Bear Hotel, Crickhowell

The Bear Hotel, formerly the White Bear, stands on Beaufort Street, Crickhowell, Powys, Wales. A coaching inn from the mid 18th century, the building has older origins from the 17th and 15th centuries. It is a Grade II* listed building.

The Bear Hotel
"the epitome of a mid-to later 18th century coaching inn"
TypeHotel
LocationCrickhowell, Powys
Coordinates51°51′33″N 3°08′13″W / 51.8593°N 3.137°W / 51.8593; -3.137
Built18th century with earlier origins
Architectural style(s)Vernacular
Governing bodyPrivately owned
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameThe Bear Hotel
Designated25 September 1986
Reference no.7200
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameBar to the Bear Hotel
Designated25 September 1986
Reference no.7201
Bear Hotel, Crickhowell is located in Powys
Bear Hotel, Crickhowell
Location of The Bear Hotel in Powys

History and description

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The Powys edition of The Buildings of Wales describes the Bear as "the epitome of an 18th century coaching inn".[1] It is reputed to have functioned as an inn since 1432,[2] although Cadw attributes a certain dating only to the 17th century.[3] In the late 19th century the inn was a local headquarters of the Cyclists' Touring Club.[4] The Bear remains an independent hotel.[5] In the 1990s, Robbie Williams stayed at the Bear for some months, when recording at Rockfield Studios following his split from Take That.[6] In 2004 Johnny Depp visited while filming The Libertine at Tretower Court.[7]

The main block of the hotel comprises three storeys with four bays, with a central porch flanked by Doric columns,[1] and an arched carriage entrance to the right.[3] The Bear is a Grade II* listed building,[3] with the hotel bar having its own Grade II listing.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b Scourfield & Haslam 2013, p. 473.
  2. ^ "Bear Hotel, Crickhowell". Historic Hotels of Europe. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Cadw. "The Bear Hotel (Grade II*) (7200)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Bear Hotel, Crickhowell (formerly The White Bear) (25046)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Bear Hotel, Crickhowell". The Bear Hotel. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Inn popular with stars wins award". BBC News. 1 October 2009.
  7. ^ Alderson, Alf (26 November 2005). "Rake's progress: Powys was the perfect setting for The Libertine". The Guardian.
  8. ^ Cadw. "Bar at the Bear Hotel (Grade II) (7201)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 12 July 2020.

Sources

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