6th stop of the Horsham outing: Reported by Pubs and Beer as closed, it was on this visit certainly open but closed to sitting down in or even comfortably standing in as packed. Evidently more a drinkers' pub on this early evening visit but uncomfortably hot, noisy and packed! In its favour, 4 cask on and two from Firebird Brewing, an independent craft brewery founded in 2013 and now alongside a taproom located in a renovated brickworks in Rudgwick, West Sussex, some 6 miles west of Horsham. The Bear's building is said to date back to the 12th century and was mostly refurbished in 2023 by the new licensees. It is now an independent establishment and reopened in 2023 after a brief closure for its upgrade. The property owner is said to be Red Oak Taverns, a property management company that seeks tenants for various local pubs. It was a Hall & Woodhouse pub, serving their Badger range of beers before the recent independent took over the lease. I surveyed the beers on this visit but did not sample sadly due to a lack of room to stand in, never mind sit down in. Its website: https://www.facebook.com/horshambear

Quite busy at lunchtime, mainly with people stopping off here for a pint on their way to watch County Cricket at nearby Horsham Cricket Club.