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Black Bear, Whitchurch
Whitchurch
SY13 1AZ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about Black Bear
A traditional timber framed building of a type that is seen a lot in small towns and villages in this part of the west midlands. The entrance is a little awkward, with the obvious internal door blocked off and the actual door to the left not immediately obvious. The bar is then at the back of the main room, which is probably at least two rooms opened out, with a further small room to the right (with the blocked front door).
There are five hand pumps, one of them slightly obscured when I arrived, a board advertising three thirds for £4.50 having been left in front of the Stonehouse Station Bitter. I had a half of that, having not long before suffered a rather poor half in the Swan at Marbury. This one was certainly in much better condition (NBSS 3.5) but the beer itself was different from how I remembered it when last encountered less than a year ago. Perhaps they're using different hops? Although I didn't drink any of the other beers on offer (see photos) I am pretty sure this is a very good real ale pub. The Station Bitter is a regular here, and they also have a house beer called JPA. The blackboard to the left of the bar is literally a work of art, and I can't imagine anyone taking that sort of trouble in a place where they didn't set their store by real ale. It's also a popular dining pub, but I had no trouble finding a free table at 8:30 on a Tuesday evening. I was planning on calling back the next day, but ran out of time; perhaps another visit to Whitchurch is called for?
On 14th August 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3751 recommendations about 3486 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Black Bear
A Post Covid visit finds the Black Bear largely unchanged from the previous experiences below and is still one of the best pubs in Whitchurch for cask ale and food ( if trip advisor is to be believed).
Internally it is unchanged with the bar and lounge area to the left and a mainly dining area to the right. The only differences I could see was that I only counted five ale hand pump and the bar ceiling is now plain and void of gig posters.
Not sure if it’s new, as no previous reviews mention it, but there is a very pleasant sizeable outside stone slabbed courtyard garden area out back, accessible via a corridor from the bar past the kitchen, which provides a fine view of St Alkmunds Church and it’s clock tower next door, which conveniently chimes every fifteen minutes to remind you how long you’ve been sitting there necking pints.
And on the ale front there was Salopian Brewery Shropshire Gold, Stonehouse Brewery Station Bitter, Weetwood Ales Best Bitter, Brandy Conwy Brewery Beachcomber and a house session beer called JPA. The Shropshire Gold and Beachcomber were sampled and found in fine form. We didn’t eat but lots of people were and what was coming out the kitchen looked very good indeed.
On 12th July 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2122 recommendations about 2001 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Black Bear
Pretty spectacular looking building with a wonderful black and white Tudor exterior (1662 says WhatPub), opposite the unusual looking church. Inside is a rambling treat with a mix of carpet and flagstone flooring, chunky wood beams, some rough painted walls and a selection of knick-knacks on most surfaces. For reasons unknown the bar area ceiling has a load of gig posters pasted up. GBG listed, with six pumps at the bar sporting a good range of stuff from Magic Dragon (NBSS 3.5), Harbour, Salopian, Black Sheep Resolution, Stonehouse and Hobsons Twisted Spire (NBSS 4). We ate and were happy with the grub too, straightforward unfussy goodness. A really enjoyable stop and one for you to put on the national ‘should visit’ list I think.
On 1st March 2019
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5107 recommendations about 5090 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Black Bear
Old half-timbered pub with a semi-modernised interior that surprisingly works quite well. It has been opened out a bit to leave a bar created from two small rooms and a dining area off to one side. Semi-traditional furniture and mixed decor dominated by an impressive display of pump clips. Decent selection of real ales from the six handpumps, including two from Crate, but I went for the Stonehouse Station Bitter from Oswestry (£3.10).
On 25th June 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Black Bear
A very good pub. One area is very much for diners but there are plenty of comfortable areas to enjoy a drink. An olde worlde like pub inside and out. 6 handpumps on the bar with beers from Six Bells, Salopian, Stonehouse, Mellors, Hobsons and someone else today. An array of pump clips decorate the walls and ceiling.
On 8th December 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Black Bear
A stunning looking pub, situated next door to the church. The sort of pub I would like to sit in on a cold winters night supping away, whilst sat by the window watching the world go by. The pub was traditional in style as you might expect. You enter the pub up a couple of sandstone steeps, which leads you into the main lounge with a small bar at the far end. There was a small room off this which was mainly set out for dining. The pub was carpeted throughout, except for a stone flagged floor leading up to the bar. There were 6 ales, we went for the Woodlands American Pale Ale, which was in top condition, but very dry in finish. A decent pub this one and well worth a visit.
On 19th April 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]