The Bear and Staff is a Nicholson’s pub at 10–12 Bear Street, just off Leicester Square. Its central West End position makes it a practical place for food before the theatre, a lunchtime break or drinks and dinner after exploring nearby Covent Garden.
The main menu follows a traditional British pub format with starters, substantial mains and familiar comfort food. Sandwiches provide a quicker daytime option, while sides and smaller plates suit a table sharing food over a round of drinks.
Sunday has its own menu, giving diners the option of a classic pub lunch in the heart of London. Vegetarian and vegan filters make the current selection easier to navigate, and desserts complete a more leisurely multi-course visit.
Cask ale and a broad drinks list reinforce the pub’s traditional character. The busy location brings an energetic atmosphere, but table dining and regular kitchen hours mean the venue works as a genuine food pub rather than only a stop for a drink.
Address: 10–12 Bear Street, Leicester Square, London WC2H 7AX, England
The Bear & Staff Menu
Sandwiches
Available Monday – Friday until 4pm. Served with your choice of skin-on fries, chunky chips or house salad.
Crispy Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich
With Gochujang mayo, little gem lettuce, pickled pink onions and crunchy slaw. On rustic ciabatta.
Fish Finger Sandwich
Nicholson’s Pale Ale battered fish goujons with tartare sauce, in a brioche bun.
Grilled Halloumi Sandwich (V)
With grilled red peppers and basil pesto, on rustic ciabatta.
Nicholson's Club Sandwich
Triple decker sandwich. Grilled chicken breast, crispy smoked back bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise, in toasted farmhouse bread.
Chargrilled Sirloin Steak Sandwich
21-day aged sirloin steak, served medium. With chimichurri sauce & baby watercress on rustic ciabatta.
Sandwich Choices
Choice of side included with sandwiches.
Choice Fries V
Choice Chips V
House Salad (VE)
Tomatoes, cucumber and mixed leaves in a pineapple & lemongrass dressing.
Truffle & Parmesan Fries
Bar Snacks
Sticky Chicken
Sweet chilli & som tam dressing
Lightly Dusted Calamari
Mango & sweet chilli salsa
Halloumi Fries (V)
Sweet chilli mayonnaise.
Padrón Peppers (VE)
Loaded Chunky Chips
Pulled beef brisket, mature Cheddar cheese.
Hand – Cut Nachos (V) – Small
Hand-cut tortilla chips, cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapeños. Add pulled beef brisket
Beef Brisket Nachos – Small
Hand-cut tortillas chips , pulled beef brisket, cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapeños.
Traditional Sausage Roll
With Bloody Mary ketchup*.
Small Plates & Sharers
Hand – Cut Nachos (V) – Large
Hand-cut tortilla chips, cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapeños. Add pulled beef brisket
Beef Brisket Nachos
Hand-cut tortilla chips, pulled beef brisket, cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapeños.
Oven-Baked Camembert* (V)
Topped with pumpkin seeds, honey & thyme. With beer chutney and toasted rustic bread. Recommended for two.
Tomato & Basil Soup (V)
Toasted rustic ciabatta. Vegan alternative available.
Roasted Garlic Mushrooms on Rustic Toast (VE)
In a creamy garlic & spinach sauce. On toasted rustic ciabatta.
Tomato & Basil Soup (VE)
With basil pesto, and toasted rustic ciabatta.
Pulled Beef Rib Croquettes*
Gochujang mayo, watercress & pickled pink onion salad.
King Prawn & Smoked Scottish Salmon Cocktail*
With toasted ciabatta, little gem lettuce and a bloody Marie Rose sauce.
Mains
8oz Chargrilled Sirloin Steak
21-day-aged steak, chunky chips and a choice of peppercorn* or bone marrow bearnaise sauce.
Chargrilled Chicken & Chorizo
Chargrilled chicken breast, pan-fried chorizo, long-stem broccoli, sautéed baby potatoes.
Garlic Chicken Schnitzel
Schnitzel smothered in garlic butter, skin-on-fries, watercress and pickled red onion salad.
Nicholson's Fish & Chips
Hand-battered haddock in Nicholson’s Pale Ale. Chunky chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce. Add curry sauce.
Nicholson's Fish & Chips (Large)
Nourish Bowl Salad ▲ (VE)
Kale, brown rice & quinoa salad, with cherry tomatoes and mango, long-stem broccoli and pumpkin seeds.
Nourish Bowl with Chicken
Kale, brown rice & quinoa salad, with cherry tomatoes and mango, long-stem broccoli and pumpkin seeds. Add Chicken
Nourish Bowl with Halloumi (V)
Kale, brown rice & quinoa salad, with cherry tomatoes and mango, long-stem broccoli and pumpkin seeds.
Nourish Bowl with Smoked Salmon
Kale, brown rice & quinoa salad, with cherry tomatoes and mango, long-stem broccoli and pumpkin seeds. Add Smoked Salmon
Ocean Fish & Chips
Hand-battered* haddock & breaded wholetail Scottish scampi, Chunky chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce. Add curry sauce.
Pan-Roasted Salmon Fillet
Crushed baby potatoes, long-stem broccoli and Scottish mussels with a white wine butter sauce.
Pesto, Cheese & Spinach Gnocchi with Chicken
Basil pesto, creamy garlic & spinach sauce, thyme panko breadcrumbs, rustic garlic ciabatta. Add Chicken.
Pesto, Cheese & Spinach Gnocchi (V)
Basil pesto, creamy garlic & spinach sauce, thyme panko breadcrumbs, rustic garlic ciabatta.
Salmon & Dill Fishcakes*
With glazed baby potatoes, house salad and Sicilian lemon Mayo.
Sausage & Mash
British pork sausages, buttery mash, caramelised onion gravy. Vegetarian serve available.
Vegetarian Sausage & Mash (V)
Vegetarian sausages served on a bed of creamy mash and topped with gravy.
Sirloin Steak Sandwich
21-day aged sirloin steak, served medium, with chimichurri sauce & baby watercress, on rustic ciabatta. Served with skin-on fries.
Chicken Caesar Salad
With crisp lettuce, cherry tomatoes, smoked bacon, Parmesan, croutons, and a classic Caesar dressing.
Burgers
Our mouth-watering burgers come with lettuce, gherkin, tomato and mayonnaise on a brioche bun and are served with skin-on fries.
Classic Cheese & Bacon Burger
Chargrilled beef patty, smoked back bacon, Cheddar cheese.
Spinach & Falafel Burger (V)
Pink pickled onions, plant-based slice, baked mushroom, tomato salsa. Vegan alternative available.
Buttermilk Chicken Burger
Crispy buttermilk chicken breast, smoked bacon, Cheddar cheese, guacamole.
The Nicholson's Burger
Double beef patty, cheese sauce, smoked back bacon, crispy onions, hash brown.
Spinach & Falafel Burger (VE)
Pink pickled onions, plant-based slice, baked mushroom, tomato salsa. Vegan alternative available.
Beef Brisket Burger
Chargrilled beef patty, hand-pulled BBQ beef brisket, cheese sauce.
Sides
Halloumi Fries (V)
Sweet chilli mayonnaise.
Skin-On Fries (V)
Chunky Chips (V)
Long-Stem Broccoli (VE)
Truffle & Parmesan Fries
House Salad (VE)
Tomatoes, cucumber and mixed leaves in a pineapple & lemongrass dressing.
Garlic Ciabatta (V)
Puddings
Sticky Toffee Pudding (V)
Bourbon vanilla ice cream.
Zesty Lemon Tart (V)
With berry coulis and freshly whipped cream.
Apple & Cinnamon Crumble Pie (VE)
Mixed berry coulis and indulgent custard.
Double Chocolate Brownie (V)
With bourbon vanilla ice cream.
Hot Drinks
Breakfast Tea (V)
Cappuccino (V)
Earl Grey (V)
Espresso (V)
Flat White (V)
Green Tea (V)
Hot Chocolate (V)
Latte (V)
Mocha (V)
Peppermint Tea (V)
White Americano (V)
Our Pie Collection
Our pies are served with buttery mashed potato, thyme roasted carrots and a rich gravy.
Beef Rib, Shin & Brisket Pie
Cooked in a rich red wine sauce, topped with light pastry.
British Steak & Nicholson's Pale Ale Pie
Awarded gold at the British Pie Awards. Blade of beef in Nicholson’s Pale Ale gravy in a thyme pastry pie.
Chicken, Leek & Tarragon Pie
In a creamy white wine and tarragon sauce. Topped with golden puff pastry.
Fish Pie
Cod, salmon & king prawns in a creamy white wine sauce, topped with thyme & mature Cheddar mash. With long-stem broccoli and thyme roasted carrots.
Mushroom & Spinach Suet Pie (V)
In a rich red wine and tarragon sauce. Vegan alternative available.
MUSHROOM & SPINACH SUET PIE (VE)
In a rich red wine and tarragon sauce. With long-stem broccoli, thyme roasted carrors and a rich gravy with baby potatoes.