A brand-new leisure and nightlife venue will open its doors on Bedford High Street today (1 July), offering interactive darts, pool, and cutting-edge golf simulators under one stylish roof.
The St James Club, at 38–40 High Street, occupies part of the former Debenhams building and aims to create a family-friendly entertainment hub for Bedford.
Run by the same family behind the original St James Club, which was a familiar feature of Midland Road nightlife over 30 years ago. Now, the relaunched St James Club aims to combine nostalgia with modern technology to bring Bedford something fresh and exciting.
At a preview event ahead of opening, Armando Russo, one of the team behind the venture, told the Bedford Independent, “There was a gap in the market in Bedford.
“You can either go for a drink or a meal, but we wanted to create something that gives you something more – entertainment alongside your night out.”
Golf, darts, pool, and more
Open from 10am until midnight seven days a week, the venue features three award-winning Golfzon simulators, interactive darts with instant scoring and competitive games, pool tables, and multiple screens showing all major sporting events.
It’s fully licensed until 11pm and aims to cater to a broad mix of ages and groups, with under-18s welcome. However, from 9pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, they must be accompanied by an adult.
“If a couple of 16-year-olds want to come in on a Tuesday afternoon, in the summer holidays, play some gold, pool or darts, they can,” added Armando.
The team hopes its location and offering will complement Bedford’s growing entertainment scene, especially as the town prepares for regeneration around the proposed Universal Studios UK development at Kempston Hardwick.
“Bedford’s got real potential to thrive,” said Armando. “We want to be part of that. With the right offer, people don’t need to go elsewhere – we can give them something exciting right here on their doorstep.”
The tech-driven golf bays offer slope detection, automatic tee-up systems and private seating areas, providing both casual fun and serious practice for golfers of all levels.
“The nearest simulators like these are in Brentford, Birmingham or Eastbourne,” said Armando. “We’re right in the middle and hope to attract people from across the region.”
Fun-first, not drink-first
While the bar will offer drinks in a stylish lounge setting, Armando says the focus is firmly on activity.
“This isn’t about drinking culture. We’re not here to survive off the profit from a pint. If you’d like a drink, that’s fine – but if not, we have something else for you to do. You don’t have to drink to have a great time here.”
That’s a message they hope will resonate with a younger audience – and with families, students, and visiting groups alike.
The venue has already created ten jobs, with more expected as the business grows. Membership packages and future food offerings are also being developed.
The club officially opened to the public at 10am today (1 July). You can find out more by visiting thestjamesclub.co.uk or following them on Instagram and Facebook.
