The Bear

Alan Course, a cartoonist with a penchant for ties, transformed The Bear in Oxford. He unknowingly set the stage for a quirky legacy. The Bear, nestled on the corner of Alfred Street and Blue Boar Street, isn’t just any pub. It’s a living tapestry woven with thousands of tie snippets. The Bear, formerly known as The Jolly Trooper, stands opposite Bear Lane. It’s a stone’s throw from Christ Church. The Bear occupies the former site of St. Edward’s churchyard, a fact that adds an intriguing layer to its story. Established in 1774, The Bear later inherited the name and some of the legacy of the original Bear Inn on the High Street when it closed in 1801. The original Bear Inn, dating back to at least 1457, boasts a history intertwined with figures like Lady Christina Pady and Cardinal Wolsey. This connection to Oxford’s past gives The Bear a certain gravitas. Now, back to those ties. In 1952, Alan Course, then landlord of The Bear, began his unusual collection. Over 4,500 tie ends, each representing a club, team, school, or other affiliation, adorn the pub’s walls and even the ceiling. This unique feature even caught the attention of author Colin Dexter. His character Inspector Morse consults The Bear’s tie collection in “Death Is Now My Neighbour”. So, as you stand here at The Bear, surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colours and patterns, remember. You’re not just in a pub. You’re in a piece of Oxford history, embellished with a touch of eccentricity. Raise a glass to Alan Course, the cartoonist who turned a pub into a tie museum. The Bear is more than a pub. It’s a testament to the enduring power of quirky traditions and the stories they tell.