The Bear Inn, Oxford

My cask ale adventure in Oxford brought me to The Bear Inn. I love how this beautiful city has so many great pubs to offer, each with their own unique charm and this was no exception. Immediately as I entered I felt right at home. The staff are so welcoming and very knowledgeable. You couldn't hope to meet more friendly people. I chose a pint of 'Oliver's Island' from Fuller's. Gorgeous! This was a perfectly kept beer and served to the highest standard. I could very easily have stayed for another pint but duty called; I only had a short time left in which to explore but I will certainly be heading back to this pub on my next visit to Oxford. Keep proper pubs like this alive and support them; we don't always appreciate how good we have it in the UK with treasures like this pub and others.

The Bear Inn is incredibly cozy — the moment you walk in, you feel as if you’ve been transported straight into the 13th century. The low ceilings, wooden beams, and warm, intimate atmosphere make it one of the most charming pubs in Oxford. It’s the perfect place to relax with a drink and soak in centuries of history. A true hidden gem that captures the spirit of old Oxford. Highly recommended!

The Bear Inn in Oxford is a fantastic spot if you’re looking for a lively yet welcoming atmosphere. With live music setting the tone, it draws in a friendly and trendy crowd, making it easy to feel at home whether you’re with friends or visiting solo. There’s always a sense of warmth here, and the staff add to the charm by keeping the vibe relaxed but upbeat. The outdoor section is a real highlight—comfortable, well laid out, and perfect for enjoying a drink or two. Pair that with a good selection of beers and some tasty food, and it’s easy to see why The Bear Inn has such a great reputation. If you’re in Oxford, it’s definitely worth dropping by—you’ll leave with the sense that you’ve experienced something special.

Great historic 13Century pub - popped in for a pint only the Fullers pints are great as usual! Pub had the old tradition of cutting the end off regimental and institution tie and there are hundreds on the wall!!Bill Clinton had even popped in!

If you are going there to gift a Police Tie to them. Forget about it. They are not accepting anymore. So all the way back to Australia with my police tie I go. Otherwise, the food was great. I had fish and chips and sus had the salad. Yum. Duck your head if you are more than 180 cm.

If you're a tourist on your first trip to Oxford looking for a quintessentially "Oxford" pub, this would be my top recommendation. It's quirkiness lies in the habit for an eccentric former landlord who used to snip off the tips of his customers' ties. These are colourfully displayed on the pub's ceiling. Their claims at dating to the 13th century are a bit of a stretch (there was an older pub also called The Bear on the High. When that closed in the 18th century, a different pub changed its name to the Bear and that is the origin of this pub, so it's still plenty old). The service is good and there is a decent selection of beers and spirits (and soft drinks available of course). The pub is franchised by Fuller's and so it has the usual Fuller's ales and pub grub. It's good! Live spots - usually soccer or ruby - are often shown. You can book tables in advance. There is also a pub garden. Customer toilets

Amazing cheeseburgers 🍔 in a 13th Century Pub. The ties on the walls and ceiling are a perfect touch to the charm!

Stopped by on passing, had a pink gin & lemonade, got fresh strawberries in it too, win! 🍓 It's all about the details and going the extra. Also has a nice big outside seating area with heaters! 🥰

Yes to all the things! We were disappointed that the Eagle/Child had been closed and then stumbled on this. Food options, fantastic. Beer selection, the best we had in England. The service was really good and the ambiance is all you could want in a traditional pub with outdoor seating. Highly recommended

Decent food and a lovely atmosphere. After a few pints, just make sure not to brain yourself upon exiting, as I did. Nice outdoor space as well. The ceilings are quite low.

Neat little pub in Oxford. I can see how this place could get super loud and uncomfortable with its very low ceilings but it was really fun to hang out in a super old pub and enjoy lunch. Good beers, good food, friendly service.

Does it get more British than this pub? The low ceilings, the small tables, and the history. This pub is a must visit in Oxford. Men used to cut off their ties for free pints here. They have ties all over the walls with the names of the men and where they went to school. The bear is a staple and still a great spot for a pint or a bite to eat.

Friendly staff. Quaint indoors with a wood burning fireplace. Plenty of outdoor space. The stairs leading to the ladies toilet is a bit askew, adding to the historic charm of the pub. Enjoyed my meal and the cask ales.

My husband and I went on our own Pub Crawl to see the most historic pubs and this place was awesome - dating back to 1242! THAT'S 774yrs OLD!! Let that sink in. Staff wasn't particularly welcoming but the patrons were real friendly. Tables are great for sharing so it's a good place to meet someone new or just go with friends. A few ppl recommended coming here and you really only see locals so it was a good spot to hang out for an hour. Order your drink and food at the bar and pick it up and wait for it. Not the same method as the USA but it works. Note: Upon walking in, ceiling are approx 5'10 so if you're taller - find yourself a seat! Otherwise the extended area in the back has normal ceilings

Charming little place. I've been in for beers and also for lunch. It was my inaugural sausage roll, and I thought it was delicious. However, I have absolutely no basis for comparison.

Awesome old pub. Ties all over the walls (why?). The food was ok, but the atmosphere made up for it. Huge line at the bar to order but didn't feel too crowded otherwise. I had the roast beef. Only ok. Kinda gamey. Seemed like locals enjoyed it! Beers were alright.

This is all about the authentic British brewpub. I was so fascinated by its low ceiling and warm beer. You can enjoy traditional pub experience here.

Had lunch at this place. Fish and chips were nice. The beef burger was okay. The interior design is cool and relaxing.

My husband and I stumbled upon this place during a walk through Oxford. It's a traditional English pub with the low ceilings and cask ales. They also serve really tasty pub food like meat pies and fish & chips. My husband and I also liked their beer selection. Overall a great place for a casual meal! It gets pretty crowded, even on week nights.

The Bear is the best pub in Oxford. It's owned by Fuller's, which is a pretty good chain as far as pub chains go. Good beers on tap. The menu, however, is their own, which is great. The burger is fantastic and the chips are delicious. The atmosphere is phenomenal. It's a tiny place, with only two rooms, so it gets very crowded. There is some outdoor seating around back, but most of the time the English climate does not cooperate. The larger, back room, has clipping of neckties from all over the world and from various academic and social organizations, mostly from the 1950s-1960s, which is always a fun distraction. The front, smaller room, has a large table and a fireplace. It's a very homey, intimate atmosphere, and it's one of the most unique places I've found in Oxford. The prices are reasonable, the food is excellent, and the atmosphere is unbeatable. You might have to come back several times if you're dead-set on a table, but it's definitely worth it.

A great little (very little) pub down a quiet ally with barrels of charm. The main bar area is probably larger than a particularly large broom cupboard and the back room is only only just bigger than that. But that hardly matters as it's the cramped and crooked appearance which the oldest of city pubs have that wins you over. Good pubs have a choice of good ales and The Bear offers several. Good pubs also offer some good food and The Bear's food of choice is the burger - although, there are a few other alternatives. Four different burgers including a veggie goats cheese and Portobello mushroom burger containing a huge wedge of cheese (as big as a hearty beef burger!) and another called the "Polar Bear". That's also huge with two burgers, three buns and a lavishing of other stuff too. All very nice. The back room has the biggest quirk in this pub, however. Or, to be more precise, hundreds of quirks. Ties. Hundreds of ties in cases all around the walls and even covering the ceiling. Presumably they've all been donated from folks at the surrounding colleges but I honestly don't know where they're from or just why they are all displayed here. Each tie (well, section of a tie, they've all been trimmed down to a smaller size by the looks of things) has a name and date with it. I've no idea what it's all about but it is quite an impassive haul. The staff were friendly, attentive and knowledgable too. Go to The Bear, you'll like it. TTFN, Ian

This was the first stop on our historic pub crawl. It's got character (low ceilings, tie clippings, established in 1242, definitely a locals kind of place) and free wifi, but the drink and menu selection is pretty limited. We were there pretty early in the evening, and managed to find a few stools together, but I can see how it would be full in no time. I'm glad I've been, but wouldn't be at the top of my list to return.

Small pub tucked away on a back street. Very historic, very quaint, very, very small. Just a few tables but you can drink outside. The selection of beers/ales is modest but I had a HSB and it was really good. I was not familiar with it so the bartender gave me a taste. Nice touch. I really liked the vibe and the history that oozes from the walls. They claim to be the oldest pub in Oxford. I believe it. Will return for sure. Pints are reasonable at less than 4 pounds each.

Lovely old-school pub in which, some years ago, I used to spend a lot of time ( I lived around the corner). Notable not merely for its tie collection, but also the timeless, cosy dark wood ambience; the perfect spot for a restorative afternoon pint should you find yourself Christmas shopping in Oxford, for example.

I want to rate this place higher because it was established in 1242 but between the smell, the uncomfortable seating, and the poor drink selection, I can't say I'm impressed. I did enjoy the fact that I feel like a tall giant in this place because of how low the ceilings are; silly short people in the Old Days. So, in short summary: Worth dropping into for the history, but not worth lingering.

Deadly pub, heart of Oxford, trimmings from ties from people all over. If you're over six feet, however, you may bang your head. Good food, well-kept ales, not too full of wankers, and you can usually get a drink. They sort of cheat by calling it the oldest pub in Oxford - but not at these premises. Still, it's a good one.

Packed chocka full of people, steam rising from the walls, cut-off old boy's ties in glass cabinets around the walls and at least three different real ales to choose from? What more do I need to say. This is a great little find if you're new to Oxford, and if you're and old hand, well worth returning to on a regular basis. If you happen in here on a night when the Christchurch crowd have some posh event they're all lauding over you can laugh at them in their black tie. Catch it on a quiet Sunday and you can enjoy one of the benches in the front room or settle down for a decent chat around one of the more sizeable tables in the back. They have McCoys, which is always important for me. The staff didn't used to be so over-friendly, but I was in here the other night and was pleasantly surprised. I guess the thought of all those Christchurch folk heading home at the end of Michaelmas term cheers the staff. Don't blame them. If you're lucky enough to be enjoying Oxford in the summer then try the outside seating at the bear. I've wasted many an afternoon here. The old hooky and the McCoys go down a treat.

The Bear claims to be the oldest pub in Oxford, and it certainly feels delightfully vintage. Check out the display of old ties! Not much explanation or reason, but hey, who needs one anyway! It's a nice mixture of locals, students and the odd, intrepid tourist, but is difficult to find if you don't know it already exists. It's still always really busy, so expect to wait a while at the bar and for your food. Still, service isn't unreasonably slow, and it's nice on a cold evening to cram in and absorb the warm and bubbly atmosphere. They do vintage ales and a reasonable range of soft drinks for the non-drinkers and drivers out there. The prices aren't extortionate, but are sadly in line with central Oxford rates, so maybe best to pretend you're paying a 'lovely old pub tax' to soften the blow of an otherwise very down-to-earth place. They used to do a quiz at 8:30 every Monday, which was very popular. It's worth checking if they still do, as it was a real cracker. I definitely recommend turning up early if so though, and don't expect it to be an easy win!

The Bear Tavern is a great pub - at least visit it once whilst in Oxford. It is pretty small and can be pretty busy so you have to time it right. If you are going for lunch get there around noon or just before rather than a little later when its so busy. The food is the typical burgers etc but they have some very good vegetarian options. And the menu isnt badly priced. The atmosphere is very good, warm and homely and it reminds you that you are in oxford with all the different college and boating ties decorating the walls. The feel of the pub is quite old and traditional. The ceiling is low, and there is a lot of old creaky wood about. The ales are good as there is a large range of traditional ales to choose from. I probably wouldnt eat here but i would pop in for one at the beginning of my evening out - or just during the afternoon.

An enduring Oxford classic that's continued to do the simple things well, and has succeeded for it. The cut-off tie collection which adorns every wall and ceiling in the back room, and most other spare surfaces, is what the Bear is most famous for; but it's worth visiting for the wonderful atmosphere as much as that oft-cited curiosity. The range of ales is magnificent, and there's normally a guest or two on to make things more interesting; the small size adds to the charm (and in the summer is extended by the tables in the courtyard area behind the pub); and the food is more than adequate. Although it occasionally gets filled by groups of tourists or by sports teams, they normally move on fairly quickly, leaving it to the regular mix of its regulars and some of the more down-to-earth students.

They claim this is the oldest pub in Oxford dating back to 1242 and I believe it. This place feels like an institution. It's clear the folks were once much shorter back in the day, as the space is hobbit sized with lower ceilings and a tiny door. The close quarters, warm fire and traditional wood tables lend to a super cozy feel. The London Pride and ESB went down smooth. I would definitely go back to revisit this little gem for some pub food, or just to spend hours drinking pints and playing cards.

Good service, iced tea available in cute little jars, and good beers on tap. Also incredibly interesting historically - not only the oldest pub in Oxford, but also lined with old ties from various Oxford University societies. It was packed out and there was nowhere to sit, which was a shame, but an otherwise delightful little pub.

Delicious food! Delicious cider! I went traditional with a steak and ale pie and it was quite delicious. The mashed potatoes were homemade as well. If you're a foreigner, you'll be glad to know they have free wifi (if you have a hard time living without your interweb-connected smart phone like me). It's also cool to know you're stepping into a pub older than your country. The ties on the walls and ceilings from oxford university athletes are an interesting touch as well.

If only it was not a Fullers pub . One of the smallest pubs I have ever been in . Small range of real ale ok standard . They had a duo on doing a turn , thankfully they were very thin . Other than that its reputedly oldest surviving pub in Oxford and its quaint and cosy .

This is the oldest pub in Oxford. It's a cute little quiet place with 6 foot ceilings and a nice outdoor seating area. I frequented this pub for the 5 weeks I was in Oxford, but only for drinks, never food, although the food looked and smelled great. The prices are on the higher side with even cheap beer over £3. Great little spot to enjoy one or two cask ales before going out to a club.

Still an Oxford classic and the beer remains excellent unlike some of the other popular Oxford pubs in the vicinity where the beer, sadly, has become undrinkable.

A lovely little pub, this. Very small, with a low ceiling I'm 6 foot 4, so this is a serious danger after a few jars and very cosy, with a good range of drinks, decent staff, and a charmingly daft collection of cut-off ties over all the walls. There are lots of good pubs in Oxford and this is one of them definitely worth popping in for a pint. It's often busy (probably as it's so central) but has an outside seating area if you really can't find a seat. Probably too small and busy to stay for hours and hours, but a lovely spot for a quick pint.

It's the cutest, the oldest and traditional english pub in the heart of Oxford! Good food and beer! Something different

Even though I never encountered the ghost they told me about there, me and my friends had a great time at the Bear. Going at least once a week for drinks and to play trivia.

The Oldest pub in Oxford. Lots of low bowed beams and fine ales to choose from. Not a huge amount of seating so really hard to get a drink there on a hot day in the summer. Definitely a site to see though! Dates from the 1300's. Lots of Oxford University ties to look at around the whole pub!

We had a great time here on a trip to Oxford a couple years back. It really is a hobbit hole, with very low ceilings and little outside light, but the beer is excellent and the staff and patrons friendly.

Well this is definitely the smallest pub I've ever been to but it's part of its charm. Definitely not for the claustrophobic as even my shorter friends could touch the ceiling in one of the rooms but lovely atmosphere and definitely worth a visit even if you can only manage the one drink!

Great atmosphere. Usually have good seasonal drinks. Often have to wait for a table, though there's outdoor seating when the weather is decent. (Never eaten here.)

This pub serves pretty much the best pub food in town, no matter what other Broad-street located businesses claim. It's a very small place, so it is always quite hard to find a place to sit. The service is good and friendly, I never had to wait long for either drinks or food.

The Bear was a fixture from my student days (Corpus) some time back (ahem.) Wonderful spot. Many great conversations with many great and interesting people. Some things never get old, even when they are ancient.