The Old White Bear, Hampstead, NW3

Randomness Guide to London - Old White Bear entry

Randomness Guide to London - Old White Bear entry

The Olde White Bear, as it was once known, has recently opened its doors again after a long refurbishment that I think started before Christmas. The transformation is hard to miss as the old pub with political quotes and old photos on the walls has been replaced by a restaurant and bar that has managed to create a bright modern feel with 19th century furnishings. The bar length has been reduced and only two ales are now available which were Pride and Abbot on my recent visit. The wooden bar has been replaced with a marble/tiled work top and the four draught options have been enclosed in a box to keep them out of sight. The food is expensive for a pub, but not so much for a Hampstead restaurant which I think this place ultimately is. I was fine having a well poured pint of Pride at 16:30 on a Saturday afternoon, but I’m not so sure about sitting at the bar whilst the dinner service is in progress. There is still some seating out the front which is nice in the summer and I’ll certainly end up sitting there at some point over the next few months. Although the bar has shortened the actual floor space has increased as the toilets have now been moved upstairs where a small dining room can now be found that can host up to fourteen people for private occasions. As I mentioned before, this is not a pub in my opinion, but it is pleasant enough for a pint or two at the right time of day.

A characterful old place, central bar with seperate areas winding around either side. The bar itself follows around providing serving areas to all parts, the bar back is nicely carved too. Traditional seating plus bar stools, parquet wooden floor, wood panelled walls, lots of signed photos of film stars, old clocks, mirrors etc. Two sets of what look like antelope antlers displayed in the left side area above the fireplace. Six handpumps, four on today, Mordue Workie Ticket, York Brewery Constantine, Daleside Pride of England and Ind Coope(?) Burton Ale. Although it appears that a Northern beer festival has just been on it transpires that the selection are sourced from the "Finest Cask" range. A brewery map and tasting notes are pinned up adjoining the bar. A pleasant spot.

Apparently it’s due to re-open this weekend, but the door was open as I passed this afternoon, so obviously in I went, and the friendly young lady behind the bar was happy to serve me a half of London Pride (at £1.75 - £3.50 a pint? not cheap). There were two handpumps on the bar, but neither had clips attached – yet. This is nothing like the pub it was. All the bric-a-brac has gone, the walls are painted a brownish grey colour, and the bar counter is a bit smaller on the right than it was. In fact it’s now very minimalist, although the parquet flooring looks original, and one of the large tables in the area on the right looks to be a solid antique. It seems it’s being re-branded as a Mediterranean restaurant. This review is based on only a 10-minute snapshot visit, but I think that I can safely say that it’s not the sort of place that someone who likes the traditional pub is going to want to sit in for a quiet pint, but it might be the sort of place where you could get some decent tapas. Maybe another visit to sample the food at some stage might be in order. The pub name outside still refers to it as “Ye Olde White Bear”, but judging by Alex Silver’s posting, that is likely to change.

Proper pub , friendly staff , regulars up for a laugh , beer good (4 cask) , walls covered in posters from nearby theatre , strange tables on one side need bar stools to sit at , a proper boozer and better than a lot of some more famous Oxford pubs

From reading below the rumours of this place becoming a tapas bar were unfounded. I look forward to trying a few of these guest ales mentioned on a fact finding mission in the next couple of weeks. 02/02/10: This once good pub is closed and when it reopens it will be a tapas bar for the Hampstead tourists! [admin note: Reported as reopened via the forums 10/03/10]