The Bear, Paddington, W2

Steve of N21 left this review about The Bear

I don’t find myself exiting Paddington Station much but as I did last week I thought I would look up this arm of the Craft Beer Company chain and was also surprised in how close it was to the station but in an area where you didn’t feel you were right next door to a major transportation hub.
I will concur with others that this one does feel more like a modern bar than a traditional pub, but not very surprising considering it is a conversion from a former wine bar. It’s quite bright inside, but this helps to see the long line of small print craft beer labels adorning the long run of craft keg taps that fills the majority of the bar. I didn’t count them all but wouldn’t be surprised if they number somewhere near 30. But actually I didn’t need to concern myself with these as there are six ale pumps on the front corner of the bar top as you enter from the street and for our visit 360o Brewing Company Tacoma APA, Lakedown Brewing Kicking Donkey Bitter, and Marquee American Stout, Brewing Brothers Still Dippin Session Pale and an excellent Kelham Island Brewery Pale Rider were available alongside the usual house Pale Ale.
Upstairs as described below, which as well as the seating can accommodate quite a few vertical drinking and then a smaller room known as the Den down the stairs alongside the toilets.
Will agree with the others, one of the better options for an ale when in the vicinity of Paddington Station.

On 10^th May 2026 - rating: 8
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