Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 54 and Version 17 of Bear, SE5 0RP

Version 54 Version 17
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Pub in [[Locale Camberwell|Camberwell]], on Camberwell New Road, with a focus on craft beer.
Nice pub on the [[Locale Camberwell|Camberwell]] New Road.
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<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.
It's quite large inside, with two separate rooms. Decor is dark wood, polished floorboards, wooden chairs and tables, long banquette along one wall and rather distinctive modern chrome handpumps. Windows are unfrosted and of reasonable size, so it's quite light towards the front. There's a small beer garden out the back.
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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).
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, a policy which is borne out by the beer festival they were holding during August and September 2008.
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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.
[[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.
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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.
There are four hand-pulls, in modern chrome, and ales change regularly, but are all well-kept. Draught lagers on offer were Budvar, Leffe, Red Stripe, Peroni and a couple of others, and there was also Stowford Press cider. There's quite a lengthy wine list, and from the evidence of the house red, good quality as well.
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[[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.
When [[Kake]] 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. It wasn't too empty on [[Ewan]]'s visit around 9pm on a Thursday, as there were only two or three free tables, but it was far from unpleasantly crowded.
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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.
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. According to signs in the pub in September, they have a pie and ale night on Monday (a pint of ale plus a pie for &pound;10), and a set menu on Wednesday and Thursday nights (two courses for &pound;12 and three for &pound;15), with a couple of choices for each course (both advertised mains were meat-based on [[Ewan]]'s visit). Two additional specials on the night were marked on a chalkboard outside the pub.
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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>.
[[Ewan]] had a Jerusalem artichoke, potato, spinach and cheese 'pie', served in a substantial sized Le Creuset dish, with a layer of shortcrust pastry on top <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/2875124213/ photo]</small> It was served extremely hot, straight from the oven, and was also extremely tasty, and though a fairly pricy &pound;10, was worth it. Sides are sold separately for &pound;3 each (French beans, mixed salad, new potato, carrots and the like). Although only I was eating a main, they brought an extra plate and some spoons in case I wanted to share it with Jo. The chocolate fondant and ice cream dessert (&pound;4.50) was also quite tasty. Service was very friendly.
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[[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.
Quiz night is Tuesday; the quiz starts at 8pm, entry is &pound;2 and the winner takes the cash collected.
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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.

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* [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
]
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<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[secretlondon]], May 2016. Opening hours taken from Facebook page, May 2016.</div>
<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Kake]], [[doop]], [[Ewan]] and Jo, 20 September 2008. Food times and opening hours taken from the Bear website, August 2007 and August 2008. Quiz night and food details taken from sign in pub, September 2008.</div>
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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'
category='Beer Gardens,Food Served Evenings,Pubs,Real Ale,Real Cider'
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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'
fax=''
formatted_website_text='http://www.thebear-freehouse.co.uk/ '
host='81.152.204.107'
hours_text='4pm-11pm Mon-Fri; noon-11pm Sat; noon-10:30pm Sun'
== Line 38 == == Line 46 ==
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'
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phone='07807 217733'
phone='020 7274 7037'
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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 and rather distinctive modern chrome handpumps. Windows are unfrosted and of reasonable size, so it's quite light towards the front. There's a small 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, a policy which is borne out by the beer festival they were holding during August and September 2008.

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.

There are four hand-pulls, in modern chrome, and ales change regularly, but are all well-kept. Draught lagers on offer were Budvar, Leffe, Red Stripe, Peroni and a couple of others, and there was also Stowford Press cider. There's quite a lengthy wine list, and from the evidence of the house red, good quality as well.

When Kake 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. It wasn't too empty on Ewan's visit around 9pm on a Thursday, as there were only two or three free tables, but it was far from unpleasantly crowded.

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. According to signs in the pub in September, they have a pie and ale night on Monday (a pint of ale plus a pie for £10), and a set menu on Wednesday and Thursday nights (two courses for £12 and three for £15), with a couple of choices for each course (both advertised mains were meat-based on Ewan's visit). Two additional specials on the night were marked on a chalkboard outside the pub.

Ewan had a Jerusalem artichoke, potato, spinach and cheese 'pie', served in a substantial sized Le Creuset dish, with a layer of shortcrust pastry on top photo It was served extremely hot, straight from the oven, and was also extremely tasty, and though a fairly pricy £10, was worth it. Sides are sold separately for £3 each (French beans, mixed salad, new potato, carrots and the like). Although only I was eating a main, they brought an extra plate and some spoons in case I wanted to share it with Jo. The chocolate fondant and ice cream dessert (£4.50) was also quite tasty. Service was very friendly.

Quiz night is Tuesday; the quiz starts at 8pm, entry is £2 and the winner takes the cash collected.

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:

Last visited by Kake, doop, Ewan and Jo, 20 September 2008. Food times and opening hours taken from the Bear website, August 2007 and August 2008. Quiz night and food details taken from sign in pub, September 2008.

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