ðɛɹ ɪz ɐ klˈeɪm ðæt baɪ ɐdˈɑːptɪŋ ɪts nˈeɪm, ðə kˈɜːɹənt wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti fˈoːɹ bˈɛɹ ˈɪn hɐz ɐkwˈaɪɚd ðə hˈɪstɚɹi ʌvðə pˈʌb ɔnðə hˈaɪ stɹˈiːt, ænd sˌoʊ ɪz wˈʌn ʌvðɪ ˈoʊldɪst pˈʌbz ɪn ˈɑːksfɚd.
There is a claim that by adopting its name, the current (1774) Bear Inn has acquired the history of the pub on the High Street, and so is one of the oldest pubs in Oxford.