If you’re looking for the ideal Christmas present for that hard-to-buy-for pub-loving member of your family, then look no further than the new book, published by the Bedford Clanger’s very own Lloyd Lugsden.
Dead Pubs of Bedfordshire (volume 1) pays tribute to the much-loved pubs of yesteryear and is a fascinating guide to local social history.
Lloyd began a Dead Pubs of Bedfordshire Instagram and Facebook page in January 2020.
“It came about just before the Pandemic, which would sadly jeopardise further pubs,” said Lloyd.
“It was a way to catalogue lost pubs and Instagram plus Facebook seemed like a good platform to showcase them. This soon prompted further research, unearthing many other unknown establishments.
“After numerous posts, conversations and contributions from followers it made sense to collate them into a book. A book is more tangible and is more accessible to people that don’t do social media.”
Lloyd says that he hopes the book will prompt some memories and anecdotes that might otherwise have been lost in time.
“We’re leaving an online trail that the inquisitive might just stumble upon,” he said.
“The posts combine history, tales and architecture – for unashamed nostalgia, rather than moaning about the losses – and remind us to enjoy and support the ones we still have.
“Pubs are a bit like museums, not with artefacts but memories and atmosphere. Births and weddings are often celebrated and lives remembered after funerals, all events in everyone’s lives.”
The pubs featured in volume one have focused towards North Bedfordshire and Bedford town centre, however the intention is to branch out to cover more of south and mid-Bedfordshire including Luton.
The research has revealed lots of interesting facts, not least that U2 played at a pub in Queen’s Park. You’ll have to buy the book to find out which one…
The launch for the book will be at The Fox at Carlton on Sunday 20 November from 4pm till 7pm.
“Come say hi and tell me some tales about long-lost pubs,” said Lloyd.
The book is priced £6 and you can buy a copy at the launch event or via the Dead Pubs of Bedfordshire Facebook page.
