The Bear, Stratford Central, Stratford-Upon-Avon

Quite small hotel bar next to the reception area (there is seating in reception that can act as an overspill). not really anything to write home about, but the numorous real rales make up for the atmosphere.

This is in fact the ‘bar’ of the Swan’s Nest Hotel, a detached undressed brick building with decorative ashlar corner stones, modern glass conservatory style entrance, which lies next to the River Avon and has a nice patio area. To access the bar you need to go through the front entrance of the hotel and it is on the left. The interior of the bar is in a mix of grey and wood panel, with some of the grey being grey patterned wallpaper. There is a white and beam ceiling and wood floor. It is one room, but is nearly partitioned by fireplace feature in the centre of the room. There is a nice mix of wood settles, stools and comfy chairs, with a lot of old photos of Stratford and other prints. The service was fine and the clientele mixed, with not all from the hotel. There was soft background music and a TV with Sky Sports News on at my visit. Beer: tap stuff with a couple of continental lagers and with Saddlers Mud City Stout and Thin Ice, Weatheroak Brewery’s Light Oak, Everard’s Tiger, Hook Norton Old Hooky, Wye Valley Butty Bach and the house Bear Bitter on handpull. The stout, Butty Back and Old Hooky were all on top form. Class, sheer class. It should be in the GBG 2011, but I am sure the Wetherspoons will make it in instead. GO.

This 'pub' is part of the Swan's Nest which seems to be a hotel. At first glance, it seems to be an upmarket bistro, but enter the building and turn to the left an you enter a 'bar' called the Bear. It is quite small with a huge central fireplace and chimney which separates the open plan room into two. There is a framed plasma screen tv over the fireplace turned to silent and it has quiet background music playing. The whole place is light and airy and decorated in creams and browns. This may sound contemporary, but was in fact quite traditional. The bar is quite small. The staff were extremely polite aand attentive, recognising that you were there when there was a queue. The food was fantastic. Mrs Staal and I had a very filling club sandwich with chips each. It wasn't cheap, but was value for money. The beer was the usual, with European lagers and 7 real ale taps. 6 were on when I went in. The Old Hooky had just gone off. They were serving Hobson's Best Bitter (delicious), Everard's Tiger (untried), Warwickshire Brewery Kingmaker (delicious), Sporting Gold (untried), Sadler's Extra Time (untried) and a beer brewed by Hook Norton for the pub called the Bear (delicious). Highly recommended.

Official site of the Bear, contains menu, wine list and real ale details - www.thebearfreehouse.co.uk

Official site of the Bear, contains menu, wine list and real ale details - www.thebearfreehouse.co.uk