The Bear, Oxshott: A Fresh New Chapter for a Much-Loved Surrey Pub.
There’s something deeply comforting about a proper local pub, the kind that feels woven into the fabric of a village. So, when I heard The Bear in Oxshott had reopened after a full refurbishment, I was immediately curious. Oxshott is already one of those places that feels quietly special, nestled near the Surrey Hills with that perfect mix of countryside charm and understated luxury. A revamped pub here has a lot to live up to and after visiting, I can safely say The Bear is well on its way to becoming the kind of place people plan their week around.
Following an extensive top-to-toe refurbishment, The Bear has reopened with a fresh new look, new menus, and a clear focus on what makes a pub truly great: warm hospitality, great food, and a welcoming space where everyone feels at home.
And the best part? It still feels like a pub. Just a very good one.
First impressions: cosy heritage meets modern style
One of the most appealing things about The Bear is how beautifully it blends traditional pub character with contemporary touches. The interior has been redesigned with settle seating, mixed-height furniture, and a relaxed layout that suits everything from popping in for a quick drink to settling in for a long meal with friends.
It’s the kind of refurbishment that doesn’t erase history but refreshes it, keeping the soul of the space intact while giving it a stylish, polished update.
Outside, the terrace is a real “sun trap,” upgraded with fresh decking and festoon lighting. Even on an evening visit, you can tell it’s going to be the place to be once summer truly arrives.
A pub that actually feels like a community hub
What I love most about The Bear’s new chapter is its focus on bringing people together. This isn’t just a place to eat, it’s being positioned as a genuine community pub again, complete with an events calendar that includes weekly quizzes, monthly steak nights, and Friday seafood specials.
It feels like the team behind it really understands that a great pub isn’t just about food and drink, it’s about atmosphere, connection, and those spontaneous evenings that turn into your favourite memories.
Drinks worth lingering over
The drinks list is impressively well thought out. Alongside a strong selection of cask ales, IPAs and pale ales, The Bear is serving crowd-pleasing favourites like Hawkstone and Jubel Peach, giving the bar offering a modern edge that feels perfectly suited to relaxed pub afternoons.
The spritz menu is also worth mentioning — playful, seasonal and dangerously easy to drink. Highlights include:
- Martini Spritz with olives
- White Sangria with peach Burnt Faith
- Raspberry Honeybee with Beesou honey
On our visit, we started with the Cooler Pineapple & Yuzu refreshing, tropical and ideal for easing into the evening. We also tried the Raspberry Honeybee made with Sapling Raspberry & Hibiscus Vodka, Beesou Honey and Fever-Tree. It was beautifully balanced, not overly sweet, and felt like the kind of cocktail you’d happily order again (and again).
Wine lovers will also be pleased, the list is varied, with bottles from across the globe. We enjoyed a glass of The Chocolate Block (South Africa), a bold, rich red with deep dark fruit notes that paired wonderfully with our mains.
Even better, there’s a thoughtful alcohol-free offering too, including a 0% Amalfi or Berry Hugo, which feels like a sign that The Bear wants everyone to feel included, whatever their drink of choice.
Food: elevated pub classics with seasonal flair
Of course, no pub relaunch is complete without a menu worth talking about, and The Bear is clearly taking its kitchen seriously. Led by Head Chef Toni Mitchell, the menu champions British suppliers and seasonal ingredients, offering comforting pub favourites alongside more elevated dishes.
On our Friday night visit, we had the chance to sample a generous selection from the menu and I can honestly say everything we tried was delicious.
To start, we ordered:
- Honey roasted sweet potato, burrata with roasted beets, pine nuts and basil oil
- Flash-fried salt and pepper squid with watermelon chilli jam
The burrata was a standout, creamy, fresh and beautifully paired with the earthy sweetness of the beetroot and the richness of the pine nuts. The squid was crisp and perfectly cooked (no chewiness in sight), lifted by the unexpected watermelon chilli jam which gave it a sweet heat that really worked.
For mains, we chose the Minted Welsh lamb & pea shortcrust pastry pie, served with mashed potato, spring greens and gravy. It was everything you want from a pub pie: comforting, rich, generously filled, and wrapped in pastry that tasted properly homemade.
We also added a mixed leaf salad with tomato, pickled red onion and honey mustard dressing, light, fresh and a lovely contrast to the richer dishes.
Dessert (because you can’t not)
If you’re the kind of person who says, “I’ll skip pudding” and then regrets it, don’t make that mistake here.
We tried:
- Sticky toffee pudding with honeycomb and salted caramel ice cream
- Classic vanilla cheesecake with Yorkshire rhubarb glaze
Both were indulgent in the best possible way. The sticky toffee pudding was warm, rich and properly comforting, while the cheesecake felt lighter than expected, with the rhubarb glaze adding a sharp fruity edge that cut through the sweetness perfectly.
Service worth mentioning
A pub can have the best menu in the world, but if the service falls flat, the whole experience suffers. Thankfully, that’s not the case here.
We were looked after brilliantly throughout the evening, and a special mention has to go to Jack, who served us, friendly, attentive, and genuinely a credit to the team. The service struck that perfect balance between relaxed and professional, which is exactly what you want on a Friday night.
A place worth returning to (again and again)
The Bear feels like it’s stepping confidently into its new era, polished but not pretentious, welcoming but still stylish, and designed for all kinds of pub-goers. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick drink, booking in for a celebratory meal, or planning a long Sunday roast with friends, it offers the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to linger.
With its thoughtful refurbishment, strong menu, excellent drinks list and warm hospitality, The Bear has all the ingredients to become one of Oxshott’s best-loved spots once again.
The Bear, Oxshott is open seven days a week, with bookings available via their website.
Poppy Watt