BITE user comments - arBitter_of_taste
Comments by arBitter_of_taste
Whereas the Three Cups up the road has slowly improved over the last few years, The Castle has slowly been going the other way. Not that it's a bad pub, just not as good as it used to be. Thankfully still Chav-free but it seems to be refurnished and tarted up far too frequently than is good for a pub, making it a little bland and characterless.
Rather bland beer choice too - Eagle IPA, Courage Directors and Everards Tiger on last visit.
The Tiger was pretty good but we just had the one before moving onto the Ship for something more interesting (Holden's Golden Glow as it happened). Like the Youngs Kew mentioned below, Courage Directors is now brewed in Bedford, so not what I really consider a 'guest ale'.
6 Apr 2010 00:39
After a bit of a shaky period a few years ago the Three Cups has been quietly going about it's business, slowly improving the quality and range of it's ales, and general ambience without the need of regular refurbs - unlike The Castle just up the street.
Keep up the good work.
6 Apr 2010 00:02
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.
5 Apr 2010 23:38
Ignore 'sandpiper' below. Judging by his/her reviews of other pubs I've frequented they don't actually appear to like ANY pubs; best stay at home with some chilled, gassy cans and wallow in your own misery.
bluestonelaptop - Val the landlady is indeed great, but I'm not sure I'd want to 'Poker in the rear on Fridays!' ;)
Usually has two beer festivals a year, early in May and around Xmas, with a dozen or more ales but well worth a visit at any time of year. The only downside is that as a non Bedfordian it's a bit of a stagger back to the Bus Station.
5 Apr 2010 22:43
Nothing I write is going to change the opinions of those who frequent this place, as those that do most likely can't read anything other than TXT.
Marginally better than drinking a can of Special Brew in the park, but only if it's raining.
5 Apr 2010 22:11
Has thus far failed to live up to Charles Wells' hype about a new concept of 'Speciality Beer House'
A nice refurb and poaching Eric Mills from the Wellington augured well but the Bedford Arms has sadly fallen down on the all important beer front.
Don't get me wrong, the quality is fine, it's the choice that's lacking.
As soon as you enter the pub you are bombarded (or should that be Bombardiered?) with offerings from Wells and Young. And in case you hadn't noticed, Youngs beers are brewed in Bedford not Wandsworth these days so can't be considered 'guest ales'.
The real guests are tucked away in the side room, almost as an afterthought it seems. Four pumps but there's usually only two on. I think I've seen three beers on once, never all four.
And therein lies the problem. If Wells Young want us to take the 'Speciality Beer House' concept seriously they've got to put the guest ales front of house and push them a bit more instead of their own brews which are widely available throughout the town, (especially the bottled beers which are almost exclusively their own brews and much cheaper in Tesco's!)
I suspect Eric and subsequent managers would have the same gripe.
If the current landlady is who I think she is, she knows the Wellie well, and knows how it can be done.
Fine for pint or two but you'd never while away a whole evening sampling the beers like you would at the Wellie. Opportunity Missed.
5 Apr 2010 21:51
Walked past here the other day - it was closed and boarded up. Fair brought a smile to my face.
A godawful dump that won't be missed by many.
5 Apr 2010 20:32
First and foremost, it's not a pub. It's Somewhere to go for Sunday Lunch with Kids in Tow.
A sort of slightly upmarket MacDonalds with a Play area. And alcohol.
On my one and only visit it would seem it's not even very good at it.
Meeting up with various family members with several nieces and nephews one Sunday afternoon we placed our food orders only to be told that two of the adults & two of the kid's choices were unavailable. They chose again. Two of those were also unavailable! And there was no baked beans, would the kid's like peas instead! No Beans? For GOD'S SAKE there's a bloody great Tesco's 2 mins away - go get some.
And then when the food arrived - oh dear. Three of the kids had ordered Fishy Bites or something - basically Fish-shaped fish fingers. But they'd run out (no surprise there). Or rather they only had one portion, the other two they brought to the table were regular fish fingers. Cue screaming kids fighting over the fish shaped ones. Who would've predicted that? Not the dim-witted kitchen staff obviously.
The adults meals weren't much better - one came with chips instead of the new potatoes ordered and a still-bloody steak had to be sent back to be 'well done' as requested.
I can't remember the beer; a mass produced pseudo 'real ale' served far too cold and gassy (probably Old Speckled Hen). Luckily I was driving so just had the half. Still, I can't imagine ANYONE comes here just to enjoy a beer. Even those businessmen staying next door would surely cross the road to the Crown?
5 Apr 2010 20:25
The Lord John Russell, St Neots
A nice little back street boozer that was never heaving but has unfortunately suffered more than most from the smoking ban and, in the last year the opening of the Pig n Falcon, with the result it's usually fairly empty and lacking in atmosphere.
I hope the new landlords can make a go of it but on recent visits numbers don't appear to have picked up (single figures around 10pm on a Saturday). Beer was still good - some straight from the cask. If there's a group of you and you enjoy your beer, bring your own atmosphere and give it a go.
5 Apr 2010 19:20
Used to be the best pub in the town centre under the previous landlord, the infamous Jerry, with equally infamous lock-ins, but went downhill with introduction of legal late nights, and when landlord could no longer be arsed and seemed more intent on winding up customers and staff.
New-ish tenants (2 yrs-ish) have just about reversed the decline under adverse circumstances (smoking ban, recession etc). On a good night if a few people are in it can be very good, if it's a bit quiet it can lack atmosphere, but the staff are always welcoming.
On the beer side they seem to have finally cottoned on to the fact that selling Wells Bombardier AND Greene King IPA as guests in an area dominated by the big two is really rather pointless.
The GK IPA remains but the Bombardier has been replaced by Timmy Taylors Landlord or more recently Adnams Explorer. Long may it continue. London Pride also permanently available.
I say 'permanently' but unfortunately either the Pride or the aforementioned guest choice seem to be 'off' far too frequently, which leads to a run on the other.... and lo and behold only GK IPA left at the end of the weekend.
Always used to be well regarded for food (and I can vouch for that) but again, went into decline in latter years of previous landlord. Doesn't appear to have recaptured their old market as it never seems as busy in the evening as before despite return of old chef but that may be down to recession as much as anything else.
5 Apr 2010 19:00
Glad to report that Pete and Sue have returned to the Woolie after a 3 year absence, albeit as temporary managers rather than tenants. Lets hope Charlie Wells see sense and offer them what they want to take it back on full time.
Usually 4 real ales - Eagle IPA, another Wells/Youngs bitter and 2 guests that change every couple of weeks. Usually fairly common stuff like Tiger, Tribute, Pedigree etc with the odd surprise (Castle Rock Elsie Mo) but always well kept.
Also has a Mild available but sensibly doesn't waste one of the handpumps on it - it's keg which will no doubt infuriate the local CAMRA mafia.
Large, and largely overlooked, garden out the back is a joy in the summer and a welcome escape from jukebox which can be a bit overpowering at times.
5 Apr 2010 18:16
Nearly five years on from the last comment and there's nothing positive to report. I've been in three times. The first time of my own accord to see what it was like (ghastly), and twice, kicking and screaming by 'friends' who assured me it had got better (it hadn't). The third (and final) time we walked out without getting a drink as it seemed anything that needed pouring (as opposed to being opened or served from an optic) was beyond the capabilities of the bar stewards (spellcheck required).
The only thing to be said in it's favour is that it keeps most of the dregs out of the few remaining decent pubs in the town.
5 Apr 2010 17:35
Back to arBitter_of_taste's profile
The Highwayman, Eaton Socon
I would just like to point out that although my review below is dated April 2010, our visit was late 2009 (not Xmas) when I can assure you it did have fish shaped things on the kids menu ( I DID read it) but as I pointed out they didn't have fish shaped things in the freezer!
Dennis26 - you're perfectly entitled to your opinion in favouring the Highwayman over the Crown for food but as this site is called "Beer In The Evening" (try reading it) I thought I'd better point out that the Highwayman is not somewhere you'd go for, oh, I dunno, maybe a beer in the evening?
It wouldn't be fair for me to comment on the food in the Crown as I haven't eaten there in nearly 3 years, but I have enjoyed a beer In the evening there rather more recently.
19 Sep 2010 21:31