please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Its back! Mary and Tom ex of the Irish Club re opened the place on Friday the 20th March. When I went in to see England stuff the French they were still as full of life as ever which made for a very convivial atmosphere. The London Pride and Doombar were both well presented which is are welcome addition to Bedford where a decent pride is hard to find.
I am sure they will attract the old crowd from the Irish as word gets around and it will be a great success and I wish them all the best with this latest venture
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Unfortunately this pub closed a couple of weeks ago. Hard to understand what went wrong as the beers were always very well kept and Paul and Stephanie were always very accommodating hosts. Great shame this pub has closed IMO.
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We need to reserve judgement - views ranged from who is the Mike Atherton lookalike to Deliverance...not helped by the lack of beer following a punishing 6 nations weekend. Good staff, plenty of character and one to return to on a match day.
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We need to reserve judgement - views ranged from who is the Mike Atherton lookalike to Deliverance...not helped by the lack of beer following a punishing 6 nations weekend. Good staff, plenty of character and one to return to on a match day.
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Agree whole-heartedly with review below about the ubiquitous Wells/Young's/Greene King situation in the town and this gets you away from all that. It's a lovely little pub just far enough off the beaten track to be a well-known secret amongst the ale and pub buffs. The staff are always friendly and welcoming and we do enjoy our rare trips here away from the Welly. However, I do find the beer quality here to sometimes be a bit up and down. They're also served through sparklers which, on a match day, you're not going to be the one at the front of the queue asking that they remove it to serve you your beer, believe me.
That said, we called in here on a Saturday afternoon just before the rugby finished and grabbed ourselves a table. Even when the fans did turn up it still had a great atmosphere (probably due their trouncing of Leeds) and we got chatting to a few of them. Addlestone's was the only cider which, although keg, my wife really likes. The beers were Potbelly Best, Adnams Southwold and what looked like the full range of Brain's beers - Dark, SA, Bread of Heaven and a couple more. I had the Dark which was a very nice-drinking pint and then had the Bread of Heaven which was definitely on it's last legs, so went back to the Dark.
I can't see what people mean about the prices - �3.40 seems to be the norm for the whole town now for a pint and this remains just below that at �3.20.
It has now won the 2012 North Beds CAMRA Pub of the Year. All it needs to do - for me anyway - is lose the sparklers and it would be truly great pub that I would frequent a lot more.
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If you need to get away from the omnipresent Wells & Youngs, Green King and other also rans, if you need a decent pint of beer, a welcome from sincere people, a shrine to what a good traditional pub should be without being milked. You need the Cricketers! This is exactly as it says on the tin, an archetypal traditional British pub, without the mincing, preening, overpriced food and drink one so often sees from brewers that should know better. Great atmosphere on Rugby days and a warm welcome from the Landlord and Landlady. Rivalled only by the Engineer at Henlow. When is the next beer festival? Many thanks.
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This was my favourite Bedford pub on this visit. Although, I still prefer the Wellington. It has far more character than the others. Bedecked with lots of cricket and rugby pictures and memorabilia and a teapot collection above the bar, it has plenty to admire while you sup. The landlady seemed very friendly and seemed to be getting very excited with the cricket highlights. Potton Shannon IPA, Castle Rock Harvest Pale & Adnams Southwold Bitter were on, with the Woodfordes Wherry clip turned round. Cider is Addlestones. I didn't notice prices in this pub being any higher than other pubs. But if they are, the wider choice of beers than Greene King & Wells & Youngs standards would justify this. If I had one criticism, it would be that the TVs were on at far too loud a volume. Otherwise, a decent old fashioned boozer that I felt quite at home in. It was a shame it was so quiet, customer wise.
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Small one bar pub selling very well kept ales. Landlord and landlady always very freindly. Ok so the beer might be a bit more expensive but then that keeps the riff-raff out. Shame they don't do food any more - Paul used to cook a mean Thai curry...
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A great pub which is a bit on the pricey side but worth it when you taste the ales. If 20p extra on the pint puts you off then maybe you should go for quality instead of quantity!!
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No longer does food.
Beer 40p per pint more expensive than others nearby.
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moclips2002 you sound jaded...have you been barred? I recommend that reviewers take heed of rpadam's reasoned comments. If one considers the prices here expensive you need to get out more! The price in this gaf is practically set by the tenants Landlord, who for some bizarre reason is allowed to step outside the Competition Act and charge his beleagured tenant an over inflated 100% mark up on the beer he is obligated to buy from them on top of his rent. This is a great pub, immaculate, and well run by passionate, engaging people. I like to think I know a thing or two as I have been doing the same for some twenty odd years. Thank you Paul & Steph, well done and keep up the good work
daveE - 28 Jan 2011 19:21 |
choice of 4 ales - including local ones - Banks & Taylor - all the beers were sessions beers and all atleast �3 peer pint - you can tell when your being fleeced in a large pub co's establishment
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It's NOT open lunchtimes EXCEPT on Saturdays if Bedford Blues are at home when it opens at midday.
Otherwise it's Mon to Sat: 5 � 11pm and Sunday: 7 � 10:30pm.
Yes, it can be frustrating when it's not open but it makes you savour it all the more when it is.
And if you do visit on a rugby Saturday you can buy your ticket and programme behind the bar thus allowing time for an extra pint instead of queuing at the turnstiles. The queue at the bar will be almost as long but the bar staff are cheerily efficient.
A choice of 4 or 5 regularly changing real ales with frequent Welsh brews, but we won't hold that against them. Adnams IPA is permanent; Batemans XB and Deuchars IPA are frequent visitors.
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place is never open...
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Good beer, good food and friendly staff. Worth a visit but check their opening times. Definitely a "Beer in the Evening" pub as their lunchtime opening varies.
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Very friendly pub, with efficient staff and a limited, but reasonably-priced menu. Good range of real ales, includes a decent pint of Moorhouse's Premier Bitter served northern-style (with a sparkler). Can't really understand why the rating is so low - thoroughly recommended.
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Well kept beer, good atmosphere and friendly, efficient staff, well worth a visit but watch the opening hours...
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Notice in window shows it only opens at lunchtime on Saturdays when there is rugby being played. Fortunately there was, so was able to sample this very good pub. It is the current local CAMRA pub of the year. Judged purely on only one visit to each pub, I would say the Wellington Arms would be more deserving of this title.
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Excellent choice of ales, great place to mmet up before crossing the road to watch the rugby
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No comment - no wheelchair access. even after recent refurbishment.
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Friendly pub with a great selection of real ales. Opening hours might catch you out - they seem to be 12-3 and 5-11 during the week. Well worth a visit.
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Damn place was shut mid afternoon when we visited town (7/9).
Graham - 9 Oct 2004 17:31 |
mall and friendly pub which is under new management. Great improvements and well kept cellar. Guest ales change every week or so. Waiting for kitchens to open with, I understand, a super chef.
Helen - 9 Jun 2004 13:35 |
New Licensees have really cleaned this traditional watering hole up. Very friendly. Good wine selection and have a great music system which will find you almost anything of your choice. Waiting for their new food menus.
Anita Law - 15 Oct 2003 16:18 |
