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Bell & Bear, Emberton

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Cask Ale Real Cider
Opens at 4:00pm
Operator: Independent
12 High Street, Emberton, MK46 5DH (View on Google Map)
(01234) 385537
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  • Community Owned

Stone-built pub with a slate roof, this pleasant village, country pub welcomes both locals and visitors from further afield. Rescued from closure by community purchase, the old Grade II building houses a long narrow bar with high stools and - past the real fire - tables, chairs and settees at the far end. A further room behind the bar provides tables and chairs for dining, sometimes from their kitchen or from the regular food vans.

The bar has four hand pumps, offering the house ale as a regular (XT4) and a rotating selection of three guest beers, usually from eight local breweries, plus some 'national' favourites; there is a fifth pump offering Saxby Ciders. The ales currently being served and those "coming soon" can be viewed via their website.

Local independent food vans and pop-ups visit usually three times a week.The Village Kitchen, Emberton now operates the pub's kitchen and offers fortnightly Sunday lunches, plus other times, such as Saturday breakfasts and basket meals on Open Mic night. See Event list on website or Facebook page for details.

Large rear patio with ample seating and the garden area beyond has children's play equipment.

Aside from a small, hard-to-enter car park, parking is on the street.

Local branch 2026 CAMRA Pub of the Year and Cider Pub of the year.

Information for this venue is provided by the Milton Keynes & N Bucks Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Milton Keynes (B)
Last updated
Last surveyed
21/01/2026
Leasehold owner
unknown
Freehold owner
BELL AND BEAR LIMITED
Pub ID
BUN/1780
Asset of Community Value

Community Owned

Freehold Owner: Private limited Company (1). BELL AND BEAR LIMITED. Year Purchased 2021.

The pub closed in May 2019. The owners Wellington Pub Company, put the pub up for sale. At a public meeting in Aug 2019 a community group was formed to raise the funds to purchase the pub, with 84 people investing in a community share scheme, with shares in the Bell and Bear Limited which was formed in Jan 2021. The pub reopened in late 2021. The pub is run by a management committee elected from among the 84 shareholders, who are overwhelmingly local villagers. The Bell & Bear is community-owned and community-run.

General information about community pubs
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Premium Access Required
Monday
4:00pm - 8:00pm
Tuesday
4:00pm - 10:00pm
Wednesday
4:00pm - 11:00pm
Thursday
4:00pm - 11:00pm
Friday
4:00pm - Midnight
Saturday
11:00am - Midnight
Sunday
Noon - 8:00pm
Monday
No Service
Tuesday
No Service
Wednesday
No Service
Thursday
5:30pm - 8:00pm
Friday
5:30pm - 8:00pm
Saturday
5:30pm - 8:00pm
Sunday
No Service
TasteMatch

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Current beers

This Pub serves 3 changing beers and 1 regular beer.

Regular and recently seen

XT - Four TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
XT - Four
XT - Bell & Bear - House Beer XT - Four Session Bitter • 3.8% Spotted 35 times
XT - Four
XT - Bell & Bear - House Beer
(XT - Four)

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 35 times. at Bell & Bear, Emberton.

ABV 3.8%
Cask
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Towcester Mill - Mill Race TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Towcester Mill - Mill Race
Towcester Mill - Mill Race Session Blond Ale • 3.9% Spotted 6 times
Towcester Mill - Mill Race
SIBA Indie Beer Sold Here
Towcester Mill - Mill Race

Spotted 6 times recently. Last spotted 4 days ago at Bell & Bear, Emberton.

ABV 3.9%
Style Session Blond Ale
Colour
Vegan Yes
Gluten Free No

Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Sussex Best Bitter - Harvey's
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter Session Bitter • 4% Spotted 24 times
Sussex Best Bitter - Harvey's
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter

Spotted 24 times recently. Last spotted 4 days ago at Bell & Bear, Emberton.

ABV 4%
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Langton - Inclined Plane Bitter TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Langton - Inclined Plane Bitter
Langton - Inclined Plane Bitter Session Blond Ale • 4.2% Spotted 10 times
Langton - Inclined Plane Bitter
Langton - Inclined Plane Bitter

Spotted 10 times recently. Last spotted 4 days ago at Bell & Bear, Emberton.

ABV 4.2%
Style Session Blond Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Rudgate - Ruby Mild TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Rudgate - Ruby Mild
Rudgate - Ruby Mild Strong Mild • 4.4% Spotted twice
Rudgate - Ruby Mild
SIBA Indie Beer Sold Here
Rudgate - Ruby Mild

Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 4 days ago at Bell & Bear, Emberton.

ABV 4.4%
Style Strong Mild
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Tring - Fanny Ebb's Summer Ale TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Tring - Fanny Ebb's Summer Ale
Tring - Fanny Ebb's Summer Ale Session Golden Ale • 3.9% Spotted 3 times
Tring - Fanny Ebb's Summer Ale
SIBA Indie Beer Sold Here
Tring - Fanny Ebb's Summer Ale

Spotted 3 times recently. Last spotted 4 days ago at Bell & Bear, Emberton.

ABV 3.9%
Style Session Golden Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Oakham - Green Devil TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Oakham - Green Devil
Oakham - Green Devil New World IPA • 6% Spotted twice
Oakham - Green Devil
SIBA Indie Beer Sold Here
Oakham - Green Devil

Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 4 days ago at Bell & Bear, Emberton.

ABV 6%
Style New World IPA
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Gales - HSB TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Gales - HSB
Gales - HSB Premium Bitter • 4.8% Spotted twice
Gales - HSB
Gales - HSB

Spotted twice recently. Last spotted 4 days ago at Bell & Bear, Emberton.

ABV 4.8%
Style Premium Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No
Changing

Changing beers typically include: Great Oakley - Tiffield Thunderbolt , Nene Valley - Mid-week Bender , Timothy Taylor - Landlord

Source: Local

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Facilities
Sports TV Sports TV
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Thu-Sat provided via food trucks
Live Music Live Music
Both live singers/bands and open Mic nights.
Garden Garden
Large rear patio with tables and benches and a garden area beyond.
Family Friendly Family Friendly
Mobility Access Statement Mobility Access Statement
Small step into pub through short narrowish corridor, then step-free throughout most of the pub, though one step up to far end of the main bar. Disabled toilet and Ladies toilet are a single unit; doorway is wider than usual; no extra handholds or disabled bellpull.. Car park to rear, but surface is uneven, though there is a level access to the patio.
Parking Parking
Slightly awkward off-street car park, sometimes also used by food vendors.
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Well-behaved dogs often found everywhere.
Camping Camping
But quicker across fields; 2 camp sites nearby (1000m)
Events Events
Monthly Book Club; Quiz Nights; Games Nights.
Real Fire Real Fire
Smoking Smoking
outside.
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Cask Ale Cask Ale
Real Cider Real Cider
Saxby’s Original, Traditional & fruit. Seacider Medium Dry. May vary from time to time.
Community Pub Community Pub
Beer Festival Beer Festival
Planned for 10-12 July 2026
Transport
Close to bus routes (25m)
Red Rose: 21 (Not a frequent service, finishes late afternoon. No Sunday service.)

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