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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum

Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Friday, 11th August 2023
With picture contributions to 12229 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (4 more images)
Detail Pages
The Bear Inn, Market Drayton
Hodnet
Postal town: Market Drayton
TF9 3NH
Served areas
Reviews of The Bear Inn (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Bear Inn
At first I wasn't sure that the Bear was open, as there seemed to be no sign of activity and the street-side doors were closed. However, looking at what must be at times a fairly busy road junction, albeit in a fairly sleepy village when I was here on a Wednesday afternoon, I decided that having a look around the back might be a good idea. What must at one time have been a stable yard is now a Mediterranean beer garden, with weather to match. I was greeted by a hotel receptionist as I walked through the glass doors and confirmed that I was just here for a beer. The bar is in a corner of the building with a view of the street, and there are three or four more or less open plan rooms around it, with some tables laid for diners but most not. There are three hand pumps (see photo) and I went for Salopian Shropshire Gold. This seemed to be an ok refreshing drink at first, but I was soon aware of a sweetish/sourish taste on the swallow, reminiscent of Theakstons Best Bitter, and when drinking the same beer in a different pub later the same day I was confirmed in my view that this one was on the turn. A shame, as other than that this was a fairly pleasant stop on my cycling tour of this part of north Shropshire. The hotel staff were friendly and welcoming, and this was as pub-like a hotel bar as I have ever had a drink in - some very nice wood panelling and some tastefully selected pictures sparingly hung on the plain white walls - and only £4 per pint, too.
On 14th August 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Bear Hotel
Enjoyed our visit to this friendly village local yesterday, and chose New Brew Boscobel Bitter which was fine. Hancocks HB and Salopian Shropshire Gold also available. The bear and glass floor looking down into the bear pit still there.
On 21st January 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Oggwyn Great left this review about The Bear Hotel
Ancient old Inn dating back to at least the 1500s , the cellars beneath the pub are a warren of old passages leading to various places in the village like the Church and the local Hall , the original Bear Pit is beneath the carpark , there is a more modern 1970s replica bearpit in the pub , upstairs is a 16th century timbered hall used as a function room .
The main entrance leads to the small bar area and is guarded by a huge stuuffed Bear , a large room to the side is for dining , usual keg taps and 4 handpulls with mainly local beers including a sublime Salopian Kashmir .
Well worth a visit if passing , i only had a swift half but this is the sort of pub you could spend several hours just poking around .
On 18th August 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 797 recommendations about 683 pubs]
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- Official site of The Bear Inn - www.thebearinnhodnet.com
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Bear Inn - 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 : Yes last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 11 August 2013 by Oggwyn Great
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Car Park : Yes last updated 11 August 2013 by Oggwyn Great
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Darts : No last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Function Room : Yes last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Jukebox : No last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Karaoke : No last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Live Music : Yes last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Micropub : No last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Pinball : No last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Pool Table : No last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Quiz Night : No last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Real Cider : No last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 18 August 2015 by Oggwyn Great
- WiFi : Yes last updated 14 August 2023 by Will Larter