The Bear
296a Camberwell New Road SE5 0RP
Tel: 0207 274 7037
http://www.thebear-freehouse.co.uk/
A former Victorian gin palace, Bear free house retains the ambience while having been refurbished and thoroughly polished from top to bottom, shining dark wood surfaces and chrome handpumps gleaming alluringly in the light. Boasting a horseshoe bar and some rather tasteful decor, Bear feels like just the sort of local pub you hope to find at the bottom of your street. The fact that it sits on a particularly unsalubrious stretch of Camberwell New Road, near the bus depot, makes its unexpected delights all the more delightful. Here the refreshingly extensive range of beers is wide and innovative, with an annual beer festival bringing in the outsiders. Wine affecionados are also catered for, with a good and thoughtful selection. We hear the food is excellent, and there’s a back room, bedecked with quirky ornaments, in which to eat it. The Bear staff are friendly, the crowd is local, and the weekly quiz has been described as “camp.” It certainly feels gay-friendly, and is a fine addition to the Camberwell bar scene.
