Boston, Massachusetts · Founded 1795
A Boston tavern tracing its lineage to 1795, with a famous oldest-tavern claim complicated by a documented Prohibition closure and several moves.
Bell in Hand Tavern operates at 45 Union Street in Boston’s historic downtown. It traces its beginning to 1795 and to former town crier James “Jimmy” Wilson, but its current building is not the original location and published accounts agree that it closed during Prohibition.
Local historical accounts trace Bell in Hand Tavern to 1795 and identify James “Jimmy” Wilson, Boston’s last known town crier, as its first owner.
Source: City of Boston, Blackstone Block presentation; Historical Marker Database, “The Bell-in-Hand”
Historical-marker text says the tavern served only ale and porter until 1919, with hard liquor introduced later.
Source: Historical Marker Database, “The Bell-in-Hand”
Bell in Hand closed during Prohibition, beginning a closure that lasted until repeal in 1933.
Source: Fifty Plus Advocate, “The Bell in Hand Tavern turns 230,” October 17, 2025; Boston Discovery Guide, “Historical Boston Bars and Taverns”
The Prohibition-era closure ended after repeal. Published accounts describe this as the tavern’s only known interruption, but this pass did not independently verify the exact reopening date or operator.
Source: Fifty Plus Advocate, “The Bell in Hand Tavern turns 230,” October 17, 2025
The tavern’s official site listed Bell in Hand at 45 Union Street, Boston, with telephone number (617) 227-2098.
Source: Bell in Hand official website, About page, accessed 2026
Every claim gets rated. A business's own website can never earn "documented."
The core business lineage may extend to 1795, but published accounts say Bell in Hand closed during Prohibition from 1920 to 1933. The word “continuously” is therefore not supportable in its ordinary sense.
The venue and a local marker use this marketing claim, but documented accounts of its Prohibition closure contradict an unbroken continuous-operation superlative. This review did not conduct a nationwide comparative survey of tavern lineages.
Boston city material, the historical marker, and local-history accounts consistently attribute the tavern to Wilson and date it to 1795. This pass did not locate a contemporaneous founding record or an independent archival biography sufficient to rate every detail documented.
Published accounts agree that the tavern has occupied multiple sites, including Pi Alley/Williams Court and Devonshire Street, before the present Union Street address. The current location is not the original 1795 premises.
Sources agree that a hand-and-bell sign associated with Bell in Hand survives, but they conflict on both its exact status and location: the marker says a version of the original carving is at the Old State House, while another guide places an original sign near Old City Hall. Do not describe it definitively as the original without museum confirmation.
Bell in Hand has operated continuously since 1795.
The tavern’s lineage is traced to 1795, but published accounts say it closed from 1920 to 1933 during Prohibition. The continuous-operation claim is therefore not literally accurate.
Source: Fifty Plus Advocate, “The Bell in Hand Tavern turns 230,” October 17, 2025; Boston Discovery Guide, “Historical Boston Bars and Taverns”
The current tavern occupies the original 1795 site.
Bell in Hand has occupied multiple Boston locations and now operates at 45 Union Street, not its original premises.
Source: Wikipedia, “Bell in Hand Tavern”; Clio, “The Bell In Hand Tavern”; Boston Discovery Guide, “Historical Boston Bars and Taverns”
The surviving hand-and-bell sign can be identified conclusively as the original and located at one specific site.
Sources conflict: the Historical Marker Database says a version of the original carving is at the Old State House, while Boston Discovery Guide places an original sign near Old City Hall. Museum or archival confirmation is needed.
Source: Historical Marker Database, “The Bell-in-Hand”; Boston Discovery Guide, “Historical Boston Bars and Taverns”
Bell in Hand has retained a recognizable name, a central visitor-facing location, and a durable association with Boston’s colonial and early-republic tavern culture. Its long survival is notable, but the record should distinguish that business lineage from an unbroken operating history or occupancy of a single historic building.
Local historical accounts say Bell in Hand was founded by James “Jimmy” Wilson, Boston’s last known town crier. The name refers to the hand bell associated with his town-crier work, according to the City of Boston’s Blackstone Block material and the historical marker for Bell in Hand.
Yes. Published local accounts say Bell in Hand closed during Prohibition from 1920 to 1933. That interruption means its frequent claim of continuous operation since 1795 should be treated as marketing rather than a literal uninterrupted operating history.
No. Historical summaries place Bell in Hand at several former Boston locations, including Pi Alley or Williams Court and Devonshire Street, before its present location at 45 Union Street. The exact dates of the intermediate moves need further archival verification.
No, not if “continuously” means without any closure. Bell in Hand traces its history to 1795, but local accounts report that it closed during Prohibition from 1920 to 1933. A nationwide oldest-tavern ranking would also require comparative research beyond this entry.
This review did not independently establish the current owner, operating entity, or liquor-license holder. The official Bell in Hand website confirms the active Union Street business and contact details, but a current Massachusetts corporate filing or Boston Licensing Board record is needed to identify ownership accurately.
45 Union St, Boston, MA 02108
(617) 227-2098
Located near Faneuil Hall and the Blackstone Block; confirm current hours and event schedule with the venue before visiting.