If you’re from Bromley, you’ve definitely heard of The Royal Bell. Everyone’s got a story, especially long-time residents like myself, but let's not forget it’s also a culturally significant, historical, Grade-II listed landmark that deserves to be known far and wide.
To start, here are some interesting facts: originally built in the 17th century but redesigned by Ernest Newton in 1898, The Royal Bell was Bromley’s leading coaching inn and situated on a busy Victorian route out of London. It has welcomed Queen Victoria and Jane Austen ('The Bell' is mentioned in Pride and Prejudice), so needless to say it’s a pretty important institution.
So when The Royal Bell (then known as Bromleys) closed in 2009, it seemed borderline offensive to leave it empty. But fast forward to 2026, I’m pleased to say it’s had a £10M glow up, reimagining the venue as a members bar, hotel and restaurant hub, plus there’s an airy outside terrace too. Excitingly, this includes a grand ballroom too, where the brand new The Belle Affair cabaret show happens every Saturday. I’d heard good reviews, so naturally, I went by to experience all the action first-hand.
DesignMyNight’s Review Of The Royal Bell
The burnt orange tones of The Royal Bell's members bar gave things a stylish feel, plus check out the towering acts in my photo.
Need To Know:
- Address: 175 High Street, BR1 1NN
- Area: Bromley, not far from both North
and South train stations
- Cuisine: pizza
- Type Of Show: cabaret and variety
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: I could not believe the transformation inside The Royal Bell. Gold walls and sparkling chandeliers lined the entrance, with a gorgeous circular bar directly in front. Upstairs, you’ll find the sophisticated members bar to your left, while on the right hand side was an opulent, navy blue theatre-like area that previously hosted David Bowie's wedding reception in 1970. Think soaring, ornate ceilings, original fireplaces, stained glass windows and geometric lights. Steeped in elegance, the space lends itself perfectly to The Belle Affair.
- Perfect for: shimmering date ideas or fun nights out with friends.
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: £65 per person, including bottomless prosecco and unlimited pizza, plus a show.
Dinner meets live entertainment at
Bromley's absolutely stunning The Royal
Bell.
Menu Highlights
Food And Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Our visit coincided with the first night of The Royal Bell's new bottomless package that also included a ticket to the show. You receive 90 minutes of unlimited pizza and prosecco (there was an alcohol-free alternative too) ahead of the performance, making it really decent value.
- Pizza – The Royal Bell have enlisted famous chef Aldo Zilli to curate the pizza offering, and here you get the choice of endless slices of mouthwatering classic margherita, spicy n’duja with pepperoni or grilled aubergine. The base for all was thin and crispy, with generous fior di latte mozzarella on top that created a fantastic cheese pull.
- Collezione 96 Extra Dry Prosecco – prepare for a delicious, citrusy, zippy little number that reflected the sparkling setting.
Show: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We won't spoil it for everyone, but here's a taster. Each element was very well organised, had the right amount of audience participation and I appreciated the short break in between sets so people could order more drinks or use the facilities.
- Burlesque – from leopard print tease to huge feathered fans, The Belle Affair struck the balance between playful allure and cheekiness. The birdcage set-up was particularly impressive.
- Dancing – expect a really fun Charleston
alongside a routine involving a bathtub filled with water (yep you
read that right).
- Acrobatics – we gawped at the aerial stunts that saw the gymnast contort into some rather extraordinary shapes, including hanging upside down from the ceiling at one point.
- Live music – the singer was fantastic,
delivering much-loved songs but at the same time effortlessly
capturing vintage glam from a bygone era.
Our Overall Experience At The Royal Bell
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Royal Bell is back, baby. It was so nice to see the building sympathetically restored to its former glory, but with thoughtful modern updates. Its in-house cabaret residency, The Belle Affair, felt more like a party than a show, and my highlight was probably the balloon popping section – it was so interactive and fun. You can also expect a few surprises, especially towards the end (impromptu dessert? Oh yes).
The bottomless food and drink package was a welcome addition too, and you can be sure to have a full glass. Saying that, dishing out pizza was a little on the slow side at the beginning, but once in full swing, the offering was plentiful and it tasted great.
