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The Bear, Stratford Central, Stratford-Upon-Avon
Stratford-Upon-Avon
CV37 7LT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Bear (Macdonald Swan's Nest Hotel)
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.
On 17th September 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8092 recommendations about 8092 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Bear
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.
On 10th May 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Bear
The hotel bar for the McDonald Hotel owned Swan's Nest,there is an entrance off the road,although you will have to use the loos by the hotel reception.The square room is in two section split by a central chimney breast and real fireplace.The front is set for dining yet has some leather sofas ,while the rear has a bar to one side,a Sky flatscreen above the fireplace and a set of benches which looks like the place to settle down for some ale.The bar itself is quite ornate and the rest of the interior has wood panelling and looks smartish.There must be good wifi,as a lot of the youngish punters were staring at their laptops and it did have the feel of a student hangout on my Tuesday afternoon visit.The bar staff were quite young as well but at least were happy to have some 60's soul at modest volume as the muzak.There is a fridge for bottled "world" beers.
There are 8 handpumps in this GBG listed bar which meant on my trip GK Old Hoppy Hen & Old Golden Hen,Wye Valley Butty Bach,Old Hooky,Stratford Gold (a malty brew)Purity UBU ,Church End Goats Milk and a North Cotswold brewed house beer called The Bear 3.8%.I though the range was uninspiring with 4 brews below 4%,nothing higher than 4.6% and too many similar beer styles.I really couldn't summond up the enthusiasm for a second.Quantity of real ale is no substitute for quality,but maybe the local CAMRA branch disagree with that viewpoint.
On 5th June 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Bear
We took the main entrance, along a small lobby then took a right through a small lounge and then into the bar. There were 8 ales on handpump, which were mostly nationals. The Hooky and Butty Bach were good, but the place itself seemed to bore me, couldn't wait to move on.
On 18th June 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Bear
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.
On 15th October 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Bear
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.
On 17th September 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
General Staal left this review about The Bear
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.
On 11th July 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 142 recommendations about 125 pubs]