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

Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Monday, 31st January 2022
With picture contributions to 12229 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (27 more images)
Detail Pages
The Bear & Staff, Leicester Square, WC2
WC2
WC2H 7AX

Reviews of The Bear & Staff (Average Rating: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about The Bear & Staff
A poorly managed pub, Doom Bar, Pride, Nicholsons Pale and Fyne Ales Jarl which was served in less than average condition, although the beer wasn't enjoyable I was disappointed to find my beer left on my table about a quarter full had been cleaned away whilst I nipped to the loo, I should have complained but really didn't want to suffer another beer here. I won't be back.
On 19th June 2024
- rating: 2
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Bear & Staff
My final pub before heading to Kings Cross for my train, but this is not the high note I was hoping to end on. Another quite small Nicholsons pub (see White Swan, Covent Garden for the other), but this one not only afflicted by the delivery snafu (only London Pride and Titanic Plum Porter on, out of six hand pumps) but also a smell, which I ascribed to mould. My notes made at the time mention "pretty dreadful background music" too, but fortunately both that and the smell have slipped from my memory, along with the London Pride, which was apparently "fine". My second foray into the Leicester Square area (see also the Salisbury), and I think the only good thing I've got to say for it is that there's a rapid tube connection via the Piccadilly line to Kings Cross and the North.
On 2nd February 2022
- rating: 4
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Bear & Staff
Dating from 1714 but rebuilt in 1878, the name is taken from the Neville family’s crest; Charlie Chaplin supposedly came here.
I came here once before around 1985, probably after taking in a film in neighbouring Leicester Square. This is a Nicholson’s pub with Nicholson’s nods; pseudo-Victorian, but with a fine bar back, tall furniture, smoky blue or white walls with a glossy chocolate brown Anaglypta ceiling and Victorian-style lamps and sconces, mainly tall furniture, all geared towards tourists and theatregoers.
Ales: Pride ‘coming soon’, Doom, Ghost Ship ‘coming soon’ and Nicholson’s Pale Ale at £2.55 a half and pleasant.
This isn’t a bad pub, but given the location, it’s not worth making a special effort to reach it, but it was interesting to be back after 36 years.
On 4th November 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2207 recommendations about 2164 pubs]
View more reviews of The Bear & Staff (17)
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- Official page of the Bear & Staff, contains menu and real ale details - www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk
- Facebook - The Bear and Staff
- Twitter - the Bear and Staff
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Bear & Staff - whatpub.com
London Waterloo, 1.15 miles, 22 min walk (show)
London Blackfriars, 2.01 miles, 38 min walk (show)
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 02 October 2018 by Graham Coombs
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 02 October 2018 by Graham Coombs
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 04 November 2021 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : No last updated 02 October 2018 by Graham Coombs
- Car Park : No last updated 02 October 2018 by Graham Coombs
- Darts : No last updated 02 October 2018 by Graham Coombs
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 10 October 2019 by hondo .
- Jukebox : No last updated 02 October 2018 by Graham Coombs
- Karaoke : No last updated 02 October 2018 by Graham Coombs
- Live Music : No last updated 02 October 2018 by Graham Coombs
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 02 October 2018 by Graham Coombs
- Micropub : No last updated 02 October 2018 by Graham Coombs
- Pinball : No last updated 02 October 2018 by Graham Coombs
- Pool Table : No last updated 02 October 2018 by Graham Coombs
- Quiz Night : No last updated 04 November 2021 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 10 October 2019 by hondo .
- Real Cider : No last updated 02 October 2018 by Graham Coombs
- Wheelchair Access : No - WCs downstairs. - last updated 04 November 2021 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 10 October 2019 by hondo .