STAY WITH US

ACCOMMODATION

9 en-suite rooms available. Family Suite available. Rates from £115 per room. See in-house for details.

DRINKS

DRINKS ON DRAUGHT

Becks Vier, Carlsberg, Estrella, Peroni, Staropramen, Guinness, Aspall Cyder.

REAL ALES

3 Guest ales rotating every 2 months.

OTHER DRINKS

 Extensive Range of Wines, Hot Chocolate, Range of Coffee and Speciality Teas. To view our wines click here

ONLINE MENUS

 www.bearandraggedstaff.com

TAKEAWAY SERVICE

Pizza available to take away Monday - Saturday.

MEAL TIMES

Monday - Thursday 12noon - 9.30pm.
Friday & Saturday 12noon - 10pm.
Sunday 12noon - 9pm.

FOOD PROMOTIONS

SUNDAY ROAST

Traditional Roast Dinner with a choice of meats and all the appropriate trimmings, from  £11.50.

PARTIES, ENTERTAINMENT & FACILITIES

PARTIES

We can cater for any sizeable function such as funeral gatherings, christenings, weddings etc. Catering can be provided to suit individual requirements. Please ring to discuss.

ENTERTAINMENT

See our website above for special events such as themed musical nights, theatre evenings & game food festivals.

FACILITIES

 Free Wi-Fi Access. Beer Garden and Decked Area with lighting. Wheelchair Access, Disabled Toilet, Baby Changing Facility, Outdoor Children's Play Area.

SMOKING SOLUTION

We have a large smoking shelter with lighting.

OTHER

Children Welcome until 8.30pm. Dogs Allowed in the bar area & outside decking area on a lead. Large Car Park, Disable Parking, Coaches Welcome by appointment. Cash Back. Debit & Credit Cards accepted except Diners & Amex.

In the historic village of Cumnor, 4 miles from Oxford, opposite the site of Cumnor Place, ancient home of the Earl of Leicester, nestles The Bear and Ragged Staff.  The Bear has documented origins which can be traced back to the beginning of the 1500’s when it was owned by St John’s College, Oxford.  However, it is believed that parts of the building date back even earlier than this.  Aside from its great age, The Bear has much to offer the modern explorer of Oxford.  Cumnor became famous through the sad story of Amy Dudley, wife of the 1^st Earl of Leicester, who was tragically found dead with her neck broken at the bottom of the stairs of Cumnor Place, aged 28 years. The Earl is widely believed to have been the lover of Queen Elizabeth 1^st and it is rumoured that Amy was murdered, though nothing was ever proved.  The Bear also has its own proud history.  Oliver Cromwell and his entourage, including his son, Richard, are known to have stayed here.  The lintel of the fireplace has been vandalized with the Royal Crest which was in the centre of it having been chiselled away. It is believed to have been removed by none other than Oliver Cromwell and his party during the stand-off with Charles 1^st which took place in Oxford during the Civil War.

The history of this building as an Inn surprisingly only began in the mid 19^th Century, when, after the destruction of the original Bear and Ragged Staff, the occupant of 28 Appleton Rd, one Charles Godfrey, decided to turn the premises into a public house.  It has been used as such ever since.  More recently, Mark Greenwood, who returned to England after 30 years in the East, mainly Bangkok, took over the tenancy.  Mark fell in love with the old place at first sight. The menus have been completely revamped and the Bear now serves an excellent selection of game, pub classics, and traditional country food, nearly all of which has either a traceable provenance and/or is local in origin.  The fields around the area are heaving with wildlife.  Menus are changed every 3 months.  The pub section of the building is the oldest part of the Bear and has received a fair bit of loving care since Mark took over.  Original stone walls have been exposed as have wood and original sandstone floors.  The bar areas really do have a uniquely English country feel to them, with their ancient open fireplaces, stone floors and walls with wooden beams.  It is just a stunning place to have a meal or just sit and watch the time go by whilst indulging your favourite pastime.

The Bear is a family friendly venue, even for the dog, which is welcome in our bar.  We have a children’s playground on the premises and parties are catered for.  We are sure that once you have tried a traditional Cumnor “Bear” Hug, if you can pull yourself away, it won’t be too long before you are back again to enjoy the hospitality!