The Brown Bear Review: A Beast of Old Bankside Over the Door | A pub flying the ancient sign of the bear – a beast that recalls the rough old bear-baiting pits of Bankside, and the heraldic strength of the oldest inn signs
The Bear and Staff Review: The Bear Is Not Metaphorical | Charing Cross Road’s corner pub carries a name from the days when a bear on a chain was an evening’s entertainment
Bloodsports Review: The Name Is a Provocation and We Have Notes | Bear-baiting, bull-baiting, cock-fighting. All legal, all popular, all royally patronised – and all within a mile of this bar.
Thirsty Bear Review: The Bear on the Sign Was Baited | Bankside had bear pits next to the theatres, they were more popular than the plays, and Shakespeare was competing with them
