Old White Bear
1 Well RoadLondon
NW3 1LJ
See more about this pub on WhatPub, CAMRA's national pub guide.
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.
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.