Ever since the 17th century, The Bell at Iden has been a pub, sitting prominently in the centre of Iden village, surrounded by its own secluded gardens and generous parking area. It was previously advertised by specialist pub agents, Sidney Phillips as, “New lifestyle pub business opportunity for sale”.
The agents described The Bell as being a notable detached Grade II listed pub benefiting from 65 covers as well as an additional 80-90 further covers over two trade garden areas. In addition to the three-bedroomed owners accommodation, the business has two sizeable letting bedrooms housed in a traditional brick outbuilding.
Things are about to change. The Bell has now changed hands and is about to take on a new identity. To be known now as The Vine in Iden, it is currently advertising for staff as part of this new initiative including a front of house supervisor, front of house waiting staff, bar staff, head chef, sous chef, kitchen assistant and house keeper.
Employment in rural areas is often hard to find but whilst some locals may see the new business as changing tradition, the change has brought more opportunity for jobs which may attract the younger generation. If being part of this new business is something you want to learn more about, contact Louis Swann on 07834 049665 for more details.
Image Credits: Nick Forman .
Why change the name of an establishment that’s been there 300 years? Change the licensee, change the menu, change the reputation by all means, but why change a name that’s a local landmark and has been part of a village’s social history for generations? Isn’t that bigger than any transient business venture? Aside from anything else, what’s the point? Is this latest venture really going to be so ground-breaking, so unique and innovative that it warrants throwing away three centuries of local Sussex tradition? And what’s the practical benefit in the internet age anyway? Locally, we’ll all just say to one another, ‘The Bell at Iden’s changed hands, it’s now better/worse etc….’ Or are the new owners expecting a jet set international clientele…?! Why not build on a tradition and improve it, rather than erase it? At best, it’s a bit presumptuous, isn’t it?
We wish Louis every possible success, he does tend to do a great job in the hospitality sector. The change of ownership, the investment and experience all bodes well for Iden.
I have to say I am seething with fury at the proposal to change the name of The Bell. Pub names represent landmarks and to my mind should never be changed. The Bell holds an important place in the history of Iden and as a Grade II listed building should retain its given name. As for this piece of reporting, what a lovely free of charge advertisment you have provided for Mr Swann!
Hello Bernardine
Panic not, I have no plans to change the name of The Bell and I am as angry as you are with Rye News for printing this article without any supportive evidence. I wish they would stop rumour mongering.
Sorry
Regards
Louis
Thank you for this clarification and good luck. I totally agree that The Bell needs a new look and more local people encouraged to support their local hostelry. I hope this is what happens because too many other pubs have simply ceased to exist.
Why change the name? Seems ridiculous to me as there doesn’t seem any reason for it: The Bell in Iden v. The Vine in Iden? Seems a curious way to start a business by annoying people in the village and surrounds who are looking forward to using this fine boozer under new ownership. Does the grade II listing extend to the name – interesting thought.
Why not name it the Biden, it could then be known as the Biden in Iden
Ringing in the Changes
Yet again the Rye jungle drums are working overtime.
How can people possibly be allowed to continue printing and spreading unsupported rumours about me or my plans for The Bell in Iden without first gathering evidence to support their statements or claims. Please stop with the rumour mongering I Rye and simply ask me what my plans are.
Not one single person has approached me in person to seek confirmation or information on the plans I may have for The Bell.
May I suggest that Nick Foreman stops writing articles about things he knows nothing about.
“The Vine at Iden” I simply do not know where you get your information Nick. If you would to know what I have in store for The Vine in Iden them come and ask me.
For the record; I have no plans to change the name of The Bell.
The Vine in Iden is the intended name for the new restaurant at The Bell. It will also be the new home and the new venue for our Rye Wine & Jazz Club wine tasting events.
If Nick or anyone else would like to gather or print information as to my plans to change the name of The Bell then I would be happy to meet with them in person and to explain my plans to restore and return this wonderful village pub back to a local community venue.
For those of you who do not like change you should remember the old saying “if you don’t use it your lose it”
The Bell has not been sufficiently supported by the local community for some time now and it is somewhat run down. The local residents tell me that it was previously a particular unpleasant environment in which to enjoy a glass of wine or a meal and they just don’t use the pub. Our plans are to redecorate the premises and to reintroduce food and wine to the menu in an attempt to increase the overall offering of the pub by introducing a greater selection of local wines, beer and food.
I would like to encourage the local residents and visitors alike to enjoy this wonderful venue again, please pop in at anytime to introduce yourself and I promise to share the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth with you.
Louis Swann
Thanks for explaining Louis – just goes to show how rumours start with poor information: very glad you’re not changing the name of the pub. As a previous resident of Iden I agree with many of your comments on the pub – a very unpleasant environment can be caused by just a few: hopefully they will not return. Good luck
I must admit that if I was a longterm resident of Iden (which I’m not) my feathers would be well and truly ruffled by the intended change of name and usage of this traditional old pub. I now live in Hastings Old Town and am witnessing several changes in the use of what used to be a normal pub, where locals could meet at any time and enjoy a beer/drink together. Nowadays, customers are more or less being pressured into only being made welcome if they intend to spend money on food, rather than having a social drink. I totally understand that this brings much-needed revenue to pubs which struggled throughout the pandemic, but I feel that there is room for patrons who would like to enjoy a drink – or several – and/or food. By the non-inclusion of regular locals, these pubs are liable to be hoisted by their own petard at some stage.
Great to get clarification straight from
The horse’s mouth. Thanks to LS, and thanks also to Rye News for keeping the community informed of developments. There’s no such thing as bad publicity…
Hope the venture breathes new life into The Bell. Will look forward to visiting.
(Now we just need to save the much loved Iden Fete! What’s happening there?)
Oh perfect, a wine and jazz bar /club / bistro / whatever. Another village proper pub bites the dust and another wine and jazz bar is installed. Right. I’ve enjoyed many a fine pint at The Bell and will miss it. R.I.P.
Diane, I’m not sure what a proper pub is these days but probably the Waterworks or the Cinque Ports in Rye? I’d agree that a bistro pub isn’t great for locals but I would imagine it needs to diversify to survive.
Sadly in this changing world GH fetes and events are Sadly becoming things of the past,just like in Rye where we have lost so many events over the years, as the organisers have got older,and many have passed on, the newcomers are not coming forward to keep these traditions going, most work away, and weekends are their leisure time, as all these events are now becoming just a distant memory, as time goes on.RIP.
Steve, yeah, the Cinque Ports for sure and e.g. The Red Lion (Doris’s) on the marsh.
A ‘bistro pub’ seems a Frankenstein’s monster, neither one nor the other, as I have encountered them. I’ve certainly been in a few, in small towns / villages, where old-school pubs have mutated into these ‘diversified’ establishments.
Bistro pubs seem to specialize in mediocre drinks and food (the last ‘pub’ standing in Rye Harbour comes to mind).
As for a ‘wine and jazz club’…not completely sure what that is. But I imagine they are pitched to a higher-tone and wealthier clientele than would head for an old-school pub.
Oh well, there is always the ‘pop-up’ pub, weather permitting. A cool-bag with decent beers, a packet of crisps, a handy keychain opener, walk along to a nice spot and there you have it – the pop-up pub! To be sure, missing some ambiance and random chat but possibly much better than an evening at Chez Frankenstein.
A very entertaining read. Rather like an episode of The Archers!!
Can’t wait to try The Vine in The Bell.
Iden resembles Ambridge in many ways, sometimes we think that there is a scriptwriter in our midst!
We’ve had a few good meals at The Bell in the past. I’m not sure about “Bistro pubs” (I remember what happened to the White Hart at Cripps Corner) but is that what is being proposed. Good luck to the new owners – living not far away we’ll certainly try them for lunch, and if the offering is what we want then we’ll return. And yes, I’m really pleased that the name of The Bell is retained – again we have seen the folly of trying to reinvent wheels with the New Inn at Westfield (becoming the Old Court House for a short while) and the Swan at Wittersham. How could the Rye Observer get it so wrong?
The only constant in life is change”-Heraclitus