Meandering Bear
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
The Meandering Bear is one of the newest independent bars on Halifax’s expanding food and drink scene. Owned by the folks who run the award-winning Grayston Unity, the Meandering Bear is a great little independent bar and eatery.
Situated close to Westgate Arcade and The Piece Hall, the Meandering Bear offers an impressive range of cask and keg ales and lagers, cocktails and spirits. Locally sourced wholesome food is on the menu here – informal and honest – expect meat and cheese boards, loaded toasties and ploughman’s lunches, with a pleasant alternative for veggies too.
The Meandering Bear takes its name from a grizzly tale in Halifax’s history. It may come as a surprise to some, but at the beginning of the twentieth century, the town had its own zoo and amusement park. Around this time there were many reports of animals breaking free from the confines of the zoo – a boar leaping over the railings and an elephant setting loose from her chains. Most interestingly, it is well documented that in 1913, a grizzly bear and a Russian bear escaped from Halifax Zoo. The Russian bear was captured almost straight away, but the grizzly beer made a dash for freedom and spent an hour and a half meandering around before it was eventually found and returned to the zoo.
The Meandering Beer hosts a live jazz band on the last Sunday afternoon of every month and occasional Saturday DJ sets, as well as being one of the primary venues for the annual event, Halifax Festival of Words too.
