The Blue Bell, on Yarm Road, has long been a go-to watering hole for residents of Yarm, Eaglescliffe, and beyond, occupying a prominent position overlooking the River Tees.
But now the former coaching inn, which has been in its current spot since the early 1700s, has been temporarily closed as pub chain owners Punch Pubs and Co carry out a refurb.
The firm will be freshening up the interior decor of the site and making further improvements to the “already impressive” outside area, which overlooks the riverside.
The space has previously been branded “one of the best beer gardens on Teesside”, with punters describing the views over Yarm as “perfect for those warm summer nights”.
While more specific details regarding the makeover remain under wraps at this time, Punch said it is “looking forward to sharing more details”.
A spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the Blue Bell pub in Yarm has temporarily closed whilst it undergoes an investment.
“The Blue Bell is a fantastic pub, and we have exciting plans for its future. We look forward to sharing more details, as well as welcoming the community back through the doors, very soon.”
A hunt for new operators of The Blue Bell was previously launched by Punch, which was looking for a “motivated and experienced operator” with a proven background of running high-performing pubs.
The venue remains one of the chain’s flagship pubs, boasting a decked area, large car park, an open plan trading operation, and the ability to cater up to 100 covers at any time.
Its website currently states that The Blue Bell is ‘under offer’.
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The Blue Bell continues to boast a strong rating online, with four stars out of five on Google Reviews.
One happy customer said: “Absolutely beautiful seating areas surrounding the outside view of the river perfect for those warm summer nights. Very friendly staff.”
Another added: “Booked a table outside last week for lunch, lovely setting and surroundings on a beautiful day. We had a nice cold drink and the food was delicious.”