The nation’s oldest LGBTQ+ bar, The Barley Mow is hoping to reopen in March after the pub was taken over by a team of patrons looking to “return the Barley Mow to its former glory.”
The Barley Mow joined The Bear and The Five Bells in Cople in closing its doors in November after the former owners, Admiral Taverns pubco announced they were looking for new licensees.
While The Bear reopened a week later – along with The Five Bells – The Barley Mow has remained shut and boarded up and with rumour swirling whether it would re-open at all.
“A lot of work to be done”
Speaking exclusively to Bedford Independent, the new owner of the Barley Mow is wanting to reignite what made the venue a unique staple of the town.
“Our vision of the Barley Mow is that of a venue which allows people to be themselves. A venue that champions individuality and makes people feel safe and welcome.
“We want people to trust the company behind the Barley Mow, its staff, and partners.
“We want all dealings with us to bring positivity to people’s lives. We aim to offer so much more than a safe space. There’s a lot of work to be done!”
In recent years, the local LGBTQ+ community have lamented how the town’s only LGBTQ+ bar would put “profits above patrons” and the new owners are well aware of the strong feelings when it comes to providing a safe space.
“The Barley Mow has and always will be a safe space for the LBGTQ+ community.
“The new team and company behind the Barley Mow recognise that there is a lot of work to be done to return the Barley Mow to its former glory as a safe space enjoyed by all regardless of sexuality.”
So much more than a late night venue
While the opening throws of the new venture will focus on making The Barley Mow sustainable in what are economically challenging times, the long-term vision of the iconic venue will have a much more community focused feel.
“We recognise that over half of the LGBTQ+ community suffer with mental health issues.
“We also know that a lot of that comes from activity related anxiety so it is our aim to bring in such things as sexual health screenings, job fairs and community mental health support from external agencies to the Barley Mow.”
The new owner also recognises that not everyone wants an LGBTQ+ venue focussed around nightlife, so is aiming to run daytime activities such as study groups, Mums and Dads groups and “even the odd coffee morning”.
As for the identity of the new owner, they want to keep it a secret until the big opening night but they have reassured the local LGBTQ+ community that – as a long time customer – they want to bring the Barley Mow back to its rightful place as a central LGBTQ+ hub.
The Barley Mow helped me
In collating this article, I can’t help but smiling while I write.
Growing up as a gay man, the need for somewhere to let your hair down while being comfortable that those around you are like you is a feeling that is hard to describe.
Going to branded bars on the high street was all well and good but the level of self-consciousness in holding a partner’s hand in such an environment sky-rocketed and having a well-run, friendly Barley Mow was paramount to enjoying a comfortable night out.
It also opened my eyes to a world I had not seen before; to inspirational people who were living their lives without fear or recrimination as well as helping me learn the fight that our older LGBTQ+ people fought to help get us here.
My mind goes back to a long-standing patron of the Barley Mow called Art, who sadly passed away a few years ago.
He used to tell me of the times he would visit secret venues in the 1950’s and 1960’s, when homosexuality was illegal in the United Kingdom, using the secret language Polari along the way to stay safe.
While the landscape for people like us has improved since the 60’s, it’s individuals like Art I think of when I step inside the Barley Mow; for it is one of Bedford’s most powerful symbols of inclusivity of all types.
Read: The Barley Mow was the only safe place for queer people to go
Speaking to fellow members of the LGBTQ+ community while the Barley Mow has been shut shows how desperately such a venue is still needed.
One person, who did not want to be named, welcomed the promise of restoring the Barley Mow to the safe space of yesteryear and “getting the Barley back to being the central safe hub of the community.”
And for those who want to rock the rainbow once more, you won’t have long to wait, with renovations beginning on the venue this week and a target opening time of “late March”.
