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Reviewing milestone with Walty
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Moby Duck
Submitted on Monday, 26th January 2026
With picture contributions to 1235 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (6 more images)
Detail Pages
The White Bear, Kennington, SE11
SE11
SE11 4DJ
Served areas
Reviews of The White Bear (Average Rating: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about The White Bear
A Sizable Youngs pub that stretches back quite a way. There is an Island bar toward the front of the pub that boasts eight handpumps, despite this only one beer was available, St Austell Proper Job served in a drinkable but rather average condition. The pub was busy and most of the vacant tables had reserved signs on for later that afternoon and evening, I sat at one of these and noted it was still covered in crumbs from an earlier occupant, this was the case with several other tables some with un cleared glasses and plates and remained so for the duration of my stay. Over all quite poor.
On 26th January 2026
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2257 recommendations about 2222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The White Bear
Refurbished in 2016, this is a mid-19th century building and grade II-listed with an interesting wood fascia.
The interior features a boarded floor then slightly distressed in a mildly Antic way, with rag washed walls, some bare brick, mixed furnishings with some booth-style seating, eclectic prints and paintings and shelving with knickknacks, further décor amounting to flyers advertising up-and-coming events at the first-floor theatre. Customers are on the younger side, probably students at the nearby City & Guilds of London Art School; certainly the interior looks arty. Selective televised sport amounts to the cricket, the Oval being just over the road.
Despite being a Young’s joint, the ale choice was limited to just London Original and Brick’s Peckham Pale, on decent form and served by a friendly barman but at a ludicrous £3.05 a half and one of these newfangled ‘juicy’ beers which I might have enjoyed when I was a child but certainly not now and didn’t finish it; where’s the Proper Job?
This is really quite a nice pub, but it needs a kick up the arse on the ale front and the higher-than central London prices need reigning in.
On 15th July 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2303 recommendations about 2249 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The White Bear
An imposing looking stone built pub set a little way back from the road with a small patio seating area at the front, it is substantially bigger inside than it looks from the outside, extending back some considerably way and with a further outside seating area on beyond. It had a chilled out and relaxed vibe, although one of our friends did note that a few of the punters at the bar looked as though they’d stepped straight off the Made in Chelsea set.
Internally it’s split in to two main rooms with a central bar counter in the middle of the front room and a further large room beyond that is perhaps more intended for dining. Decor wise it’s quite traditional and perhaps a little rustic, with a wood strip floor, as well as some wood panelling on the walls and a small amount of exposed brickwork. A small fireplace was off to the left, although this was not in use. Various bits and pieces were on the mantelpiece above, including an old radio set. Seating on the left was padded benches situated either side of tables and segmented off in to separate booths with wood partitioning. Another sectioned off area at the rear formed a cosy little snug with comfy looking sofas and this had something of a fairground theme with lots of old pictures on the walls and a roundabout horse making a bit of a feature. Beyond this, the dining area opened out with a large, windowed ceiling and many more pictures on the walls.
Beers on tap were all from Youngs with their Bitter, Special and Winter Warmer. Ciders meanwhile were Old Rosie and Aspall’s Suffolk.
On 2nd February 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2107 recommendations about 2006 pubs]
View more reviews of The White Bear (7)
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- Official site of White Bear - www.whitebearkennington.co.uk
- Facebook - The White Bear
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The White Bear - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- CAMRA Discount : No - 10% discount for City & Guilds of London Art School students. - last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- Dog Friendly : Yes - On leads. - last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- Jukebox : No last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : Yes - Selective, e.g. cricket. - last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : Yes - Wednesdays 20.00. - last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 30 December 2016 by Tris C
- Real Cider : No last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 15 July 2023 by Tris C
