Bear, Bathback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A prominent and good sized pub on the main Wells Road out of Bath, it doesn’t look particularly inviting from the outside and I was expecting to find some type of run down sports bar. Consequently it was quite a surprise when I got inside and found a pub that looks as though it has perhaps been recently refurbished and is split about 50/50 between pub and restaurant. In fact I’d go as far as to say that even the non-restaurant part didn’t feel particularly pubby, and I felt that in some ways it has a bit of an identity crisis – is it a pub, a restaurant, or a café?
It’s an L-shape pub with similar décor throughout, consisting of a light, tiled floor and pale green paintwork, with darker green wood panelling on the lower half of the walls. The restaurant area is to the right, and here all of the tables were laid up for food with many of them being reserved. The other half to the left and around the corner had somewhat limited seating unless you were part of a large group – there were a couple of tables that would sit eight or ten, and only a few smaller ones. There were also a couple of chocolate brown leather armchairs and some low tables. A large bay window to one side let in plenty of light, and there was a plasma on the wall at the rear, although this was not in use on our visit.
There were various small items of artwork on the walls, and these consisted mostly of single colour drawings of well-known landmarks, many of them local but some further afield. There were also some colourful photographs of the local area which were for sale, and I daresay that these are popular with the visitors staying in the adjacent hotel. A selection of cakes in a display case at the end of the bar hinted further at the pub’s café credentials.
In spite of all this, there were nonetheless a good range of beers on tap, consisting of Robinson’s Hoptimum Prime, Doom Bar, Adam Henson’s Rare Breed from Butcombe, Bellringer and Dartmoor IPA. Ciders were Thatcher’s Gold and Stowford Press.
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Overpriced, underwhelming service and food. Poor service. Sells Bath in a bad light to tired tourists staying in the area
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Went to the Bear with two other families. Its was very busy but there was no excuse for the poor service we received. The manager (Jo) clearly had had a bad day, after being over charged for drink's there was no apology indeed "because we'd had so much to drink we didn't know what we'd ordered & anyway we haven't charged you for the glass that got broken (by a three year old child)". It's a shame because I've been told the owner is a decent bloke & the food was fine & the staff on the whole were good but with a manager with this kind of attitude I'd not recommend the place to anyone.
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This pub has just been referbished. The new interior is very pleasant, although more sofas would be good! The beer is well kept, and the food is good, but rather pricey. There are worse pubs around but there are also better locally.
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The pub has re-opened under new management, & its brilliant! Gorgeous, stylish interior, great food (not too expensive either), fab beer & good events. Try their Sunday lunch.
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been closed for months (so dont know how those Aussies managed to annoy anyone) Rumoured to be re-opening soon. Lets hope its better than before.
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full of aussie scom bags. Why oh why don'tthese people just go back home where they belong?
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great pub the new manager is really friendly and the new menu is fantastic you should try it out
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Been back to the pub, lively entertainment every friday night and karoake once a month, very busy and food is excellent!
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This pub has currently been taken over by aussies.The publican is friendly so is the staff.A new chef and new staff apparently become very busy worth a look
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A short word about the Bear, NO ! at least it's got a bus stop outside. Even better idea, go to the CO-OP buy a can of warm John Smiths and drink in bus stop. For a better night out buy a ginsters pasty too.
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Good pub on the top of Wellsway. Does excellent pub grub.
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