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Submitted on Tuesday, 7th May 2024
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The Bear, Oxford

6 Alfred Street
Oxford
OX1 4EH
Correct details

Pub Type

Fuller's

Served areas

Tweets by The Bear
The Bear Inn Oxford The Bear Inn Oxford Bar and Waiting Staff | Harri https://t.co/cf0xC8R0cN 1:08 PM Sep 20th 2022 from Twitter Web App
View the full twitter feed for The Bear Inn Oxford

Reviews of The Bear (Average Rating: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Tris C left this review about The Bear

Supposedly dating from 1242, this pub’s history is a load of twaddle of course, being named after the eponymous Bear, a coaching inn, this building dating from 1606 as a shop, converted into the Jolly Trooper pub in 1774 and renamed in homage to its eponymous namesake on the High, which was closed/demolished around 1805.
Unchanged in my 33 years of patronage, this tiny pub is noted for its myriad tie collection which adorns the walls and impossibly low ceiling.
Ales: just Fullers and if you’re lucky, one of their Dark Star acquisitions on offer.
A must-visit Oxford pub, despite being on the tourists’ pilgrimage trail.

Rated: 7.5.

On 1st September 2025 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2277 recommendations about 2227 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Bear

Famously small pub, with a tiny bar and a back room that is little bigger - all full when I called in, but fortunately one of the pair of seats in the entrance lobby area was free. Very traditional throughout, with wood-panelled walls and the ephemera being a huge collection of ties. As a Fullers pub, it was no surprise to find London Pride, Oliver's Island, HSB (£5.70), ESB and draught cider being served from a total of five handpumps. Perhaps best visited at a quieter time, but I had an interesting chat with another visitor to the city, and both of us were glad we made it to this Oxford institution.

On 28th February 2024 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8868 recommendations about 8868 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Strongers . left this review about The Bear

I managed to revisit the Bear after a hiatus of 16.5 years, and to be honest it was much as I remember, although I did get to have a proper look around this time with my visit being on a quiet Tuesday afternoon. This is a tiny pub with an L-shaped bar area with bar counters that support five hand pumps that were drawing Fuller’s ESB, London Pride and Oliver’s Island alongside Dark Star’s Outer Haze and Old Rosie Cider. I had my first Pride for a while which went down well as I sat in the back room listening to the American tourists come up with reasons for the multitude of cut ties in display cases on the walls and ceilings around the pub. An aged pub with character that also has an interesting history from fairly recent times. A must if in Oxford, even if only to say you’ve been.

On 20th October 2023 - rating: 7
[User has posted 6179 recommendations about 6142 pubs]


View more reviews of The Bear (14)
This pub features in the following crawls:
A selection of 2013 GBG city centre pubs. by Bucking Fastard
External web links for The Bear

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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Bucking Fastard
Oxford, 0.77 miles, 14 min walk (show)
Oxford Parkway, 3.88 miles, 1 hr 14 min walk (show)
Radley, 5.41 miles, 1 hr 44 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The Bear, Oxford
1st Sep 2025, 19:02
Review submitted by Tris C
 
1st Sep 2025, 19:01
Review submitted by Tris C deleted by Tris C

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 28 February 2014 by Pub SignMan
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 28 February 2014 by Pub SignMan
  • Beer Garden : Yes last updated 28 February 2014 by Pub SignMan
  • Car Park : No last updated 28 February 2014 by Pub SignMan
  • Darts : No last updated 28 February 2014 by Pub SignMan
  • Hot Food : Yes last updated 23 July 2016 by Tris C
  • Jukebox : No last updated 28 February 2014 by Pub SignMan
  • Karaoke : No last updated 23 July 2016 by Tris C
  • Live Music : Yes - Jazz; Tuesdays 8-11 - last updated 28 July 2021 by Komakino .
  • Live TV Sports : No last updated 23 July 2016 by Tris C
  • Micropub : No last updated 23 July 2016 by Tris C
  • Pinball : No last updated 28 February 2014 by Pub SignMan
  • Pool Table : No last updated 28 February 2014 by Pub SignMan
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 09 June 2013 by hondo .
  • Real Cider : Yes last updated 28 July 2021 by Komakino .
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