Pub in London NW3
Old White Bear
1 Well Road, London, NW3 1LJClosest station: Hampstead, about 5 min walk4.4out of 5 on Google, from 238 ratings
Details last checked October 2024. Things may have changed since.
About Old White Bear
Chic gastropub with open fires, stripped door surrounds, 19th-century dressers and tiled tabletops.
Reopened on 15th Dec 2021 - see https://www.oldwhitebear.com/. Three cask beers were available on a visit in Sept 2024 and these are shown. The pub is run by Northern Union Pubs which is owned by the team who set up the Leeds Brewery (now closed and beer brewed at Kirkstall). This is their third pub in north London, all follow the theme of having been taken on after being closed.
£4 a pint on all real ales on Mondays all day, on Tuesdays from noon to 5pm.
https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/business/old-bear-pub-opening-in-time-for-christmas-8547544?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
http://camdennewjournal.com/article/historic-old-white-bear-pub-in-hampstead-will-open-again From London Drinker magazine -
"There is promising news about the Old White Bear in Hampstead. According to reports in two local papers, the Ham & High and the Camden New Journal (both 1 September), the pub, which has been closed since 2014, will be open again before Christmas. Sam Moss, who already operates the nearby Haverstock Tavern, has taken a lease on the ground floor and basement from owners, the Max Barney Pub Company and renovation work was in progress in early September. Mr Moss, who also owns the Leeds Brewery, told the Ham & High, “We want to reopen it as a pub at the heart of the community, a proper boozer. We'll do some food as well but it’s going to be very, very much a pub.”
This is a well deserved triumph for the local community, in particular the Save the Old White Bear campaign, who have defended the pub against development plans and other odd events for seven years. This includes obtaining and recently renewing its Asset of Community Value listing. They never gave up hope of getting their pub back and it is looking as if it was worth the effort."
The layout and shape of the pub will look familiar to previous users and the bar remains in the same position. The central area in front of the bar is for drinkers with bar stools available, the side rooms both have with fireplaces. Both rooms have large wooden bench style tables and a parquet floor extends throughout.
We have retained an old picture of the pub being how it looked before closure.
Description from WhatPub, CAMRA’s pub guide, with a summary from Google Maps.
Features
- Dog Friendly
- Outdoor Seating: Seating at front might be summer only
- Real Fire
- Live Music: Irish Folk First Friday of the Month
- Serves Food
- Serves Lunch
- Serves Dinner
- Vegetarian Options
- Real Ale
- Serves LocAle
- Function Room: Function space and private bar can accommodate up to 40 people seated and 80 people standing.
- Events: Hampstead Comedy Club Every second Thursday of the month, Open Mic Every Tuesday, Quiz Night Every Wednesday
- Disabled Access
- Reservable
- Good for Groups
- Serves Coffee
- Accepts Credit Cards
- Accepts Debit Cards
- Accepts NFC
Opening times
- Monday
- 12:00 – 11:00 PM
- Tuesday
- 12:00 – 11:00 PM
- Wednesday
- 12:00 – 11:00 PM
- Thursday
- 12:00 – 11:00 PM
- Friday
- 12:00 – 11:00 PM
- Saturday
- 12:00 – 11:00 PM
- Sunday
- 12:00 – 10:00 PM
As listed in October 2024. Hours change, and bank holidays differ: check with the pub.
Good to know
- Operator
- Northern Union Pubs
- Price
- 2 out of 4 (Google’s price level)
- Phone
- 020 4553 0602
Photos
Photos from Google Maps contributors, stored when the pub was last checked.
Google rating and reviews
4.4out of 5 on Google, from 238 ratings
5 out of 5John Carr (Corinne and John)on Google, September 2024
Very good pub about five minutes walk from Hampstead underground station. Three cask beers on handpump when I visited. Four outside tables at the front, a couple of them with umbrellas. We had a decent lunch including Korean wings, whitebait, hummus with pitta, and a big green salad with tenderstem broccoli. Very friendly and helpful lady serving us.
5 out of 5Juno Ormistonon Google, April 2024
We had our evening party here after getting married in Burgh House. Staff were amazing and so helpful, I cannot thank them enough. The event space is large with room for a dance floor and there is a small bar - but we used it as a cake serving area. Would highly recommend!
3 out of 5GayVeggieTravelon Google, December 2023
Cosy pub with a fireplace close to Hampstead High Street. Two vegetarians for whom the menu was quite limited - had to opt for starter + sides and one main to get variety. The starter goats salad was small but tasty. The mains were good too, especially the roast potatoes! Sticky toffee pudding was quite disappointing as there was no sauce to speak of and the cake was a bit dry and chalky. Overall an average meal, quite expensive for a pub, with good service throughout.
5 out of 5charlie hallon Google, December 2023
Super friendly staff that are a real credit to this gem of a pub. I also had the best pub sunday roast I've ever had. Wonderful rare beef, cauli cheese included, and no ridiculous charge for extra gravy like at the wells up the road. Will certainly be back!
5 out of 5David Strikeron Google, October 2023
Sam and I did a pub crawl in Hampstead and this was the second pub of the day. This was our first visit to this pub and we both liked it a lot. Bar service was friendly. I had a half pint of Siren Soundwave IPA, 5.6%. Pub and toilets were clean.
Rating and reviews are from Google Maps, as they stood in October 2024. See the latest on Google Maps.