A storied hotel where history meets distinctive hospitality

The Bell Inn at Stilton, a name that evokes the golden age of travel along the Great North Road. Built in the early 1500s, this fine coaching inn stood at the crossroads of commerce and hospitality, offering weary travellers not only rest and revellery but a touch of English charm. As coaches thundered through the village on their way between London and the North, the Bell became a vital hub, echoing with the sounds of hoofbeats, laughter, and clinking tankards.

Its most famous chapter began in the 18th century, under the energetic stewardship of Cooper Thornhill. A man of ambition and flair, Thornhill transformed the Bell into more than just a stopover, it became a culinary landmark much as it is today. Legend has it that he was the first to sell Stilton cheese commercially, introducing it to travellers and helping it earn its place on tables across the country. Though the cheese wasn’t made in Stilton itself, the village and the Bell gave it its name and fame.

Thornhill himself was a character of legend. He once made a daring dash to London and back, over 200 miles in under 13 hours, an astonishing feat in the days of horse and carriage. The Bell thrived in this era, its guest books graced by nobility, merchants, and adventurers alike.

But as with many coaching inns, the advent of the railways in the 19th century brought quieter days. By the mid-20th century, the Bell had faded, closing its doors in 1964. Yet, like all great landmarks, it refused to be forgotten. In 1990, following a sensitive and sympathetic restoration, the Bell Inn reopened, its ancient timbers lovingly preserved, its spirit rekindled.

Today, it stands proudly once more as a living link to the past, serving guests with the same warmth and character that made it legendary.