What is the restored Drinking Bear attraction?

The Drinking Bear is a vintage mechanical toy that pours and drinks water, yawns, and lights up its eyes when a coin is inserted.

Where is the Toy Museum at Penshurst Place and Gardens?

The Toy Museum is located at Penshurst Place and Gardens in Kent, housed in a converted 19th-century workshop.

Who made the original Drinking Bear attraction?

The Drinking Bear attraction was originally built by Parisian toymakers Roullet & Decamps.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Restored 'Drinking Bear' Returns to Toy Museum

Restored 'Drinking Bear' Returns to Toy Museum

14 Dec, 2025

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Summary

A vintage 'Drinking Bear' attraction has been restored in Scotland.
The restored bear is now back at the Toy Museum in Kent.
The machine, built by Parisian toymakers, was an end-of-pier attraction.

Restored 'Drinking Bear' Returns to Toy Museum

A charming "Drinking Bear" attraction, a relic from Brighton's pier amusements, has been expertly restored and is now back at its home in Kent.

This vintage marvel, crafted by Parisian toymakers Roullet & Decamps, performs a delightful routine: it pours water into a mug, appears to drink, yawns, and its eyes illuminate upon receiving a 2p coin. The restoration was completed in Scotland and sensitively returned to the Toy Museum at Penshurst Place and Gardens.

The museum itself, situated in a converted 19th-century workshop, recently reopened after a National Lottery-funded refurbishment coinciding with its 55th anniversary. It aims to preserve the heritage of toys and how children played, offering an escape from screens and a connection to tactile experiences from the past.

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