The Bear

A reborn Camberwell corner pub from the Naughty Piglets crew, with serious cocktails, vinyl DJs, and a secret chef's table at the back.

★ 4.6 $$ Camberwell, London A cocktail and a DJ, a low-key date, a long Sunday session

Published December 30, 2025 · Last reviewed March 24, 2026 · by the barsforKings editorial team

The Pitch

The Bear is an expansive corner pub just west of Camberwell Green, on Camberwell New Road, that reopened in 2023 under Naughty Piglets founder Joe Sharratt and chef Teddy Roberts. The Nudge and Time Out both filed it quickly as one of the more exciting south London openings of its year. It looks like a pub and drinks like a cocktail bar.

The pitch is a neighbourhood local with ambition. Bare plaster walls, rotating statement artwork, a vinyl booth where DJs play most nights, and a carefully curated cocktail list sit alongside the beer and wine. Come for a well-made drink and a record, a low-key date, or a long Sunday. Skip it on a Wednesday if you want quiet, because that is Bring Your Own Bangers vinyl night.

At a Glance

Address296A Camberwell New Road, Camberwell, London SE5 0RP

NeighbourhoodCamberwell, London

Nearest transitOval (Northern line), about 8 minutes; Denmark Hill and Loughborough Junction nearby

Price Range$$

Drinks specialtyCocktails, natural wine, beer, with a chef's table kitchen

ReservationsWalk-in for the pub and bar; book The Counter chef's table separately

HoursOpen Tuesday to Sunday into the evening, with DJs most nights. The Counter runs Tuesday to Saturday. Check the official site for current times.

Best forA cocktail and a DJ, a low-key date, a long Sunday session

Plan Your Visit

The Bear is a corner pub on Camberwell New Road, just west of Camberwell Green. Walk in for the bar and the DJ nights. Book The Counter chef's table separately if you want the kitchen experience.

Get Directions Ask Our Team

296A Camberwell New Road, Camberwell, London SE5 0RP

The Room

The room is a big corner pub stripped back to bare plaster, with statement artwork that changes every few weeks and a vinyl booth in the corner where the DJs set up. It feels unpretentious and a little raw, which is the intent.

At the back is The Counter, the open-kitchen chef's table that Time Out called the pub's secret weapon. It runs Tuesday to Saturday and is a separate experience from the main bar.

The Drinks

The bar takes its cocktails seriously for a pub, with a short, carefully made list. Reviewers single out the Negronis and Margaritas, backed by a wide range of beers, wines, and spirits. It drinks well above the usual local standard.

Order a Negroni or a Margarita from the cocktail list and let the bar steer you. If you are eating, book The Counter, where the open kitchen runs the food the team built its name on.

What to Order

Negroni

Singled out by reviewers as a house strength. The cocktail to lead with.

Margarita

The other drink regulars name. Sharp, balanced, and a cut above pub standard.

A glass of natural wine

The team's pedigree shows in the list. Ask the bar for a by-the-glass pick.

A seat at The Counter

The open-kitchen chef's table at the back. Book it for the full kitchen experience.

The Crowd and Vibe

The Bear pulls a young Camberwell and Oval crowd, music lovers there for the DJ booth, and locals who treat it as their upgraded corner pub. It runs lively and unpretentious.

DJ nights bring the energy up, with vinyl most evenings and Wednesday set aside for Bring Your Own Bangers. Sundays are the long, slow session. Go for the room and the records, not for a silent pint.

What Regulars Say

Top marks for the cocktails. Reviewers and locals rate the Negronis and Margaritas well above pub standard.
DJs play most nights from the corner vinyl booth, with Wednesday given over to Bring Your Own Bangers.
Book The Counter. Time Out calls the back chef's table the pub's secret weapon.