This month’s Bedford Clanger cover story is a celebration of the Borough’s pubs, past and present.
At the heart of many communities, pubs need our support now more than ever. As more and more disappear, these centuries-old establishments are a vital part of the fabric of our culture, offering fun, friendship and a lifetime of (hazy) memories.
As we bid farewell to Dry January, we asked Clanger contributor and award-winning pub writer, Lloyd Lugsden, author of Dead Pubs of Bedfordshire, to raise a glass to some of Bedford Borough’s best boozers, plus a few that live long in the memory but that we’ve lost along the way. Cheers!
(Please drink responsibly)
Wellington Arms (aka The Welly)
Tucked away on Wellington Street, this is a classic backstreet corner boozer. The freehouse is run by Liz Sutton and her friendly team, and as well as cask ales and craft keg beers, there is a fridge of exotic continental beers, and importantly, the crisp selection is bang on point, including Wheat Crunchies and Nik Naks.
The Hidden Barrel, Harpur Street, Bedford
A relatively new pub (previously Bar Citrus, The Stanley Arms and Tam O Shanter if anyone remembers that one?), serving guest ales and Lithuanian beers.
There’s a pool table, table football and its own pub dog, Sparky.
The Castle, Newnham Street, Bedford
Bustling ‘village pub’ in the heart of Bedford town centre with great guest ales and regular events including quiz nights, open mic nights and a record club.
They also serve pizzas from Santaniellos restaurant nearby – recommended!
The Fox at Carlton
A freehouse, with a friendly cross section of punters.
This CAMRA award-winning pub sells great, unpretentious home-cooked food, plus there are regular live bands, beer festivals and charity events. A truly welcoming community pub that deserves all its plaudits.
Read: The Wellington Arms and The Fox at Carlton share CAMRA ‘pub of the year’ honours
The Sun Inn, Felmersham
A photogenic bolthole that wouldn’t be out of place in the Cotswolds. Renowned for its innovative menu, great ales, and pleasant upstairs accommodation.
Honourable mentions
Also recommended: The Devonshire Arms, Dudley Street; The Ship at St Cuthberts; Burnaby Arms, Bedford; Oakley Arms at Harrold (restaurant); The Cock at Pavenham
Dead but not forgotten
The Windsor, Silver Street, Bedford (1937 – 1987)
A relatively short-lived but popular town centre boozer in the building now occupied by Halifax Building Society. It had three rooms: bar, snug and lounge and was opposite Burton’s menswear.
The Old George, Bedford (15thC – 1927)
If you go down the alleyway past the old Windsor pub (now Halifax Building Society), this leads you to the back of the dead department store, Debenhams. Here was an old inn with monastic origins, The George.
It was demolished in the 1920s to make way for the department store.
The Woolpack, Commercial Road, Bedford (1868 – 2014)
This area was a bit of a pub hub, with three other pubs nearby and handy for the old cattle market, which was opposite. The building is now a Salvation Army community hub, so tambourines over cow bells.
The Case is Altered, Ravensden (1800s – 1995)
An unusual name and well-known bolthole. It was a bit like walking into somebody’s living room as the pub had no bar, and Connie Peet, the landlady, would serve beer from a hatch from the cellar.
The building is now a private house.
Mad Dog, Little Odell (1831 – 1997)
Another unusual name, possibly linked to a fanciful cure for rabies. Many remember their childhoods, playing in the garden which had a hand-propelled merry-go-round, apparently won in a bet! A classic pub with beams, open fires and ghosts…
These ‘dead pubs’ and many more are celebrated and remembered in the Dead Pubs of Bedfordshire series of books available direct on Facebook & Instagram (just search for Dead Pubs of Bedfordshire) or from Eagle Bookshop, Bedford. Volume 4 is due out later this year.
