A change in business arrangements for the pub landlords has meant that new tenants are being sought for the Northern Bell. The pub latterly had cask beers from local breweries such as Wantsum, Shivering Sands plus offerings from the Tonbridge and Titsey breweries. It was originally two fisherman's cottages combined about 1680 and previously known as The Waterman's Arm and prior to that The Aurora Borealis. It now takes its name from the ship that ran aground off North Foreland in 1857.