The Mad Bishop & Bear, Paddington, W2

Has had a hosing and is quite tidy now. But at £3.60 for Pride they can afford to tidy it up !!!

Located up the escalators from the platforms & shops. Extensive range of fullers beers & 2 guests(arkells & st austell on my visit) make this one of the better train station pubs. Before 10am alcohol can only be served with meals. Train departure boards in the pub.

Situated up two escalator rides from the concourse to the platforms and within a "retail" area of the station,this is a bit more upmarket than many station boozers,and this is reflected in the clientele,many of whom come here for the food.On the higher terrace to the left of the walkways into the pub is an area where there is table service,but the screen tuned to daytime TV seemed out of place in this location. As noted there was a supply problem with their real ale and only three were offered.My second pint of ESB benefitted by being correctly poured by the more experienced barmaid. The interior is all a little contrived but I would use it again if faced with a wait for a train to the West country.

I agree with the previous reviews that as station boozers go, this is a good one. Were it not for the open doorways onto the concourse you could easily forget that you were in a station and I have used it simply as a boozer. It's a large, open single roomed space with a small raised area to the left with carpets and booths where table service can be had if you wait to be seated. The main room is all wood floors and a mixture of standard height and tall tables and chairs. The long and impressive bar runs across the back and had on Fullers Discovery, ESB and Adnams Broadside. The other two pumps with Pride and Chiswick clips on were covered by a notice saying that a busy weekend had led to them running out of beer with a delivery expected tomorrow - Wednesday. There's a comprehensive menu which includes breakfast options as well as sandwiches and larger meals. Prawn and crab cake was edible but I won't be rushing back for the food. The pub opens at 8 each morning, except Sunday when it's 10, and a beer can be had before 10 as long as it's accompanied by a full breakfast. I'd return for a beer if in the area.

Situated above the main station opposite the platforms and up a couple of levels. As station bars go, this is pretty good. Fullers beers, a good range on plus St Austell Tribute and Brain's Reverend James. Lots of polished wood, railway themed photos and travel advertisements from the golden age of railways. Several TVs on muted with low key background music playing. Mostly wooden floored, a small raised area with seating booths being carpeted. The unusual pub name is derived from two local stories, "the Mad Bishop" was the churchman in control of the land who sold it all off very cheaply to the railway companies leaving the smallholders in the area high and dry, and the "Bear" is a small children's figure from Peru with a liking for marmalade sandwiches. Open for breakfast from 8am, alcohol served with plated meals, otherwise from 10am. Otherwise food specials on table menus and chalkboards. There is a train departures board in the pub, useful for keeping you updated and hopefully avoiding missed trains.