Airports can be stressful at the best of times, so finding somewhere to chill out and relax is a blessing. Pubs in airports tend not to be the nicest places to kick back but, unlike most airport pubs, The Three Bells provides a haven at one of the world’s busiest airports.

The Venue
The Three Bells is easy to find as it is situated directly above the Virgin check-in area in Terminal 3. As you go up the escalator, turn left, go past the Pret and you’ll see the huge expanse which is The Three Bells. This isn’t your typical airport pub, it’s much better. It looks like a proper pub which has been well maintained and looks rather plush. There are many armchairs, sofas and incredibly comfy seats for passengers to sit and relax whilst they wait for their flights, which is unusual for an airport as most seating is hard and uncomfortable. The bar greets you on the right, where there are some bar stools, and this area is bustling with busy staff, keeping up with the demands of stressed travellers.

At the back there’s an area where you can just sit down and chill. It looks like a library and is very quiet, perfect to de-stress you before flying. There is also a bar billiards table in the section which gets used quite frequently.

Although the walls are predominantly a grey colour, they have illustrations of the great sites in London drawn upon them. The upholstery is multicoloured and stripy and the lights have huge orange lampshades on them, injecting some colour into the venue.

The Atmosphere
What is quite interesting about The Three Bells is how it feels like a normal pub and you forget that you are sitting in an airport. Normally airport bars/pubs are so dank and horrid, you are acutely aware of where you are, The Three Bells however is a wonderfully pleasant and relaxing experience, which is just what you need before you go on a plane. If you are eating, you have the luxury of table service and all the staff are at hand to feed you quickly and efficiently and are always happy to recommend dishes and wines if you desire. Although the bar staff may look very harassed, they are in fact really helpful and are quite jovial.

The Food
For once an airport bar has got it right. When you’re travelling, you want to have good food, which isn’t microwaved, processed or anaemic-looking, and The Three Bells certainly delivers quality British food. There’s even an appreciation that you may be in a rush, which is why they have devised a eat in 15-minute menu. This contains, beef stew and dumplings (£12), wild mushrooms on toast with fried duck egg (£6.95), kiln roasted salmon (£12.50) or chicken escalope with chips (£10.95).

If you have a bit more time to spare, then the main menu has lots on offer. For starters there is soup of the day (£5), Churchill’s country pate (£6.95), or salad of poached hen’s egg and black pudding (£6.95). The pate is presented very professionally and has a nice big pot of apple and pear chutney. When eating the pate on its own, it is a little bland but combining it with the crusty white bread and the sweet yet smoky nature of the chutney, it soon becomes a great dish. The salad is not a complicated dish but the simplest of dishes are often the most enjoyable. The black pudding is very well cooked and the egg and rocket takes the edge off the intensity of the pudding.

Mains are as substantial as the starters, with a beef burger (£9.75), battered fish and chips (£10.25), spaghetti bolognaise (£8.95) or a fisherman’s pie (£10) all on offer. The burger is big and even if you have a huge appetite, you will be fulfilled by it. The beef patty is thick, juicy and topped with melted cheese and bacon, which is twinned with tomato relish and fresh onions. However, the chips are a bit overcooked and dry. The spaghetti bolognaise is very homely and makes you think of your Mum’s cooking. It has a thick sauce and the spaghetti is al dente. One minor quibble is that the sauce to pasta ratio is overly excessive on the carbs front.

If you can fit it in, the puddings are well worth a try, particularly the sticky date pudding and toffee sauce (£4.50). It is a light cake with a thick topping which slowly drips onto the plate. It is not too sickly and the dates take away some of the sweetness. It is a very filling but warming dessert.

The Drink
When travelling, most people just want to relax and have a few drinks and fortunately The Three Bells has many different drinks on offer. For beer drinkers there are about ten on draught, starting at the £3.30 mark, and there are some interesting brands, such as Aspall, Bitburger, Budvar, Bombardier and Adnams. They also have an amazing little concoction called West Eleven, which are £4.60 each and are basically cocktails in a bottle. So you can have a Mai Tai, Elderflower Collins, Pomegranate Cosmo or a Mojito on the go - brilliant for travellers.

Wine lovers will be equally impressed too. House wine is La Lande 2008 - £3.50 a small glass, £4.70 a large one and £12.90 bottle - which is a very decent price for the airport. The 2005 Rioja (£4.90, £6.70, £19) is a smooth wine with hints of peppers and is a great drink to mull over with friends. The sparkling list has two very respectable varietals (Jansz - £24.50 and Prosecco Borgo del Col Alto - £23, £4.60 a glass) and if you want to pretend you’re living the high life then the Pol Roger at £49 should do the trick.

The Last Word
It is rare to find an airport pub which is of this calibre. Travellers can sit comfortably whilst enjoying some good quality comfort food in supremely pleasant surroundings. Whether you’re travelling or dropping people off at the airport, it’s well worth a visit.

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