The Bear  

A picturesque 16th century timbered pub that focuses on food catering. Low slung ceilings are beamed and there are many rooms with nooks and crannies where you can sit at old dark wood kitchen tables and chairs.

The walls are sometimes panelled and have bric-a-brac and prints on them. There are also real fires dotted about for winter warmth, though judging by the amount of custom here sheer body warmth will be enough. Food: on the Sunday we visited it was packed with diners sampling the Stilton mushrooms or goat's cheese on toast with salad, other main more courses were roast beef, venison pie and Sea Bass, pricey but the meat courses were worth it (though not the Sunday roast). Poor vegetarian main selection seeing as the starters were wonderful.

Beers were good Coach House Flintlock Pale Ale, A Batemans Jolly's brew and one other. Both well kept and worth a visit just to drink, but you will be seated at other times by a waiter come bar person.

Outside is a large car park to the rear and seating for 'summer' drinking. The cannon at the front (now removed) saw service in Crimea.

No accommodation here.

Access for the disabled is not good.

Comments
 

What happened to the cannon that was at the entrance of the pub? It was brought back after being captured in the Crimean war? To those of us who have known and used this pub many years ago, going back to the 60s when I was a boy and this pub was still used by the village folk, this loss is dearly felt. (21/11/04)

I love this pub, food great and my husband proposed to me whilst having a meal there, so it will always be special to us! Our friends love it also. (26/1/05)

I wholeheartedly agree with comments (MC 25/3/04) Being local to the area for many years, the Bear used to be a wonderful pub where myself and friends idled many a summer away in the garden and winter away by the fires. Since Ian and Franco left, the food is decidedly average and the waiting times far too long. Although the place still seems to be packed - I think it's trading on it it's past reputation. My family have long since abandoned trying to entertain friends there. Although the location and actual building is still great, sadly there are many better place to eat in and around Coventry. Probably best as a drinking pub now if you can find a space to sit down. (20/4/05)

Now a Chef and brewer house, which says a lot for the food and service now. (7/6/05)

On visiting the Bear at Berkswell last night with a family gathering, I noted once again, food good, prices of drinks extorionate, but the big disappointment was as usual the state of the ladies toilets! The toilet seats do not fit, the inside of the cubicle doors not only need a good wash down, they could also do with a coat of paint, the state of the sinks leave a lot to be desired. It shows a lack of respect for the clients, when they pay so much money for a night out, to have to use shabby toilets, when you bring overseas visitors you cringe! they at first are so impressed by the beautiful surroundings, and lovely old building, but alas are let down when visiting the toilets. I think the Bear Inn is trading on past glories. We had a wonderful night with our family, but were stung on the price of drinks, particularly soft drinks, and the toilet facilities were a big let down. (Patricia Mcfarlane - 22/09/05)


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