The Bear, Stratford Central, Stratford-Upon-Avon

The bar for the Macdonald Swan's Nest Hotel, incorporated within the old part of the establishment, but operating very much as a pub for the general public. Comprises two connected rooms of similar size, with fairly traditional furniture and generally dark decor. Features a wide and changing selection of beers from a bank of eight handpumps which were sampled during a two-night stay. Overall, pretty good for a hotel bar and has won several local Camra branch awards.

The Bear is the bar for the Swan's Nest hotel but once inside it does feel more like a real boozer than a hotel bar which is, I suspect given the seperate name, the intention. It's well situated over the river from the theatre with a a decent sized garden over the road overlooking the river. This was very popular on our sunny afternoon visit. The interior is all wood floors, wood panelled walls and leather sofas. It's comfortable enough without quite losing the corporate feel. The service from the young barman was friendly and enthusiastic and even during the afternoon there were a couple of regulars propped on stools by the bar in addition to the tourists and visitors in search of refreshment on a warm afternoon. Beer on was Wye Valley Butty Bach and HPA, Old Hooky, Stratford Stratford Gold, Thwaites Wainwright, The Bear - brewed by North Cotswold, Hook Norton The Drayman's Drop and one reversed Purity Gold pump clip. Five of these are regulars including the HPA, Purity Gold and Stratford Gold. It looks a wide selection but is in fact dominated by low strength, pale beers. The Stratford Gold was alright but didn't warrant a second so our attention strayed to the Purity Lawless and Longhorn IPA on keg. The Longhorn IPA was good but, as with most keg beers, cost £3 million for a round of two. Well £5.60 a pint. A decent enough stop if you're thirsty and fancy a low strength, run of the mill, pale beer but not really worth crossing the river for otherwise.