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Chat about:
Lancaster crawl 17th July 2026 with Bucking Fastard
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Ian Mapp
Submitted on Thursday, 14th May 2026
With picture contributions to 1597 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (8 more images)
Detail Pages
The Bear at Marlborough, Marlborough
Marlborough
SN8 1AA
Served areas
Reviews of The Bear at Marlborough (Average Rating: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Ian Mapp left this review about The Bear at Marlborough
My digs for the night. When I am travelling alone, I don't have to worry about no en-suites.
The best looking of the Marlborough Pubs - an impressive building, opposite the church and town hall. But words that should put the fear into every good beer drinker - Arkells.
In a world full of change, its great to see something so consistently bland. This time, I tried their Belt Driver IPA, thinking it must have gone somewhere near a hop.
The pubs is a decent locals pub - with a raised upper area (band playing, forgiven as I could hear Nick Cave covers from my third floor bed at midnight) and a sunken area. Locals keen to engage in conversation. One worryingly so.
A separate cafe did a reasonable breakfast in the morning.
On 14th May 2026
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1859 recommendations about 1825 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Bear at Marlborough
Popped in here while in Marlborough for a brief time. Arkells house with 3B and Wiltshire Gold on. I chose the Wiltshire Gold but was not impressed with it at all.
On 12th May 2019
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Bear at Marlborough
Attractive, imposing corner building. An Arkells house with three of theirs on, my Wiltshire Gold was warm and rather poor all-round. Two levels within; the upper (a weirdly large and open-plan room but with few tables) had just been decorated by someone who likes loud things (silver fern wallpaper and an epileptic striped carpet). The bar area further down was a bit more traditional. All furnishings were wobbly, “an earthquake simulator” quipped a companion who almost fell off his chair. Overall, pretty poor – I think Arkells really need to get a grip on some parts of their estate, having been let down by a few of their pubs in recent months.
On 21st April 2014
- rating: 4
[User has posted 6166 recommendations about 6146 pubs]
View more reviews of The Bear at Marlborough (4)
No known official website for this pub.
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Bear at Marlborough - 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 12 May 2019 by Gill Smith
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 21 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 12 May 2019 by Gill Smith
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 21 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 12 May 2019 by Gill Smith
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 12 May 2019 by Gill Smith
- Function Room : Yes last updated 12 May 2019 by Gill Smith
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 12 May 2019 by Gill Smith
- Live Music : Yes last updated 12 May 2019 by Gill Smith
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 12 May 2019 by Gill Smith
- Pinball : No last updated 21 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 21 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 21 April 2014 by Quinno _
- WiFi : Yes last updated 12 May 2019 by Gill Smith
