Bear Inn, Oxford

Although the Bear Inn’s claim to be “Oxford’s oldest pub” is open to question, people who appreciate character and history with their real ale won’t be disappointed. This tiny, low-ceilinged pub has a small front room with real fire and slightly larger rear room with wood panelling and brass bell pushes from the days of waiter service, and has been held dear by generations of students (see the poem “Ode to the Followers of the Bear” framed in the front room), townspeople, and celebrities. The historic interior is listed by CAMRA and it is a ‘tied’ house in more ways than one, notable for its framed collections of over 4,000 mainly college and sporting tie remnants started in 1954. Although the present building dates from 1606, when used as an ostlers’ house, it was first recorded as an inn, the Jolly Trooper, in 1774 and took the name of the much larger coaching inn called the Bear, dating from the 13th century, which ran all the way from the present site to the High Street, when it was demolished in 1801. There is a large pavement seating area off Blue Boar Street to boost the pub’s capacity. The easiest way of finding it is to take Blue Boar Street, alongside the Town Hall.