Bear Diary

There have been some significant changes at the Bear over the last couple of months. The tenancy of the Bear and Ragged Staff has been acquired by a group led by myself, Mark Greenwood. I have been living in the Middle East and Asia for 30 years, However, but I never forgot the good times I used to have in pubs when I was growing up in Manchester. A year after my return to Britain with my two daughters, Carmel and Noelle, after looking at hundreds of pubs, I discovered the Bear and immediately fell in love with it. I have made up my mind to devote my time in Oxford to putting it where it belongs, right at the top of the Oxford pub and social scene. I am very excited about realizing the huge potential of this stunning English landmark!

Apart from the menus, you will be happy to know that not much is going to change in the restaurant. I agree that the current set up is very pleasing to the eye and is exceptionally well suited to catering for parties of every nature. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! However, we HAVE brought radical change to the food line up! Our new lunch and dinner menus will

  • emphasise local and organic ingredients, wherever appropriate
  • offer hearty English style country cooking with a few guest dishes from the continent
  • be changed every 4-6 weeks to reflect the changing seasons and feature steak and game as well as traditional pub favourites

As far as the old pub is concerned, alterations have been completed and have, especially in the pub area, recovered the original "feel" of this beautiful 600 year old building that has been used as a pub for over 160 years. We have re-exposed the old stone and wooden floors covered for years with carpet and cement and have redecorated in such a way as to create a more traditional and homely atmosphere.

Mark and myself look forward to welcoming you all back to a Bear and Ragged Staff that is true to its own very interesting history which will also provide a first class dining and drinking experience!

THE BEAR REALLY IS BACK, WITH A VENGEANCE, come up to our lair in Cumnor for a hug!

Mark Greenwood
Proprietor