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Detail Pages
The Bear Inn, Street
Street
BA16 0EF
Pub Type
Rotisserie (Marstons)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Steve of N21 left this review about The Bear Inn
Looks like this Marston’s established has had a smart make over since my last visit some 14 years ago and is now quite a smart comfortable pub inside, with separate areas dotted around the central serving bar and a nice terraced garden area to the right hand side .
Still four hand pumps on the bar but only three in operation with Marston‘s Pedigree doubled up and Hobgoblin on the fourth.
On 24th October 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2121 recommendations about 2000 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Bear Inn
Currently run by Marston's, this former town hotel once served the neigbouring shoe empire, and still offers B&B as a pseudo-boutique hotel. There is plenty of parking at the back (you have to pay for it and get a refund when you buy food), and there is a large garden with lawn and seating areas full of loud families, but there is an interesting iron bear sculpture for those who like such art. Inside what is somewhat pretentiously described as a 'rotisserie' which if my schoolboy French is correctly remembered involves inserting steel rods into chickens, though it is in reality nothing more than a standard Marston's food outlet. Thursday is steak (as opposed to stake) night. The staff were not at all engaging. Tormented fowl aside, the food looked very sad and unappetising, more so because of the oversize portions. The traditional décor has been replaced by 'corporate' garish plexiglass room dividers and cheap ornaments, and most of the floorspace is given over to diners. On the plus side it provides an alternative to the JDW or the Clark's snackbars, and the bedrooms look decent. Four handpmps on the bar, with 3 ales on – Wainright's Golden Beer, Hobgoblin and Pedigree which were in reasonable condition. It's OK to drop in for a quick pint, and I'm sure the B&B is good, but I couldn't bear to stay here too long.
On 13th June 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3289 recommendations about 3254 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BobOs . left this review about The Bear Inn
Quite a nice pub. The coachloads of chavs buying 'seconds' from the conglomeration of 'factory outlets' across the road tend to congregate in the Lantokay 'spoons, so the Bear often (but not always) attracts a quieter, dining clientelle during the day. The menu is quite good and reasonably priced and the beers are well kept. The bar staff could do with a bit of customer service training - well, actually, a lot of customer service training. Slightly better than average.
On 11th July 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 370 recommendations about 355 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Bear Inn
The Bear Inn is a large Marstons Inn with a traditional pub décor. It has one central bar, but then several distinct dining and drinking areas designed around it. Some of these do not have any natural light, but the good use of copious amounts of mirrors in all areas (both plain and brewery mirror types) still give the place a bright and airy feel. It also benefits from a large outside terrace and garden area ideal for the warmer days.
The beers are, as you would expect from the Marston's stable, but they usually complement the Pedigree with seasonal ales as well as guests from the Ringwood Brewery. For example there was Ringwood Best and Marstons Ashes Ale on during my last visit.
The food menu is a bit spoon's like supporting several mains at under a fiver, but they've always been reasonable when I've tried them in the past.
All in all, this has always been a decent place for a pint and a quick bite to eat for me., and has the advantage of location opposite a back entrance to the Clarks Village, so that you sneak here for a quick pint whilst waiting to be summonsed back to the shopping fray by text message.
On 18th October 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2121 recommendations about 2000 pubs]