The claim
A busy tavern in Boston's Blackstone Block, named for the hand bell carried by its founder, town crier Jimmy Wilson, who by tradition opened it in 1795. Daniel Webster is said to have been a patron. It has moved premises several times and now occupies an old building on Union Street, a popular spot for live bands and nightlife.
What the records show
The 1795 is the tavern's own, printed at the head of its website as 'America's Oldest Tavern: First Pour 1795' and cited here from a 2019 copy because the live site refuses readers it does not recognise. Wikipedia notes the foundation by town crier Jimmy Wilson rests on tradition. The business has moved several times to reach 45 Union Street and it stopped trading during Prohibition, so 'oldest continuously operating bar' is not accurate.
What to look for inside
- Founded by Boston town crier James 'Jimmy' Wilson (tradition)
- Moved several times before reaching Union Street
- Closed during Prohibition
Visiting
Bell in Hand Tavern is in Boston, United States, at 45 Union Street, Boston, MA 02108. We do not list opening times, because they change; the pub’s own site is the place to check before you set out.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_in_Hand_Tavern
- historyofmassachusetts.org/bell-in-hand-tavern-history/
- web.archive.org/web/20190923105958/https://www.bellinhand.com/history.html
- data.boston.gov/api/3/action/datastore_search?resource_id=4582bec6-2b4f-4f9e-bc55-cbaa73117f4c&q=Bell%20In%20Hand
Know something we don’t?Suggest a correctionLast checked Sept 2026
Run this pub? There is a badge for it
Free to put on your own site, no permission needed. It shows what the pub claims and what the records support, and it changes when the data does.
How to use it, and how to change what it says — if you have a document we have not seen, we would like to read it.
