Bear Hotel, Crickhowell

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

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.

History and description

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

  1. 1 2 Scourfield & Haslam 2013, p. 473.
  2. ↑ "Bear Hotel, Crickhowell". Historic Hotels of Europe. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 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