The Wight Bear in Southbourne Grove welcomed new owners Simon Bentley and Tracey Sturt in December 2020.

A family affair, the pair are joined by their sons Louis and Dexter who help at the front of house and behind the scenes to bring a welcoming a fun atmosphere to the venue, along with live music events.

Simon, Dexter, Tracey and Louis

Simon said: "I previously managed bands for 25 years, so this is new for me and Tracey. We are very fun people and we like a party.

"Before we took over The Wight Bear, it was just a micropub selling cask ale and real beer. We have taken over and brought some colour to the pub.

"Now we have craft beer and cask ale, but we also have a wide range of wines, gin, vodka, and rum. We wanted to open the pub up to everyone, and we saw the potential for Southbourne Grove.

Inside The Wight Bear

"All of our drinks are always rotated and we introduce brand new drinks people can try. We try to keep our offering exciting so there is always a new discovery.

"Discovery is an important part of the pub and customers can have discovery through taste, drinks and events."

The Wight Bear hosts a variety of live events throughout the week, with a strong emphasis on supporting up and coming artists.

Nicole McNally performing at the pub

This Sunday, October 3, the pub welcomes musician Gwenifer Raymond, whose music has been described by The Guardian as "cavernous, evocative and frenetic."

According to Simon, she will bring a "different quality" of music to the pub during their 'Sunday Troubadour Session.'

He said: "We are trying to catch and promote acts and artists who are on their way up. Gwenifer Raymond recently performed at Islington Assembly Hall in London and had to move her date with us forward as she has been booked for a festival in November.

"Gwen is so unique and stands for a lot of what we stand for, including being different and expressing yourself in a colourful way.

"We want to attract local people and others further afield to The Wight Bear and make it a lot more hip.

Inside The Wight Bear

"We wanted to make the pub a place of fun and liveliness and we have taken it to another level with our live events.

"We have live music interspersed with our Sunday Troubadour Sessions, which are our stripped back acoustic events. We wanted something that finished off the week and celebrated the weekend.

"Everyone has been really positive. We are attracting new customers and old customers of the pub who feel re-energised about the place.

Louis, Tracey and Simon the day they bought the pub

"I think we are still quite a secret in SoBo. People are still discovering that we are doing fresh and exciting things at the pub."

All events at The Wight Bear are free and tickets can be booked via the pub's website https://www.thewightbear.co.uk/events-arts or on The Wight Bear Facebook page.

To nominate your favourite pub for Pub of the Week, email darren.slade@bournemouthecho.co.uk