Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 54 and Version 14 of Bear, SE5 0RP

Version 54 Version 14
== Line 0 == == Line 0 ==
Pub in [[Locale Camberwell|Camberwell]], on Camberwell New Road, with a focus on craft beer.
 Nice pub on the [[Locale Camberwell|Camberwell]] New Road. It's quite large inside, with two separate rooms. Decor is dark wood, polished floorboards, wooden chairs and tables, long banquette along one wall. Windows are unfrosted and of reasonable size, so it's quite light towards the front. There's a beer garden out the back.
== Line 2 == == Line 2 ==
<b>Note:</b> The Bear [https://twitter.com/TheBearSE5/status/929322683246006272 closed for refurbishment] in November 2017, but is due to [https://twitter.com/TheBearSE5/status/920611554449641472 reopen in 6 to 8 months] due to their landlord refurbishing the upstairs to make 7 flats.
 On [[AndrewB]]'s August 2007 visit, he learned that they plan to rotate both the food menu and the beer range, and to support independent brewers and offer unusual and hard-to-find ales.
== Line 4 == == Line 4 ==
It previously reopened under new management in April 2016 after a period of closure, and is quite different from how it was before (see <a href="http://london.randomness.org.uk/wiki.cgi?id=Bear%2C_SE5_0RP&version=41">earlier version of this page</a> for what it was like then).
 [[Kake]] visited on a Friday evening in August 2008. Service was very friendly, and the young chap behind the bar was eager to make sure I knew about their beer festival offer - &pound;5 for a half each of the three festival beers, which at the time were Skinners Cornish Knockers, Cotleigh Golden Seahawk, and Rudgate Ruby Mild (the beer festival continues until 20 September 2008). I only had time for a swift half, so I restricted myself to the Ruby Mild (&pound;1.65/half), which was just fine.
== Line 6 == == Line 6 ==
It still has two rooms with painted brickwork <small>[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChE-RAAWgAEzOi8.jpg photo]</small>. There are a small number of tables on the pavement, and the old (small) beer garden is out the back with a couple of tables, if that.
 When I arrived at 6pm the place was almost empty, and it remained so when I left at 6:30pm - a shame, since it seems to be a really nice pub. The food looks interesting too; see food board photos [http://flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/2809538507/ 1] and [http://flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/2809547007/ 2]. I would happily come back, and I might even organise an RGL outing here some time.
== Line 8 == == Line 8 ==
It has four handpumps and 16 keg taps. On [[secretlondon]]'s May 2016 visit, as well as the beers <small>[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cg_Je4zW4AInta9.jpg photo of beer list]</small> they had one draft lager by Brewdog and one cask and one keg cider. Cask beer was about &pound;4/pint, and keg beer between &pound;4.50 and &pound;6.
 As of August 2007, food was served 6pm–10pm Monday to Saturday. As of August 2008, brunch was served noon–3pm Saturday, and roast served noon–5pm (or until sold out) Sunday. Probably no food Sunday evenings.
== Line 10 == == Line 10 ==
[[secretlondon]] has visited a couple of times since the reopening, both in May 2016. On one visit on a weekday evening it was quite quiet. I had a few beers and it was quite pleasant. I came back on a Saturday evening around 7pm and it was unpleasantly noisy, with lots of loud groups, banging on the tables, and raucous laughter. A young middle class crowd (almost?) entirely white. It was quieter in the back bar but it was filling up and getting noisier.
 Quiz night is Tuesday; the quiz starts at 8pm and there is a cash prize.
== Line 12 == == Line 12 ==
There was a table full of board games but it didn't look like anyone was playing them. They don't do pub quizzes any more and seem to have one off live music.
 Accessibility: a step up at the entrance, but level access to the bar, seating areas, and toilets once you're in, also to at least part of the beer garden.
== Line 14 ==
They do food, but as before it's quite upmarket and expensive. As of May 2016, mains start at about &pound;10 <small>[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CiMTGqqWsAAX2Jl.jpg photo of menu]</small>, and they do brunch at weekends <small>[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ch2F1jXXEAA6nRv.jpg photo of menu]</small>.

[[secretlondon]]'s verdict: The selection of beer is good. The clientele on Saturday night were too much for me but it's probably fine during the week.
== Line 19 == == Line 15 ==
* [https://whatpub.com/pubs/SEL/10865/ WhatPub entry]
 * [http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/comments.shtml/31853/ Beer In The Evening comments]
* [http://www.fancyapint.com/pubs/pub3738.html Fancyapint review]
* [http://www.london-eating.co.uk/30101.htm London Eating comments]
* [http://squealpiggy.co.uk/?p=7 Squeal Piggy review]
* [http://www.timeout.com/london/bars/reviews/12675.html Time Out review]
* [http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1c64l76/ Trusted Places comments]
== Line 21 == == Line 22 ==
<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[secretlondon]], May 2016. Opening hours taken from Facebook page, May 2016.</div>
 <div class="last_verified">Food times and opening hours taken from the Bear website, August 2007 and August 2008. Quiz night details supplied by anonymous visitor, January 2008 (but day and time backed up by sign seen in pub, August 2008).</div>
== Line 23 == == Line 24 ==
category='Beer Garden,Good Beer Guide 2010,Good Beer Guide 2011,Good Beer Guide 2012,Good Beer Guide 2013,Good Beer Guide 2014,Pub Food,Pubs,Real Ale,Real Cider,Temporarily Closed'
edit_type='Minor tidying'
fax='TheBearSE5'
formatted_website_text=''
host='81.187.166.218'
hours_text='Mon-Thu: 5pm-midnight; Fri: 5pm-2am; Sat: 11am-2am; Sun: 11am-midnight'
 category='Beer Gardens,Food Served Evenings,Pubs,Real Ale,Real Cider'
edit_type='Normal edit'
fax=''
formatted_website_text='http://www.thebear-freehouse.co.uk/ '
host='213.165.225.132'
hours_text='4pm-11pm Mon-Fri; noon-11pm Sat; noon-10:30pm Sun'
== Line 32 == == Line 34 ==
major_change='0'
 major_change='1'
== Line 38 == == Line 40 ==
opening_hours_text='Mon-Thu: 5pm-midnight; Fri: 5pm-2am; Sat: 11am-2am; Sun: 11am-midnight'
 opening_hours_text='4pm-11pm Mon-Fri; noon-11pm Sat; noon-10:30pm Sun'
== Line 41 == == Line 43 ==
phone='07807 217733'
 phone='020 7274 7037'
== Line 43 == == Line 45 ==
summary='Temporarily-closed craft beer pub on Camberwell New Road.' website='http://www.thebear-freehouse.co.uk/' summary='Recently converted pub on the Camberwell New Road.'
summary='Temporarily-closed craft beer pub on Camberwell New Road.' website='http://www.thebear-freehouse.co.uk/'

Nice pub on the Camberwell New Road. It's quite large inside, with two separate rooms. Decor is dark wood, polished floorboards, wooden chairs and tables, long banquette along one wall. Windows are unfrosted and of reasonable size, so it's quite light towards the front. There's a beer garden out the back.

On AndrewB's August 2007 visit, he learned that they plan to rotate both the food menu and the beer range, and to support independent brewers and offer unusual and hard-to-find ales.

Kake visited on a Friday evening in August 2008. Service was very friendly, and the young chap behind the bar was eager to make sure I knew about their beer festival offer - £5 for a half each of the three festival beers, which at the time were Skinners Cornish Knockers, Cotleigh Golden Seahawk, and Rudgate Ruby Mild (the beer festival continues until 20 September 2008). I only had time for a swift half, so I restricted myself to the Ruby Mild (£1.65/half), which was just fine.

When I arrived at 6pm the place was almost empty, and it remained so when I left at 6:30pm - a shame, since it seems to be a really nice pub. The food looks interesting too; see food board photos 1 and 2. I would happily come back, and I might even organise an RGL outing here some time.

As of August 2007, food was served 6pm–10pm Monday to Saturday. As of August 2008, brunch was served noon–3pm Saturday, and roast served noon–5pm (or until sold out) Sunday. Probably no food Sunday evenings.

Quiz night is Tuesday; the quiz starts at 8pm and there is a cash prize.

Accessibility: a step up at the entrance, but level access to the bar, seating areas, and toilets once you're in, also to at least part of the beer garden.

See also:

Food times and opening hours taken from the Bear website, August 2007 and August 2008. Quiz night details supplied by anonymous visitor, January 2008 (but day and time backed up by sign seen in pub, August 2008).

List all versions