of character.
The R7 bus service from Chislehurst via Bickley, Petts Wood and Orpington now runs half-hourly for most of the day. The pub is located very close to junction 4 of the M25 - but just far enough away to avoid any motorway noise, allowing it to retain its rural feel.
The large garden includes a play area for children.
Note that closing times may vary according to the time of year.
Listed under both the CAMRA Pub Heritage Group and London Pubs Group (on their London Local Inventory) as having an interior of special national historic interest (* 1-star).
Local CAMRA Pub of the Year for 2010.
Instagram page is @thefivebellschelsfield
Historic Interest
Originally built in 1668 as an inn, this was named after the nearby church of St Martin of Tours, which dates back to the 12th C. and whose tower contains the oldest surviving peal of bells in Kent. There were five of these, dated 1672 (there were originally four but the church wanted another one cast). The pub lies at the centre of the village at the junction of old country roads from Farnborough, Pratts Bottom and Eynsford. These were used by drovers with the pub providing a convenient stop. The pub's location faces a row of 18th and early 19th C. listed buildings, which were once the village shops and bakery, whereas the pub served as the hub of the community. The novelist Miss Read (aka Dora Shafe) moved to Chelsfield in 1921 at the age of seven: Her book "Time Remembered" (1987) chronicled village life in the 1920s. In 1928, this rural idyll was shattered by the completion of the Orpington bypass, which cut past the village and separated it from the church. Grade II listed in 1973 by Historic England, which states: "C18. 2 storeys and attic. 2 windows. 2 hipped dormers. Ground floor painted brick. Weatherboarded first floor. Tiled roof. Glazing bars intact. Doorway with flat hood over."
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed status: II
The major attraction of this pub is the two entirely separate drinking/dining areas only accessed by their own doors from the street.
This is an 18th century brick, part weather-boarded and part tile hung village pub, with an easily discernable original internal layout, but with additions dating from the 1930s and 1960s. The public bar on the left/main road side was extended to the left in the 1930s, and further extended to the far left and rear in the 1960s mainly to bring the toilets inside. This room has a ‘Public Bar’ etched window in the door, old dado panelling all around the room, an old brick fireplace which could be original, a 1930s looking bar counter - but the mirrored bar-back was replaced by a plain and modern one in 2023.
From a separate entrance up a few steps on the right/Warren Road side are two rooms with a wide gap between them. The room on the left or corner of the building has what appears to be a 1930s bar counter, old dado panelling around the room and some old cupboards/shelves in the servery that look from the same time, but the bar-back here is also modern. The rear room has another old bar counter, and another modern bar-back, and was extended further to the rear in the 1960s.
18th century brick, part weather-boarded and part tile hung village pub which was extended a little to the left in the 1930s and further extended to far left and rear in the 1960s mainly to bring toilets inside. It is little changed since the early 1960s as confirmed by a local of 50 years standing. The public bar on the left / Main Road side could have been this size since an extension in the 1930s (or increased due to the 1960s extension?) and has a ‘Public Bar’ etched window in the door, old dado panelling all around the room, old brick fireplace, a 1930s looking bar counter, old bar back fitting of shelves on a mirrored bar back, but there is a modern counter added to serve the left hand side of the room (from 1960s?).
From a separate entrance on the right Warren Road side with ‘Saloon Bar’ painted on the door are two rooms with a wide gap between them. In the Apex of the building is a room with an old bar counter (1930’s?), old dado panelling around the room, some old shelves on the right hand side, old cupboards in the wall and what looks like a large fireplace blocked up many years ago. The rear room was extended back in the 1960s and has another old bar counter (1930s?), the bar back lower section my be old but the top section is modern.
Five Bells, Chelsfield
Source: National
Sports TV
Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals
Live Music
Garden
Family Friendly
Parking
Dog Friendly
Events
Games
Restaurant
Separate Bar
Smoking
Wi Fi
Real Ale
Real Heritage Pub
Quiet
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