Editor Pick
The Bear
- September 11, 2003
- Rated 4 of 5 by
JayBroek from Edinburgh, United Kingdom
There seems to be something of an obsession with Bears around these parts. Crazy Bears, straight bears, Bear Lanes – all the towns and villages around these parts seem to have a reference somewhere.
Oh, and sheep too.
The Bear (on the corner of Bear Lane and Alfred Street) lays claim to be one of the oldest pubs in Oxford, being first on this site in the 13th century. It isn’t quite as well known as the Eagle and Child (regular watering hole of CS Lewis, Tolkien et al.) but is equally deserving of your attention.
The inside is a pleasing jumble of small rooms, low beams and narrow doorways – it only takes a few people to make the place seem crowded. Adorning the walls and ceilings throughout the bar are thousands of ties; old school ties, society ties, regimental ties – they’re all represented. The story goes that you used to be able to exchange your tie for a pint if they didn’t already have it…or the more rambunctious version has the bar staff cutting ties off the clientele. Choose whichever version you prefer.
The pub has a good range of cask ales – Bass and Batemans being personal favourites that I noticed. The Blonde, in a permanent haze of post-marital excitement, ordered a Bloody Mary. The spicy concoction was duly crafted and she declared it ‘perfection’.
A few tables can be found outside the pub in an adjoining yard and food is served in the middle of the day (we lunched about three). I tucked into slightly overcooked Cajun Chicken and chips (having ordered a Cajun Chicken sandwich) – the house chips were good at any rate, hefty wedges of potato that made up for the disappointing chicken. The Blonde had a salad, not wanting to neutralise the impact of the Bloody Mary, and was pleasantly surprised by its quality – no limp lettuce and tasteless tomatoes at The Bear.
Located as it is just off the main thoroughfares, the Bear was not overcrowded when we stopped by for a late lunch. Considering the crowds elsewhere, this seemed a considerable bonus for somewhere that’s so pleasant. It is tiny and apparently it gets pretty packed at night but it’s popular with locals and that’s a fair measure in my book.
From journal Oxford - spend and be damned!