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Allhallows Street / Fenn Street
St Mary Hoo
01634 270422
https://www.fennbellinn.co.uk/
https://whatpub.com/fenn-bell-inn
Above images taken from Google maps 2009.
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Above image taken from Google maps 2009. |
Above photo 2009 by Chris Whippet
Creative Commons Licence. |
Above sign 2010. |
Above photo, 14 January 2021. Kindly taken by Chris Richford. |
The pub is thought to have been named after one of several bells erected
on nearby marshes. In poor weather, these would ring to enable travellers to
find a safe way across without getting stuck in the mud.
Also known as the "Blue Bell" in 1858.
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Fire at pub news report 28th October 2012.
Four members of the same family were taken by air ambulance to a London
hospital today (Sunday), following reports of an explosion at a pub.
Two boys, believed to be aged five and nine, and their parents were in
the popular "Fenn Bell" on the Ratcliffe Highway in St Mary Hoo when a fire
broke out at about 1.10pm.
A fifth person, a woman not related to the family, was treated by
paramedics at the scene. None of the injuries are thought to be life
threatening.
When three crews from Strood and Thames-side arrived at the isolated pub
the fire had been put out with an extinguisher.
A stretch of Fenn Street has been closed. Police said the road closure
would remain in place until the pub had been made safe.
The 17th century Fenn Bell, which is popular with Sunday lunchtime
diners, was evacuated.
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From the
http://www.bbc.co.uk 18 July 2015. Fen Bell Inn's beer garden zoo
pulls in the punters.
You've heard the saying about organising a particularly raucous event
in a brewery - but what is it like to run a pub that doubles as a zoo?
Andy Cowell and wife, Kelly, owners of the "Fen Bell Inn," combine
pulling pints with taking care of a range of exotic animals housed in
the beer garden.
The pair took over the pub last October when it was "pretty much on
its knees". Now they say it is doing a roaring trade.
Customers can enjoy a pint of beer alongside meerkats, monkeys and
racoons at the venue in St Mary's Hoo, Kent.
Mr and Mrs Cowell decided to turn the 17th Century inn into a new
home for their growing collection of animals - after they ran out of
space at their farm.
Mr Cowell had taken in unwanted animals before, but said he needed
space to expand.
"A lot of our animals come from people who have died, we can offer
them a home for life," Mr Cowell said.
With food costing £250 per week, and a £7,800-a-year vet's bill, the
Cowells hope the pub's revenue will provide security for the animals.
Mr Cowell said: "We want to offer something different from the
sanitised zoo experience, a nice atmosphere where we can also educate
people into not keeping them as pets.
"Next year we will offer free workshops for children - we would love
to inspire the next David Attenborough."
Now currently working towards a zoo licence, the pub is on its way to
becoming Medway's first zoo. |
I am informed that the pub finally gained its Zoo License in June 2017.
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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Jade Edwards, 31 August 2017.
Fenn Bell Inn, St Mary Hoo, zoo will be closed until Monday after woman spat
at staff.
A pub zoo will be closed for the last days of the summer holidays after
a customer spat at a member of staff.
Andy and Kelly Cowell have decided to close the zoo at the Fenn Bell Inn
in St Mary Hoo for the next three days after the incident.
Over the summer holidays the pub has had an average of around 4,000
visitors a week but Mr Cowell said their car park just can’t cope.
Andy and Kelly Cowell at The Fenn Bell Inn, St Mary Hoo.
People have been parking in a nearby industrial estate, despite the
Cowells telling them not to.
Today, when a member of staff told a customer they could not give them a
table, she spat in her face.
Mr Cowell also said people have been abusive and threatening to staff
because they could not get in.
The dad-of-two said: “We fully understand that people want to come here
and are disappointed when they can’t get in, but we are only a small zoo
with 50 car parking spaces.
“We will keep the pub open, but the zoo and train will be closed on
September 1, 2 and 3.”
Andy Cowell with Spice the kune kune pig. Picture: Steve Crispe.
The pub doesn’t charge entry fees - something the Cowell’s feel very
strongly about - but despite thousands of visitors each week only £200
is put in their donation boxes.
Mr Cowell has launched a campaign to raise £250,000 to buy land to
create a bigger car park, install a water pipe and to invest in
conservation projects and educational programmes.
He said: “We have got hundreds and hundreds of people coming here and
we’re trying to raise money to complete the project.
“We had 100 people waiting to come in today but we just didn’t have
enough room. People are moaning about car parking but we’ve got a deal
on the table - we just need the money.
“I want people to support me and for people to come here. It’s
frustrating.”
The pub will be open for the next three days, but the zoo will be
closed.
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From the
https://www.bbc.co.uk, 26 July 2019.
Fenn Bell Inn given green light to expand zoo.
The pub's zoo is home to lemurs, racoons and owls.
A pub with a zoo has been given permission to expand its animal
enclosures and facilities.
The Fenn Bell Inn in St Mary Hoo, Kent, has doubled as a zoo since 2017
and is home to racoons, owls and lemurs.
Landlords Andy and Kerry Cowell have been given the go-ahead for new
enclosures, extended opening hours and an overflow car park.
Medway Council supported the application, as reported by the Local
Democracy Reporting Service.
Planning committee member Gary Etheridge said: "It is an excellent
facility - not only for the rural area, but for the whole of Medway.
"It's a golden opportunity for parents to take young children along for
their first introduction to something slightly bigger than a kitten or a
dog.
"The animals are well kept and cared for and the place is clean and tidy
so I fully support this."
The application also includes a sheltered visitor seating area, a
conservation room, and a keeper's lodge.
It received 58 letter of support and three objections.
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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Nicola Jordan, 18 June 2020.
Fenn Bell Zoo, St Mary Hoo near Rochester, prepares to open again.
A popular zoo, threatened with closure because of the coronavirus
lockdown, is reopening on Monday, thanks to a massive fundraising
campaign.
Andy Cowell, who manages the Fenn Bell Conservation Project at St Mary
Hoo near Rochester, had feared he might be forced to have his animals
put down because he could not afford the thousands of pounds to keep
them safe and well.
Andy and Kelly Cowell are looking forward to re-opening the zoo.
Andy, who also runs the neighbouring Fenn Bell pub with wife Kelly, set
an initial fundraising target of £10,000.
But, following a KentOnline article and a GoFundMe page set up by a
well-wisher, the amount snowballed to £45,000 in a week.
Andy was at first reluctant to appeal for donations towards the running
costs of Medway's first licensed zoo, which now has more than 100
animals.
He said at the time: "We're not beggars, we work extremely hard, but
we've been put in this position."
He described the response as "amazing" and was "extremely humbled" by
the scores of donations posted to him.
Andy said on the zoo Facebook page: "We can't wait to open our doors and
welcome you all back. I know that things are not quite the same at the
moment, but I hope that you will support us as we take our first steps
back.
"During the lockdown, we have had the opportunity to complete some
projects. We now have our new fishing cat enclosure, as well as our
bobcat and Binturongs (bearcats).
"Once again, we can't thank you enough for all your support while we
were in lockdown. Without your support, we would have lost our zoo."
The safari truck and play equipment will not be available, but toilets
will be open.
There will be a limit on numbers to allow more room for social
distancing. There will also be a one-way system and sanitiser stations.
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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Will Payne, 14 January 2021.
Aerial pictures show devastating impact of flooding on Fenn Bell Inn pub, Hoo.
These images show the devastating scale of floods which submerged a
pub-cum-zoo earlier this morning.
Torrential rain overnight and this morning flooded the Fenn Bell Inn,
Hoo, as other parts of Kent were struck by the severe conditions.
Fire crews attended the site in Ratcliffe Highway earlier this morning
to help pump water out of the building.
However, due to drainage issues in the surrounding area it wasn't
possible to remove it.
The pub is connected to the Fenn Bell Conservation Project, which has
fallen on hard times recently following the third lockdown.
Staff were pumping water out of the zoo this morning. None of the
animals were effected by the conditions.
Head keeper Connor Gordon, said: "We have lost the entire pub.
The conservation project, behind the pub, has not been badly damaged.
Picture: Geoff Watkins.
"The fire department were here this morning. We've saved what furniture
we can.
"We're fighting a losing battle. If the rain ever calms down we'll be
able to properly clean up."
Connor then took to Facebook to share the news. He said: "The building
is ruined, nearly a foot of water inside, it's even deeper outside. The
ditches are full and bursting, the roads are flooded and getting worse.
"We are pumping water out of the zoo as this post goes out, all the
animals are staying warm and dry in their beds, and we will keep them
that way."
A spokesperson for the fire service said: "One fire engine attended and
crews attempted to remove the flood water using a main pump, however due
to drainage issues in the immediate area, it was not possible to do so.
A drone captured the full extent of the damage. Picture: Geoff Watkins.
The flooding came following torrential rain earlier this morning.
Picture: Geoff Watkins.
"Crews ensured the scene was safe and provided advice to the occupant." |
LICENSEE LIST
COWELL Andy & Kerry 2017-20+
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