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Detail Pages
The White Bear, Kennington, SE11
SE11
SE11 4DJ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The White Bear
Refurbished in 2016, this is a mid-19th century building and grade II-listed with an interesting wood fascia.
The interior features a boarded floor then slightly distressed in a mildly Antic way, with rag washed walls, some bare brick, mixed furnishings with some booth-style seating, eclectic prints and paintings and shelving with knickknacks, further décor amounting to flyers advertising up-and-coming events at the first-floor theatre. Customers are on the younger side, probably students at the nearby City & Guilds of London Art School; certainly the interior looks arty. Selective televised sport amounts to the cricket, the Oval being just over the road.
Despite being a Young’s joint, the ale choice was limited to just London Original and Brick’s Peckham Pale, on decent form and served by a friendly barman but at a ludicrous £3.05 a half and one of these newfangled ‘juicy’ beers which I might have enjoyed when I was a child but certainly not now and didn’t finish it; where’s the Proper Job?
This is really quite a nice pub, but it needs a kick up the arse on the ale front and the higher-than central London prices need reigning in.
On 15th July 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The White Bear
An imposing looking stone built pub set a little way back from the road with a small patio seating area at the front, it is substantially bigger inside than it looks from the outside, extending back some considerably way and with a further outside seating area on beyond. It had a chilled out and relaxed vibe, although one of our friends did note that a few of the punters at the bar looked as though they’d stepped straight off the Made in Chelsea set.
Internally it’s split in to two main rooms with a central bar counter in the middle of the front room and a further large room beyond that is perhaps more intended for dining. Decor wise it’s quite traditional and perhaps a little rustic, with a wood strip floor, as well as some wood panelling on the walls and a small amount of exposed brickwork. A small fireplace was off to the left, although this was not in use. Various bits and pieces were on the mantelpiece above, including an old radio set. Seating on the left was padded benches situated either side of tables and segmented off in to separate booths with wood partitioning. Another sectioned off area at the rear formed a cosy little snug with comfy looking sofas and this had something of a fairground theme with lots of old pictures on the walls and a roundabout horse making a bit of a feature. Beyond this, the dining area opened out with a large, windowed ceiling and many more pictures on the walls.
Beers on tap were all from Youngs with their Bitter, Special and Winter Warmer. Ciders meanwhile were Old Rosie and Aspall’s Suffolk.
On 2nd February 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about White Bear
This place has had a return. Looks good, no major changes, as far as I remember. Very deceptive from the outside. There is seating out the front. Once inside, it goes a long way back and, what looks like a back garden. Only had Young's bitter on and a cider. Well worth a visit.
On 9th November 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about White Bear
The White Bear is situated on the busy kennington park road.
I did'nt like the look of this pub from the outside,once inside there is a decent sized L shaped room with the bar situated in the middle,there are normal tables and chairs on three sides of the bar,there was a high bench seat and tall chairs to the front left,there were loads of chairs along the bar.
The room is carpeted and there were lots of framed footbal team photos on the front right wall,the TV was showing sky football.
There was one real ale on the bar which was Doom Bar,this was drinkable but nothing special.
I did'nt really take to this pub.
Pub visited 2/8/2014
On 2nd August 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about White Bear
Quite an imposing facade, with the name in bold golden lettering, but distinctly tatty inside. 'J'-shaped bar with high ceiling supported by metal columns, plus an alcove at back with jukebox. Large sports screen and other TVs. Theatre upstairs. Front patio. As you might guess from the Tayto crisps on sale, much of the customer base appeared to be Irish. Just one of the two handpumps was working, offering EPA at £3.30. (NB - Review dates from April 2012.)
On 17th June 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about White Bear
I think that my lasting memory of this pub will be the man that I saw disappearing towards the toilets whilst wearing a dressing gown and holding a newspaper and some plastic flowers. There is a theatre attached to the rear which probably explains it, but there wasn't a play in progress whilst I was there. A Champions league game was on though and it was being shown on the two projector screens/various TVs and the crowd in attendance led me to believe that this is the pub to watch football in the area.
Greene King IPA was available along with a standard draught selection and my Guinness was well poured.
I don't plan on drinking here again as there are better pubs in the area.
On 16th January 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]