At last, Bear Flat has the gastropub it so richly deserves. Gone are the ‘Meal Deals’, lager-led big screen sports events and fusty, musty, smoke-infused furnishings of the old-look Bear. In their place find chef-led homecooking, a rather splendid bar and chunky, contemporary fixtures and fittings. Breakfast is served from 8am every weekday, moving on to fabulous cakes at teatime, a spiffing roast on Sundays and, if you can encourage them to leave the toy mini-kitchen in the corner, the kids get a menu all of their own. Meanwhile, free WiFi, proper baby-changing facilities and a pastry chef who’s happy to make cakes to order add the finishing touches to what’s fast becoming Bear Flat’s ultimate créche. Can’t find it? Look for the huge white polar bear who presides over the entrance – the only remnant of the pub’s previous incarnation that has thankfully been retained.

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