bear gardenn.

1578 T. Brasbridge Poore Mans Iewel vi. sig. B.iij^v Those vagarant persons, whiche wil not worke, & yet seeke to liue vpon other mens labours. For if search were made, it wold be found, that no small number of them..haunte the Beare gardens.

1596 J. Norden Progr. Pietie f. 93 And go to the..beare gardens,..where they lose their time..and offende the laws of God, and her Maiesty.

1743 J. Wesley Jrnl. 20 Oct. in Wks. (1782) I. 439 One of them having been a prize-fighter at the bear-garden.

1803 J. Bristed Ανθρωπλανομενος II. 543 Squabbles and boxings..rendering the place more like a bear-garden than a hall of instruction.

2000 Hist. Today Oct. 53/2 By 1599 he had moved across the river to Bankside, close to the newly built Globe, and may have had lodgings somewhere among the roistering taverns, brothels and bear-gardens of the Bishop of Winchester's estate.

1640 J. Shirley Constant Maid ii. sig. D Fare well, pray do not lift my Uncle too hard; And so I leave you both to the mercy of the Bear-garden.

1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler Aggawam 9 The Church of that Kingdome will sooner become the Devills Dancing-Schoole, then Gods-Temple: The Civill State a Beare-garden, then an Exchange.

1865 W. G. Blaikie Heads & Hands ii. 28 A great meeting held in London in 1816, to promote a public subscription, where three royal dukes took a prominent part, was turned into a political bear-garden,—the resolutions being made the occasion of a political brawl.

2018 Argus (Brighton) (Nexis) 5 Oct. The fact a specific extra line was required to state scooters shouldn't be ridden inside the pub makes me think it must be a real bear garden at times.