The Bear Hotel

The restaurant is exceptional The food and service was amazing. The bar is lively and offers some fine beers.

Great bar staff

The Bear is in a good position in the centre of Wantage. Restaurant is great for dinner.

Two night midweek stay for work. Location is excellent as right in the centre of Wantage, with access to local shops and restaurants. No hotel car parking, but overnight parking available in local council car park (£3/night). Room was cosy and had all facilities needed for a comfortable stay. Relatively quiet during the night, but Wantage wakes around 5am, so expect to as well. Ate in the restaurant for the first night - good quality food, but ventured out the second night for greater menu variety. Good choice at breakfast with well-prepared meals. Quick service.

convenient location for us no proper car park

Good hotel in centre of town, long stay carpark at rear of hotel £7 for 23hours,

Service and food excellent. Room a little tired. Windows dirty and need maintenance. View over courtyard. No parking so had to pay at the carpark behind. Bit of Walk in the rain. Food was exceptional. Room could do with a little tic.

We used the Bear Hotel as a base whilst visiting the Air Tattoo in Fairford. It was a great location for us. The food and drinks at the hotel were excellent and reasonably priced. The room was adequate for what we needed. I would use this hotel again

Room was clean and well stocked great for a one night stay but could do with updating. Although parking is off site it is right next to the hotel and reasonably priced.

Typical old English hotel with an excellent restaurant and a great bar! Rooms are small but cozy. We enjoyed our stay. Thanks to The Bear!

Nice hotel friendly staff room was small but nice and clean. Good shower.

Not one for posting reviews, but this was pretty bad. Firstly the staff were lovely and this doesn't reflect on them at all. Room 24. Go have a look. The room is tired but the bathroom is apocolyptic. Last upgraded about 40 years ago, light switch is illegal, shower head holder snapped off, water so hot that you cannot add enough cold to make it usable and the water stinks. Prob crap in the water tank. The silicone around all surfaces must have been done with a knife and fork or possibly with a blindfold on. I'm not really exaggerating either. The three cups we had on the tea station were coated in dried detergent (that you couldn't see) leading to 2 cups of tea being thrown and a day of soap suddy mouths. The room was hot, but that's not really anyone's fault. But having the windows open just meant we had to listen to a rowdy crowd doing coke and drinking just outside the window. Bed was comfy. Sheets were smelly. In the morning, someone had distributed the days clean sheets for the changeover leaving them outside each room on the filthy carpet. My oh my. The cheek to charge £100 for this.... Never again thanks. I have photos and a video of you want them.

Everything was very good, comfy bed, nice and quiet, strong shower and nice and clean. Although the rooms are starting to look a bit tired and could do with updating.

The hotel is convenient for exploring the local area and the car park is close by, so it's no big deal to not have onsite parking. Check-in was easy, staff were pleasant and the accessibility was good. Unfortunately other areas let it down slightly. The room was far too hot, and because of the age of the property it has sash windows. That's fine, but they don't stay open so to keep it open i had to use a pillow as a wedge. The bedding was fresh but there were hairs on the bedsheet, and while the menu is extensive and the food was good, i felt that £17 for a bowl of pasta was a little steep.

Clean hotel, helpful staff, quiet, slept well, good breakfast. Enjoyed the stay.

The room looks like a spare room. The bathroom was not clean. There were cobwebs too. Even though the bedding looked clean, it smelled funky and found some sort of black residues under the pillows. Breakfast was decent. Not a pleasant experience for being the first time.

There was everything I needed and more, but so much needed repairing or maintaining. I was particularly unhappy about the reluctance to observe standard fire precautions at night evidenced by the wedging open of fire and smoke stop doors. This was noted at 23:00 hrs. Very pleased to find breakfast was included, and that ironing facilities were available without request.

Not a bad stay pillows hard bed not to bad but overall the venue is getting a little bit shabby in all areas. The was a leaky tap in the bathroom It is in need of a make over.

The rooms were dated, the ceiling bowing and holes in it, mentioned it to staff who dismissed it, saying they knew. The shower doors did not close and the bathroom was overall very dated and not particularly clean. There was a fan in the room (needed as it was hot) it was covered in dust and would not stay upright. Overall not particularly impressed with the stay

To be fair, we stayed at The Bear a few weeks previous and the room was much better but this time it was grim. When we arrived, we were directed to a room that was still occupied (could have been very embarrassing but fortunately they weren't there). We were then allocated a different room which was dark and drab and looked like it had been furnished from the local charity shop. The shower was either dirty or had black mould. All in all, not a great experience and we won't be going back. Breakfast was great and we had a friendly waitress but that was the first time that we felt like anybody wanted us to be there.

Everything was very good, comfy bed, nice and quiet, strong shower and nice and clean. Although the rooms are starting to look a bit tired and could do with updating.

The hotel itself was fine. We had a drink on the bar and there are lots of places to relax. Unfortunately our room (no 8) was extremely hot. We had both windows open but it didn’t seem to make any difference. This also meant that we heard all the people leaving the pub and immediate areas until approx 0230-0245. When we were finally able to doze off we were woken up at 0350 by the tradesmen starting to set up for the market in the morning. Whilst I appreciate that the hotel cannot directly affect these things had I known I would not have booked to be honest. The room was clean but needs an update. The bathroom sink tap was loose and the shower does not keep consistent temperature. The bathroom was very tired. When we went to check out in the morning there was no one on reception to let know of these problems. We had to leave to get on our way. Such a shame but from our experience we wouldn’t go back.

Had a great stay at The Bear Hotel. Love its charm and the feel of a true English hotel. It’s been here 500+ years. We stayed in a front room that looked over the Wantage Market Square. The room was fine, very clean, and the bed was comfy. However if you are tall, like over 5’ 9” you must watch your head and you probably won’t fit in the shower. Staff were all excellent! Love the breakfast that came with the room, delicious!

Great location, convenient public car park out the back of the property. Inside space felt comfortable and fresh and the room was perfectly comfortable. Our only issue was a constant, loud hum (imagine a loud fridge) which persisted all night, though this didn't bother my husband, I barely slept. Other friends who stayed in other rooms had no issue so I think we were just very unlucky with our room (no. 12) which seemed to have a vent of some kind right outside the window. Having said that I would stay here again, but I would request a different room.

Shower was clean water majority of the time was cold. No air conditioning in my room, fan very noisy.

Good location, friendly staff, but the beds are TERRIBLE. This was probably the worst bed I have ever slept in!

Very very noisy Bed very uncomfortable

Staff and food excellent. Hotel is looking tired and shabby. our room was in the courtyard and proved to be noisey at night.

Typical old English hotel with an excellent restaurant and a great bar! Rooms are small but cozy. We enjoyed our stay. Thanks to The Bear!

Mostly ok. Comfortable single bed and good breakfast and customer service. Bathroom had no windows and therefore relies on extractor fan, which was not working. A bit more space would have been nice,. The property has been converted into what looks like too many rooms, but that's business I suppose.

We reported an issue with the shower which was not resolved. On the first day I asked for Gluten free bread and was told by the server that you did not cater for this. On the second morning a different server was on and offered us gluten free when we sat down.

The hotel itself was fine. We had a drink on the bar and there are lots of places to relax. Unfortunately our room (no 8) was extremely hot. We had both windows open but it didn’t seem to make any difference. This also meant that we heard all the people leaving the pub and immediate areas until approx 0230-0245. When we were finally able to doze off we were woken up at 0350 by the tradesmen starting to set up for the market in the morning. Whilst I appreciate that the hotel cannot directly affect these things had I known I would not have booked to be honest. The room was clean but needs an update. The bathroom sink tap was loose and the shower does not keep consistent temperature. The bathroom was very tired. When we went to check out in the morning there was no one on reception to let know of these problems. We had to leave to get on our way. Such a shame but from our experience we wouldn’t go back.

Staff immediately offered to change (upgrade) my room when the radiator couldn't be turned off. Breakfast was fantastic! The room was sparkling clean and very nice. However, the matress wasnt comfortable.

Staff where fantastic

Was ok but the staff were loud and loads of swearing and banging till midnight!

Good location. Friendly staff.

Very helpful staff, nice location

Great value, friendly staff

Friendly staff, nice atmosphere in bar.

To be fair, we stayed at The Bear a few weeks previous and the room was much better but this time it was grim. When we arrived, we were directed to a room that was still occupied (could have been very embarrassing but fortunately they weren't there). We were then allocated a different room which was dark and drab and looked like it had been furnished from the local charity shop. The shower was either dirty or had black mould. All in all, not a great experience and we won't be going back. Breakfast was great and we had a friendly waitress but that was the first time that we felt like anybody wanted us to be there.

The hotel itself was fine. We had a drink on the bar and there are lots of places to relax. Unfortunately our room (no 8) was extremely hot. We had both windows open but it didn’t seem to make any difference. This also meant that we heard all the people leaving the pub and immediate areas until approx 0230-0245. When we were finally able to doze off we were woken up at 0350 by the tradesmen starting to set up for the market in the morning. Whilst I appreciate that the hotel cannot directly affect these things had I known I would not have booked to be honest. The room was clean but needs an update. The bathroom sink tap was loose and the shower does not keep consistent temperature. The bathroom was very tired. When we went to check out in the morning there was no one on reception to let know of these problems. We had to leave to get on our way. Such a shame but from our experience we wouldn’t go back.

Great location for our overnight stay.

Very convenient location for my short stay in a old and historic building Allowed me access to my room to drop my bags Room a bit tired but clean and serviceable Friendly and helpful staff Nice beer😀

Two night midweek stay for work. Location is excellent as right in the centre of Wantage, with access to local shops and restaurants. No hotel car parking, but overnight parking available in local council car park (£3/night). Room was cosy and had all facilities needed for a comfortable stay. Relatively quiet during the night, but Wantage wakes around 5am, so expect to as well. Ate in the restaurant for the first night - good quality food, but ventured out the second night for greater menu variety. Good choice at breakfast with well-prepared meals. Quick service.

Good hotel in centre of town, long stay carpark at rear of hotel £7 for 23hours,

Centrally located in Wantage with excellent staff.

Prompt check in Great town location

Good location. Friendly staff.

Very helpful staff, nice location

The hotel is very conveniently placed. It is a pleasant place to stay and the staff are very friendly. The building is a bit outdated but the beds are comfy and very clean.

good breakfast - diverse

Lovely stay at the bear. Hospitality good. Would recommend the restaurant, food was good. Rooms basic but fine. Lovely staff team. Will stay again

We reported an issue with the shower which was not resolved. On the first day I asked for Gluten free bread and was told by the server that you did not cater for this. On the second morning a different server was on and offered us gluten free when we sat down.

the room was excellent on the ground floor . Staff were friendly and we had an excellent meal in the restaurant and amazing breakfast .

I chose this hotel based on the reviews of its food offering. I was right to do so. The food was excellent, beautifully presented, generous portions, lovely service and really nice staff. I would stay here again based on the food alone.

The Bear is in a good position in the centre of Wantage. Restaurant is great for dinner.

Enjoyed staying at The Bear. Lovely staff team. Room quite basic but clean. Breakfast was fine with hot menu choices but limited buffet and only one coffee offered. Restaurant for dinner was very good, food excellent.

Lovely staff, downstairs restaurant food was good. Upstairs breakfast restaurant clean nice staff but the English breakfast could have been better. Bathroom needs attention.

We used the Bear Hotel as a base whilst visiting the Air Tattoo in Fairford. It was a great location for us. The food and drinks at the hotel were excellent and reasonably priced. The room was adequate for what we needed. I would use this hotel again

Breakfast great choice and very good produce