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Detail Pages
The Bear Hotel, Wantage
Wantage
OX12 8AB
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Bear Hotel
Wow – this is unrecognisable from my visit 9 years ago. Refurbished and multi-roomed with separate bar and dining plus rear function room with a bisect middle section (presumably the old corridor) which is light and airy. All upmarket and very swish. Four ales with three from Arkells (3B, Wiltshire Gold, Ruby Rye) and Courage Directors with Old Rosie cider as well. The beer drank well enough and it’s well-worth a look-in if you’re in the town. 6.5
February 2008
Cavernous pub in a pretty building. Claimed to have three Arkells beers on the outside signage but I only saw 3B along with two (two?!?) Courage Directors pulls. 3B was a bit eggy and served in a glass that hadn’t got a proper rinse in the dishwasher. Was with friends so didn’t complain; maybe I should have done in hindsight. Tried the food and was fairly happy with it given the price (fiver for my Brake Bros lasagne). The walls were a mustard colour and had some pics of old Wantage hung upon them, whilst a couple of TV’s were showing the rugby. Toilet doors had no signs, so it was all a bit Deal or No Deal guessing which the right one was. I guessed wrong, no banker for me! DeggyT guessed wrong too, but Mrs Quinno got it right. Must be a gender thing. Rated 4
On 22nd April 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Bear Hotel
The Bear Hotel or Bruin's Bar is to the left on entering through the big, black oak doors of Wantage's main hotel, it is said they were shut to keep out Parliamentarian forces during the Civil War. Now owned by Arkells of Swindon, it serves their 3B and Kingsdown, with Courage Directors as a guest. The 3B was a very decent pint of a traditional English bitter. Two T bars provide for the needs of keggers. It's a little unfair to describe the interior as the builders were in when I was there, however it is fairly traditional with dark painted boards, and white walls decorated with cartoons and dismantled Port boxes. Bench seating covered in a velourish material with cast iron base tables and traditional chairs on the outer side. Quite busy early evening with a mix of older locals, a couple of younger ones and of course hotel guests.
On 9th October 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3275 recommendations about 2982 pubs]