The Mad Bishop & Bear in City of London, Westminster

Gross pub, filled with true Brexit geezas, weirdos and creeps. It almost feels like it attracts the worst of the worst. I felt incredibly out of place, the atmosphere was worse than one you'd get in a pub in Swindon. It feels like this pub is a magnet to all riff raffs, without exaggerating. From staff to customers, only a tiny minority gave off good vibes and I doubt it was a bad coincidence on my end. More and more characters kept on appearing, one after the other. Best get yourself a snack and a drink from M&S and have it at a bench downstairs - it'd be 5x times better, thank me later.

Lovely atmosphere. Very good selection of wines. Welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable staff. Great place to stop for a pre train aperitif. Real treat. Happy to spend my Saturday night in this lovely bar.

😱. Shockingly expensive soft drinks, tap lemonade £3.5 for a small glass. water £4.30 for a small bottle. If you have children cheaper to buy them alcohol! 😱.

I visited this place at Paddington and had nice time with my friends, nice food and great customer service from lovely lady Kinga. I come back there for sure again . Best wishes for all staff working there you are all amazing.

Food was nice, customer service not so much. The woman behind the bar was very rude. After eating at this restaurant I needed use the bathroom and the woman looked me up and down and asked for a code. I ordered via the QR code on the table. No bathroom code on the receipt. Threw a piece of paper at me and walked away. The restaurant is located at the top of padding station, so doubt many people walk past expecting to use the bathroom if they are not a customer.

I have been to this wonderful place in Paddington and I would like to say thanks to Kinga who was very polite and helpful,and I really enjoyed my time there!!Definitely I will visit again!!!

My go to before heading home. Always great service, great range and the food is consistently well cooked.

We were staying at the Premier Inn opposite the station and after a day touring around London & feeling worn out, were looking for somewhere close by for food. We both had fish and chips and were pleasantly surprised at how lovely the food was. Service was super quick, and the price very reasonable. Highly recommend

Great and friendly service in a pub hidden away in Paddington Station upstairs. Away from the din of the concourse.

A rare Saturday with the Mad Bishop and Bear in Paddington Station being not busy! Extraordinary, anyway it is a big station b run by Fuller's. Plenty of space and the full range of cask and keg ales you may expect from the Chiswick team. The building, part of the station is big and airy, shame escalators not working at the moment but, another day. Great service from behind the bar and enjoyable group(s) of people drinking and eating. A fine addition (long standing) to the station community!

I visited the Mad Bishop & Bear with colleagues at the end of a charity walk. Seeing that there were two Sauvignon Blanc choices on the menu I asked for a glass of the (cheaper) French Sauvignon Blanc. I was then charged for the other, more expensive, wine. I said that I'd ordered the French Sauvignon Blanc. The man serving me said there were two French Sauvignon Blancs on the menu, and I replied that there was only one on the menu I was looking at, the other one being a New Zealand SB. The person serving me took it back, picked up an empty glass, purposefully and forcefully smashed it on the back counter, and then poured a glass of the correct wine. Maybe he was just having a bad day, but I was really concerned for his wellbeing given that reaction, and if it wasn't for the charity organising the drinks there I would have left. The strange thing is that the same thing happened (ordered the cheaper wine, got charged for the more expensive one). Maybe there should only be one wine of each variety if staff can't recognise the difference even when the customer says......

Came in for a pint (or 2) between trains and wanted some proper beer. Found this place tucked away upstairs and what a great shout. Food smells mega, beer is great. I travel alot and this is definitely the best train station pub in the country.

Helpful to have an app to order but slightly slow service, and food appeared to have been waiting until a heat lamp for sometime before being brought over. Acceptable for a quick bite to eat but given the high prices would expect more.

Breakfast Sunday morning was noisy with lots of folks drinking pints at 9:00AM. We ordered from the sides menu and enjoyed fried eggs, bacon and sausage with Americano coffee. The eggs are served sunny side up…not sure if British have a concept of over easy fried eggs.

The most disgusting toilets of any pub I’ve had in London. Broken seat; mess everywhere. Hand lotion instead of soap.

CHECK YOUR BILL! An 'optional service charge' of 12.5% is added to the bill which is steep for drinks in a pub BUT the bill is charged to your card at the gross amount (goods + service) & you get asked to add 'optional gratuity' on the card machine as well. Bet not many people check their receipt first & plenty fall for the double charge. Irritating to be treated like a mug, plenty of other great bars just outside the station which I'll go to next time.

I've been twice on my recent trip the night before and on my return. On both occasions I could not fault it the Chicken and Ham pie was excellent with great mash, greens and a lovely jug of gravy. And then for breakfast on my return I had lovely Eggs Benidect

Don’t eat here, the food isn’t that good. (Edit after reply) I had ordered a chicken burger but received a beef burger instead. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to wait for a replacement. The burger itself was overcooked and had mustard, which I don’t typically eat.

Don’t eat here, the food isn’t that good. (Edit after reply) I had ordered a chicken burger but received a beef burger instead. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to wait for a replacement. The burger itself was overcooked and had mustard, which I don’t typically eat.

The waiter today at lunch time, short in height with a considerable belly size, was very unfriendly. I do not recommend this place, I didn't feel comfortable asking for anything.

The waiter today at lunch time, short in height with a considerable belly size, was very unfriendly. I do not recommend this place, I didn't feel comfortable asking for anything.

Fantastic staff really nice food

Not one to leave reviews usually but felt compelled to highlight the delicious food, along with the top notch service here from staff, particularly Bradley. The interior and furnishings are like a refuge from the hustle and bustle outside. Highly recommended for food or just drinks. Keep up the high standards!

As we were staying at the Hilton London Paddington Station, the Mad Bishop & Bear was conveniently located. The Steak and Ale pie was hearty and flavorful and, as we had made a reservation, we had table service. Our server, Nimesh, was very attentive and charming, and took excellent care of us. After a long day of touring, this was a nice way to close out the day.

As we were staying at the Hilton London Paddington Station, the Mad Bishop & Bear was conveniently located. The food was hearty and flavorful and, as we had made a reservation, we had table service. Our server, Nimesh, was very attentive and charming, and took excellent care of us. After a long day of touring, this was a nice way to close out the day.

An unexpected gem in the heart of Paddington station. Usually these places can be a bit unloved, poor service and substandard food, that people only come to when they’re waiting for their train. But I would be happy to come here any time. Bradley and his team are friendly and efficient, the food is delicious and the decor takes me back to train stations of the old days.

Scanned a QR code at the table to order a meal and was told my bank account would be debuted £49 immediately and every month thereafter. My bank automatically put a hold on my card thankfully. I won't be going back there in a hurry.

A great place to chill out while waiting for a train or just in the neighborhood. Staff were really kind and helpful and the place has a funky atmosphere. Reasonable prices and delicious food. Thoroughly recommend the Clubhouse Sandwich.

Horrible service from rude waiter, poor food and overpriced! Would not dine here again. Can not recommend.

The server wasn't familiar with the crab burger I wanted to order but someone else helped him out. Seemed to be mostly batter and filled with miscellaneous bits that don't really look like any crab I've ever seen. Some weird white bits were poking out of it. Somewhat rectified by the chips but at £18 I think it's a bit of a rip off.

This pub is indeed a hidden Gem in Paddington....I always make a beeline, when travelling...coming in the from the Middle East...that 1st Print of London Pride is very welcome...this is a true pub setup...Steak Pie with Mash IS THE BEST and a proper pie to boot (didnt know Southerns knew what a real pie is....but they do here)...Recommended...am gonna try the Full English tomorrow...when waiting for my train !!!

Very subpar dining experience. Would not go back.

Hmm burger tasted more like game meat than beef. Odd basting sauce too

First thing I do when at Paddington Station is to visit this pub. Why? Because I can get my favourite drink - London Pride. Rarely have time for food so cannot judge. Was shocked last visit to find they have locked their toilets. Would like to know why.

Service was quick but for the price, the breakfast was very poor value for money. Bacon was very fatty streaky bacon instead of back bacon, smallest hash brown I've ever seen and half a mushroom! Not a generous portions at all for £16

Fantastic food. Fresh fish in batter, cooked to perfection. Nice chunky tarta sauce and mushy peas. Not at all greasy just full of flavour. Great tasting cider. A very nice pub. Always great service nice drinks and excellent food. 👍

The Avocado, Black Olive and Pesto sandwich made a nice lunch. The service was really good and quick.

I stopped here recently on the way to a funeral - I am not sure what we more depressing, the funeral or my breakfast experience. Over 15 pounds for a 'full english' I ordered extra mushrooms, or should I say 'mushroom' 2.50 for a single sauteed mushroom - these mushrooms were so expensive, I was half expecting some sort of alice-in-wonderland style hallucinatory experience - however all I experienced was mild indigestion - I know food costs have gone up, but what a pisstake.

Called here twice in two days. The staff were very efficient and friendly. The fish and chips were delicious and the London Pride ale was even better!!. Well worth a visit.

Glad I stopped by today. Enjoyed the steak and a couple of Fullers hand pumped. Will definitely revisit when I come to Paddington again.

Our first spot when we visit London. Perfect for some early pints and a full english breakfast to start the day.

The friendly staff charged my phone for me in the office, which meant no-one could chase me to come home whilst I had a drink there. Bless 'em

We stopped off here for lunch, while waiting for our train, good service, good food, relaxed atmosphere, easy to find, once your in the main food hall on the station.

Very friendly bartender and staff, great fries and cider. Very quick service

Great food and staff are very efficient, hidden away so not straight forward to find but well worth it

They don’t even bother to open according to their opening times. It’s about 0930 and the sign out front says open at 9. Google says it’s open. A member of staff went past us people waiting to get in and nothing… Awful business and has a rep for this. Find somewhere.

That had to be the best damn fish and chips I've ever had.

Traditional pub in the roof of Paddington Station above the food court. Good range of drinks and pub grub menu at good prices. Big portions and tasty and a couple of gluten free options. Very handy whilst waiting for a train home. Friendly and helpful staff.

My partner & I recently visited The Mad Bishop & Bear and enjoyed their unique 'Mad Bear' house brew, which had delightful marmalade-like qualities :) I've added it to my barguide.london site too!

Stopped here for a quick pint before our train ride to Gloucester. This is a Fuller’s Brewery pub with a great choice of food and drink. Similar to Wetherspoons, you can order at your table and you will be served your drinks/food. Not cheap but a nice place to relax in Paddington Station.

Lovely and quintessentially British pub with lots of history. Food looks absolutely lush and the drinks are also lovely.

Good food, enjoyed the Cornish cider. Friendly staff. Spent a pleasant hour+.

Just had fantastic service and a lovely meal before catching our train. Staff are excellent and really friendly. Definitely recommend for drinks and food

A lovely Fullers gaff. Well worth a visit...

A nice dog friendly spacious pub, staff are friendly and polite. Only issue is the food was tasteless frozen ready made starters, the onion rings were over fried and soaking in oil and the chips were ready made frozen and tasteless. Best to order the egg dishes on the menu, if you want fresh food with some taste. If the food was fresh, not frozen and tasteless and less oily then that is a good start as people need to wait here for trains and spend time.

The place is cozy and is located at Paddington Station. The food: We got fish n chips (4 stars) and a 2-person bbq plate with various meats, onion rings and potatoes (2 stars), they could have put it together better. The food came relatively quickly. There are plenty of drinks to choose from. Service: Nothing to write home about. Friendly enough, but not present. The men's toilets could definitely use a loving hand. Price and quality: We got away with £60 for the above food, 2 beers and water. It's probably ok, but then the dishes must also be after that. And here it lags a little. Will we come again? No, I think not.

Ordered a pint whilst waiting for mi train. Friendly staff.

Very good Station Bar. Good Fuller's beer (ESB) and 15% CAMRA discount.

The pub is a hidden gem, up and away from the hustle and bustle of the mainline station. The Fuller's ESB was in excellent form, as this beer always is here.

Good food and laid back vibes. I’d eat here again.

Our family was able to stop by on a Monday night. We enjoyed our food. The staff was very friendly. The atmosphere was comfortable. It was a restful time after busy day.

My fish finger sandwich was cold and not that tasty, the chips were lovely, we're two meals worth £32, not really.

Absolute embarrassment of an establishment. Arrived at 9pm on a Thursday to be told they aren’t serving food anymore. It’s literally central London in a major transport hub and you’re not serving at 9pm? Ridiculous, avoid at all costs.

Had a while to wait before my train and found the Mad Bishop and Bear in Paddington station , lovely food with polite and very friendly staff which seems hard to find these days . Lovely atmosphere and well worth a visit if you are passing through .

I Have had dinner at the Mad Bishop a few times. The food is always delicious and presented nicely also the service is fab. Staff are really friendly and so helpful. The mad Bishop has a great atmosphere and I would definitely recommend a visit, it’s a hidden Gem tucked away in Paddington Station. Will look forward to our next visit. 😊

We used to look forward to stopping here, sometimes more than once on our bi-annual trips to London and we’ve never had a disappointing meal…..until this time. I think management has changed since we were last here in November 2023, the menu is a lot more restricted and much pricier, both of which are understandable but the food quality is extremely average now where it used to be excellent. My husband was given a very small pie compared to usual and it wasn’t all that good either, my burger was ok but a little dry and as you’ll see from the photo, my onion wasn’t even a proper slice and had I not taken my burger apart to remove the tomato, I might have chipped a tooth on the root! Also the menu said chips but they were fries, and triple-cooked fries are pretty horrid and extremely greasy. It’s so sad when a favourite place loses its appeal. Normally the server would come and ask how our meals are but I’m guessing they know it’s bad so no longer want to ask!

Without doubt the worse breakfast I've ever tried.

Had a breakfast in the pub. At £15.50 it wasn’t worth it. 2 eggs. I sausage, 1 bacon, 1 mushroom black pudding, 2 small slices of toast, a very small pan of beans and the smallest hash brown ever. To top it off a pint of Guinness £7. Wetherspoons for us next time. Ridiculous prices. The place was empty and they wonder why🤔

I had a hour to wait for a train at Paddigton station , this. Is so much better than waiting on the platform… the staff are friendly and professional and the beer/food price is good considering where it it. Well done everyone especially Ciaran.

I’ve positively reviewed this venue before but on this occasion I have to improve on that! I’ve had a beer here before several times but never eaten here. As always the staff are super friendly and welcoming. After arriving on a very delayed train my mind was set on getting a beer before tackling London. This time however I was hungry. Ordered food from a well priced menu and it arrived super quick and in all honesty it was super tasty. I’ve seen reviews saying this place is overpriced but it’s a venue in a major train station, yet the beer was only 75p more expensive than my local in Cornwall. I will be back for sure, In my opinion this place is a great venue.

I love this pub I always come in when traveling through Paddington. I highly recommend the pulled pork burger very tasty, staff are always lovely and friendly:)

My burger was still frozen, having had a wait and the bar not busy obviously unacceptable. Code required to enter ladies toilet, unaware of this . A man informed me on his trip to the mens! Overpriced.

Great atmosphere, good food and drink at reasonable prices. Porridge nice and thick, eggs benedict cooked to perfection. We went back for a burger and also had the best chicken wings in a sticky Korean sauce. Hidden from the main concourse, we were sorry that we didn't find it sooner !!

Stopped in on a rainy Mother’s Day to grab some breakfast. What was delivered to our table was just gorgeous. Eggs Benedict to die for and my husband ordered the smashed avocado on toast. They even made beans on toast with side of bacon for my fussy son. Service was quick and staff were friendly and polite.

We stopped in for breakfast on a busy Sunday morning not expecting much. It was a little pricey but the food was really really good. My son is quite fussy but was very pleased. The avocado dish was great as were the eggs. If you are in a rush, highly recommended.

Nice pub to stop off in before the train ride home. The lady that works behind the bar is always polite and smiles. Not many other staff do which is a shame as everyone who pops in has had a hard day and are about to ride on the world's worst railway.l after paying over half their salary for the pleasure. So please smile :) I do think the cost of the food could be reduced. I haven't eaten here in 7 years due to cost only. Otherwise would definitely try a dish or two.

Very rude manager Was just sitting finishing off snacks as no room at costa and threatened to call the police it really wouldn't hurt her to let us finish what we had brought won't eat or drink from their. If she was nice probably would of. Also what customers you didn't have any you aren't having my customer service.

What a top place to while away an hour or so, either waiting for a train or just stepping off after a long journey. Small menu but well cooked esp the chips, and the staff are lovely.

Very rude staff and over priced poor quality drinks. Cider was cloudy with a large head on one and none on the other. Won’t be going back. In response to your comment: Hello, no it was definitely this pub that we visited. By mistake it was not cider that was ordered it was 2 pint of neck oil- both were poured from the same tap though. Whilst the first pint was okay, the second was the end of the barrel and was very cloudy and had thick head. I believe that the staff member had noticed it was bad as they definitely looked at it and observed my daughter examining it. My daughter works in the industry and understands that during busy periods that changing a keg is annoying, but there were only 2 other customers waiting at the bar at the time and it was going to be an easy fix. I find your response upsetting as you have immediately dismissed what I have said without any consideration to the fact we had a bad experience. I understand defending your business and staff but there is a way to go about it and questioning whether I have “seriously” got the right pub isn’t a great way to start a response to a review.

Great location above Paddington station shops, on the top floor near Costa. Above Starbucks. Nice and light atrium / patio area. And more traditional pub tables inside. Plenty of choice for food and drinks, and very convenient table service.

Lovely pub hidden away upstairs at Paddington Station. Lovely staff. We were early for our train so killed an hour or so in here. Didn't eat so can't comment but food looked great. Typical prices for location.

Beers taste good and the ambiance is great! This pub is in Paddington staion so it is convenient.

Overpriced but nice food/beer and decent atmosphere for a train station!

Soulless chain pub. Feels like a Wetherspoons but isn't. Don't know why it's got great reviews, but I believed them and was disappointed. Felt vaguely nauseous after a lukewarm pulled pork burger and some chips I had to send back first time as they were stone cold. They came back with their life refried out of them. £16. Avoid. Please. Just avoid. Stop encouraging this mediocrity. EDIT - They replied to say they were really busy as there were loads of cancellations. True, but about an hour after I arrived.

They pour a great pint of Guinness at the Mad Bishop and Bear! Excellent bar and food service. Just the place to go at the end of a long day before you catch the train.

Stopped for a drink whilst we waited for our train, pricey but a good selection but nothing less than I would have expected in london

Always enjoy a pint of Pride after my train journey!!!!

Good place if waiting for a train

Always great quality and well kept cask beers. Great place to wait for your train. Or simply do a detour to sample the beers. Breakfast and rest of food menu is good too.

Clean, plenty of choice and will return

This is a lovely, traditional pub serving a medium range of including pub classics . This pub is located at the of Paddington Station's food court , and next to a cost coffee outlet. The service here is great, however the price is not, considering what you are getting. However, saying that it is within one on the main stations in London.

A solid 3 star , couple of friendly staff one not so but hey ,may have been an off day for him!, Additionally they had only just reopened and apparently so some items on the menu were not available. If you or anyone in your group are with access issues be aware there are no disabled toilets available here.

Great place to meet, whether traveling or not! Plenty of room and a good, Central location.

Filthy toilets, lack of regular cleaning

A welcoming, unfussy pub with great service and well priced food options. A calm haven within the the hustle and bustle of Paddington Station.

Excellent breakfast and service.

Visited early December to start off a Christmas work evening, food was great had a burger and beer. Staff extremely helpful would recommend when in London. Would definitely use again when at Paddington station. 👍👍

It's on the concourse at Paddington Station so handy as was waiting for train food was very good if a bit pricey 17.50 for Burger and Chips and 5.75 for a pint of beer, but given location and in London I suspect that's par for the course. Pleasant enough atmosphere and as said handy. Would use again.

Cracking place for a quality pint. The staff are very attentive, we forgot an award certificate, but the staff kept it safe until we returned. Thanks very much 🙂

Se ubica en un primer piso, dentro de la Estación Paddington. Es un lugar agradable con la típica decoración de los bares londinenses. Fuimos con mi marido a cenar, pero lamentablemente ya estaban cerrando la cocina, por suerte nos avisaron antes de sentarnos. Nos quedamos con las ganas de comer algo rico, ya que los comentarios que vimos eran muy buenos.