Meatcure

Bedford is brimful of burgers! 

When we heard that Meatcure was expanding into Bedford there was, amidst the excitement, a cynical, whispering voice in the back of our head that questioned whether Bedford’s food scene is in need of a touch more diversity. This is the third burger joint to open in the last few years, it said. Bedford is, increasingly, a town of festival, art and culture and our foody folk can be trusted to turn out for something different. French, maybe? A modern (non-buffet!) Chinese or bao place?


That grumbling, though, was quickly forgotten on our first visit. Everyone loves a good burger, after all, and the regeneration which Meatcure brings to the top of the High Street should be welcomed by the most ardent of vegans. The building, formerly one of Bedford’s biggest eyesores, looks great both inside (where they have opted for a relaxed, modern industrial aesthetic) and out.

The beef hotdog smothered in chilli, and a burger
with chorizo and caramelised onions

We were invited to a launch event where we were treated to piles of sliders brought round on platters, sampling a classic cheese burger, a Southern fried chicken burger (with Meatcure’s own, delicious, Armageddon chilli sauce) and a burger of pulled beef brisket in a sweet BBQ sauce. We have been back since to try other items on the menu, including the beef hotdog smothered in chilli, and a burger with chorizo and caramelised onions.


The beef patties had a richness that suggests they are of decent quality, though their overall flavour was fairly mellow and was drowned out in the burger with the chorizo. They were on the thin side and cooked all the way through, which for us meant they were leaning towards being just a little dry, which could also be said about the chicken burger. But if your preference is for a compact, tidy burger that, depending on your table manners, wont end up all over your face and fingers, you will enjoy them.


The chilli dog, in contrast, was messy, fiery, and the sausage had all the flavour of a classic American frank. The beef brisket slider we had was delicious, so it’s a shame we haven’t seen it on the main menu since the opening.


For us, a better and more diverse selection of beers is a must, particularly when the new Brewhouse and Kitchen over the road offers a broad range of more flavourful lagers and IPAs.

Overall, Meatcure is a solid offering

The service has not been perfect so far, with items missed and requests forgotten about, but food has generally been brought out speedily and the staff are cheery and welcoming.


Overall, Meatcure is a solid offering where you are likely to find something you will be happy with at a reasonable price (burgers are, generally, a few pounds cheaper than at Smokeshack on Mill Street.) The food is rich, filling, and tastes pretty much how you would expect.


Does it offer Bedford’s best burger in this increasingly crowded market? We’re not sure. But we’re going to try and find out.


Better get eating…

Have you been? If so, let us know on Twitter! 

Have you herd?

herd. Burger and chips 

Herd, the new burger restaurant in Bedford opened its doors last week to muted fanfare. With a limited online presence and on-trend branding, interest around the new restaurant has been high. The basic premise seemed fool proof, a hipster-pleasing array of craft beers and a fine selection of burgers. This is just what Bedford has been waiting for, especially as gourmet burger restaurants are popping up all over the country.

With this in mind, our first visit to herd was rather disappointing. With customer service skills lacking we were abruptly told there was a waiting list and it would be a 45 minute wait until we could be seated (no bookings taken). The wait is to be expected in a new restaurant. We got some drinks (disappointingly some of the beers were out of stock) and sat in one of the stylish back rooms. We were finally invited through to the restaurant area and seated on stools facing a wall which is hardly conducive to good conversation over a meal! This highlights a bigger problem, the restaurant area, however stylish, is very small. Considering the two back rooms are sparsely populated by drinkers it would make sense to extend the dining area into one of these two rooms. This would reduce the wait during busy periods and allow for a more thoughtful seating arrangement in the dining area.  

For my taste the burger was overdone, cooked through rather than medium. We were not asked how we would like our burgers cooked. The relish and other accompaniments were all fresh and very good. One of the drinks we asked for failed to materialise apart from being listed on our bill and there was a hair nestled smugly amongst the chips. The chips (minus the hair) were the unsurpassed success of the evening, hand cut with rosemary and garlic seasoning - very tasty. The buns were fine but when we noticed one of the staff tearing open a four pack of bread rolls behind the counter it immediately left a bad taste in our mouths. We’d much rather imagine they were being prepared fresh in the kitchen or delivered fresh from a bakery!

The Park - burger

If you’re a fan of burgers then I suggest you try the Park’s mouth-watering patty (pictured) or the Smoke Shack for another perfectly cooked burger. We're sure herd will only get better as they find their feet. There's certainly room for this type of restaurant in Bedford and we will certainly be returning! 

Why not tweet us and let us know your favourite Bedford burger.

Smoke Shack Bedford - Opening night impressions

Smoke Shack threw open its door to the grateful, meat hungry denizens of Bedford on Thursday 4th June. Their second venue following a highly successful and well-reviewed start in Stony Stratford, the sequel to Smoke Shack has taken on the site of the defunct BBQ Bob’s on Mill Street. We were invited to attend the launch night along with some lucky winners of a ‘golden ticket’ competition and our first impressions are that, expected teething problems aside, Bedford could soon have a top class BBQ joint on its hands.


When you arrive at a brand new restaurant and walk down a red carpet to be greeted by the wrinkled brow of Gordon Ramsay, your tastebuds prepare themselves for a special culinary experience. Ramsay turned out to be a lookalike (there was also a Mr T, both of them from ‘The Chippendoubles’ of Britain’s Got Talent fame) but the food at Smoke Shack, which aims to combine the best of British and American smoke houses, has a real authenticity.


Crucially for a BBQ restaurant, the quality of the produce on offer is clearly very good and it was mostly well-prepared. The smoked ham hock terrine starter was delicious, livened-up by the fresh, zingy house-made piccalilli. The nachos were about what you would expect and would have been more interesting if they had come topped with the smoked chicken and black treacle bacon lardons we had ordered.

On to the mains, the Shack Attack burger was delicious. The high-quality beef had a deep, rounded flavour and, cooked slightly pink, was still wonderfully soft and juicy, nestled neatly inside a rich brioche bun. We also had the grand spare ribs. These are not the huge, meaty, fatty ribs that we have had elsewhere (we asked the waiter to assure us that they weren’t the baby backs) but the pork was tasty and very succulent, falling off the bone and melting in the mouth. They were, as you would expect, deeply smoky. But somewhere between the smoking process and the spice rub they had become very salty. For some people, we suspect, they would have been inedibly salty. The crispy fries were fine but they were brought to life by the wide variety of fantastic hot and smokey sauces on the table.

When it comes to dessert menus, some BBQ restaurants can really disappoint. Not so here. We were disappointed not to be able to have the peanut butter fondant because it sounds amazing, but the black forest eton mess was everything we wanted it to be-very dark chocolate sponge, very sweet meringue and very boozy kirsch laced cherries. The special cheesecake was similar: super sweet, not very subtle but perfect if that’s what you are looking for in a dessert. We also have to mention how pleased we were that the restaurant offers the crisp, refreshing Curious Brew lager on tap.

There were, as you would expect, a few teething problems with service which we expect will be improved upon. In addition to the unavailability of the peanut butter fondant the kitchen ran out of chicken wings (our favourite!) and there were a few mistakes with our orders and a lack of knowledge about the menu among the waiting staff.


Our party was a little divided on the restaurant decor. One of us guiltily missed the gaudy Americana that adorned the walls of BBQ Bob’s, but the other admired the warm simplicity and the sense of space created by the giant mirror on the back wall. However, we were agreed on two things. First, that the effort that has gone into revamping the space in the short lead time since the restaurant’s announcement was impressive. Second, that we love the giant bear mural in the bar.



On what must have been a difficult opening night for the Smoke Shack team, we were left confident that with a few tweaks it will be one of Bedford’s top eateries. The menu has been designed deliberately so that diners will face a difficult choice in deciding what to order and the range of delicious-sounding burgers, dogs and grills on offer will certainly have us coming back for more in the next few weeks. We look forward to offering our updated impressions when we do.

BBQ Bobs

Barbecue is big right now. If you are even the least bit foody you will have come across (and probably consumed) plenty of pulled pork this summer and American-style BBQ joints serving authentically prepared ribs, steaks and other hunks of meat have been doing great business in the capital. Bedford, too, with its glut of Indian and Italian offerings, is crying out for a restaurant like BBQ Bob’s on Mill Street and we would like to see it succeed for that reason alone. But having visited several times in the last few months, it’s disappointing to report that the food at Bob’s is a real mixed bag.

‘Authentic’ is the key word here and Bob’s menu really emphasises the fact that all of the meat on offer has been smoked in-house and cooked on the day that you’re going to eat it. When they run out of an item, it says, there will be no reaching into the deepest recesses of the freezer to pull out weeks old bits of chicken. The idea of this focus on freshness and careful preparation is spot on. So when the reality of the food presented doesn’t live up to it, it’s doubly disappointing.

Bob has constructed a pleasingly tight, focused menu but the dishes which should be show-stoppers at any barbecue joint were not good. When we visited with a large party recently, five of us chose the delicious-sounding slow-cooked brisket. It’s no exaggeration to say that it was almost inedible. Dry and tough with chewy fat, it was like they had warmed up and plated slices of some sub-Aldi budget supermarket’s packet beef. Unfortunately it appears this was not an isolated incident—we’ve heard similar complaints about the brisket since. Bob’s pulled pork is ok, with a sweet, smokey flavour, but presented as it is in an uninspiring roll without any of the moist, sticky BBQ sauce (or even mayonnaise) that you would expect, it’s just too dry. So are the ribs which, though they have good flavour, were a bit too chewy.

In short, if the food is being prepared as the menu promises, it just doesn’t always taste like it.

There are positives. The service we received was excellent. All five of our very disappointing briskets were comped, as was a burger that was offered as a replacement. The burger was delicious. Tasty beef steak served slightly pink, it was very succulent and melt-in-the-mouth. The chicken wings were excellent, smothered in a lovely, smokey sauce with the meat falling off the bone. The accompaniments are great, particularly the fries which are seasoned with a nice spice mix. There’s also a strong selection of cocktails and Bob’s home-brewed beer is a nice touch, even if it tastes a little tinny.


So while there are signs of promise, as true meat lovers who were very excited about BBQ Bob’s our overall judgement can’t be a positive one. Some of the dishes need to be tweaked and others completely reconsidered. We hope they are: Bedford’s carnivores deserve the best.

The Kings Arms (Cardington)

Front garden Kings Arms

If any of you don't know Cardington it is a beautiful little village nestled just outside Bedford in the shadow of the magnificent air ship hangers.

The Kings arms has had a mixed past. I remember it years ago when it was inevitably run by some awful chain pumping out microwaved cardboard-esque gruel.

However, more recently under new ownership and after a long overdue make over the gastro pub has really come in to its own.

It’s less a pub and more of a restaurant (still a chain) now and is beautifully decorated inside and out. I have spent countless Sunday afternoons sitting out in the garden with a cool drink and warm wholesome, freshly produced meal. The menu has a home cooked feel about it. However, it is a far cry from anything the average cook could rustle up in their kitchen. The food is more often than not brilliant. I think I would say they do simple food really well. Things like their fish and chips and Sunday roasts are always very good. That is of course when they have the ingredients! As last Sunday I went at about 4.00pm and there was only one out of the four roast dinner options to choose from. It was beef, not my first, second or third choice but I have to say it was cooked to perfection being tender and full of flavour. The vegetables and potatoes were also seasoned well and very moreish.

The restaurants does all kinds of courses (which I must say I wasn't aware of until I looked at their website) like two for £10 and three to £13 on certain days of the week; full details of which are available on their website.

www.thekingsarmscardington.co.uk

Blue ginger

Blue Ginger facade can be lost in its surroundings

Blue ginger is a popular little Indian restaurant on Bedford Road, Kempston. It is easy to drive past without giving it a second look especially now with the addition of The Elephant; the Chinese and Thai restaurant that is situated practically on top of the understated Indian.

The restaurant is rather small inside and on a busy Friday or Saturday night it feels as though you are eating from the table of your neighbour. However, I feel this adds to the charm of the place. It has always had a really nice atmosphere whenever I have been there. Indeed a lot of customers that come to pick up their take-away order come early to have a drink and a chat at the bar. The staff are friendly and indeed the owner / manager likes to come to the tables of his guests and engage in conversation, which is a bit more than the usual, “Is everything alright with your meal?” You can sit and relax without having courses thrust under your nose as soon as you have finished the starter, which is very welcomed especially when considering how busy the place gets.

The takeaway menu is also very good and is quite often found at the top of the pile in my house. Their menu can be found on their quite comprehensive website http://bluegingerbedford.co.uk/default.asp

The one thing I really like about this restaurant is the quality of the food. You can have a really nice, large meal and still feel as though you are eating healthily. The menu isn’t as lengthy as other Indian restaurants but all this means is that the chef can concentrate on the quality of the dishes they do provide.

The restaurant is great for meals with friends, partners or family and I have been with all and had a good experience each time.

There are so many Indian restaurants to choose from in Bedford and its surrounding area and I being a great lover of Indian cuisine have never really dined in one that I have truly disliked. I think it’s fair to say that the level of Indian cuisine in Bedford is generally quite good. Let me know if you think otherwise.

Blue Ginger really carves out its niche in the market by being a small, friendly, wholesome restaurant that achieves success through customer loyalty. I believe that if you visit there once, you will more than likely go again.

Quality 9
Service 9
Price 8
#Wicbha? Yes

The failings of chains

With our economy on the brink of another recession, we will inevitably see more and more local businesses and services folding. However, what I have noticed is that people are still going out to eat and socialise over food and drink and where chains tend to withstand difficulties, independent restaurants always have to up their game to survive. The service has to be top notch and the food has to be above average. And it shows. However, are the chains over-confident and taking their customers for granted? Perhaps.

In the last week I have been able to experience three big chain restaurants and to say I was disappointed is an understatement. Last night, with a pizza craving, we headed to Pizza Hut on the Aspects Leisure Park. Just driving past we could see it was busy- it is school holidays, but that didn’t worry us. However, walking in we were firstly unable to even get inside owing to the pile up of people in the tiny waiting/ take away area who were waiting for orders or to be seated. We stood at the front desk where you wait to be seated and we were not acknowledged for over 5 minutes even though we saw three members of staff standing around chatting for a couple of minutes. It was also awful to see they had a table of 2 literally in the doorway although at the back of the restaurant there were many empty tables. We noticed the floor was covered in pizza, napkins and cutlery and the salad bar looked as though a bomb had hit it. When we were eventually seen to, we were told it was a twenty minute wait and so we left as we had already gone off the idea. It’s a shame that in this day and age, huge businesses such as the Whitbread Group who are lucky enough to be able to withstand these worrying times and have such a large market captured, are unable to meet basic customer service standards.
Sticking to the chains, we headed to Frankie and Bennies. We were served as soon as we got in, although by the door where the front door is always open and so there is a draft, but the staff were very friendly and polite. We were served quickly and ordered chicken wings to share to start, a New Yorker burger each and then pancakes to share for dessert. Unfortunately, in true chain- standard the wings were quite fatty and burnt and the burgers were dripping in fat and grease. Maybe we were expecting too much?
However, with these big eatery companies and names, is good food too much to ask? The dessert was nice but we were left waiting for it and the bill for nearly 20 minutes. The polite female member of staff explained they were very short staffed and apologised for the wait- a shame as we saw three sets of people walk in, fail to be acknowledged or seated and instead left to go elsewhere.

Lastly, the worst experience was last week. I went to Pizza Express with a friend and we went earlier at half past 6. Again, we realised it was school holidays and so there were many kids with parents. However, once again we were sat in a rather awful place- a table for two right by the cutlery and so you are constantly battling over the sound of the knives and forks to be heard. Literally as soon as we were sat down and given the menus, a female member of staff (who we found out to be new) asked us what we wanted. We kindly explained that it might be nice to have a few minutes to have a look at the menu and so she stood two steps away and waited for us, whilst watching. In a bid to end the awkward moment, we quickly chose olives and dough balls to start and a pizza each. For 20 minutes we chatted and then we realised we had not had our starters- we understand it was busy but the problem was we could see them sitting on the side along with 4-5 pizzas with no-one taking them out. However, the new member of staff was standing around doing nothing and another came and stopped to talk to her. We had to ask for them to bring them over.

Whilst eating them we were constantly faced with children running passed our table- not the restaurants fault but annoying at the same time as the gap between us and he table next to us was around 1 foot and so the table was nudged every time. We also noticed a back member of staff continually take a full dirty rubbish bin from the back through the restaurant to the outside bins- which smelt and was quite unhygienic.

By the time we got our pizzas, nearly an hour had gone and mine was dry with the cheese hard where it had been sat out. I didn’t want to wait another half an hour and so I notified the waitress and said it might be worth keeping an eye on others. I then heard her tell a manager who said ‘if she doesn’t want another one that’s good and we don’t have to give anything away free.’

In the meantime, the new member of staff attempted to carry a tray with 4-5 bottles on it which then were dropped and glass was shattered all over the floor and by our feet- this then took around 20 minutes for them to clear up.

I was quite keen on leaving by the end- luckily we had vouchers (which Pizza Express is very good at) and so we didn’t spend much.

I look forward to visiting more independent restaurants now- I’m quite happy to give the chains a rest.

Why I will be supporting the Bedford Blues this season.

I am not the biggest rugby fan in the town, nor am I the biggest sports fan. However I am partial to supporting the Bedford blues now and again.
Now on the dawn of the new rugby season I am readying myself to become a fully-fledged rugby supporter.

Why?
Well I am moving to walking distance of the rugby ground. This however isn’t the foremost reason behind my decision to become an active Blues fan. It stems from a conscious sense of wanting / needing a greater sense of community. I have lived and particularly worked in many different parts of the UK but have always had my roots firmly planted in Bedford. I know first-hand that you can live in a city without being a part of it whatsoever.

I am proud to be from Bedford and certainly defend it whenever I can whether it be from friends comments about the lack of good bars or from others from outside of Bedford who have a less than favourable view of our town.
With the riots that have been going on around the country our lack of communal spirit is more prevalent than ever. Community doesn’t come easily; people have to work at it, get involved, get out of their comfort zone. Making that usually small extra effort can go a long way, whether it’s saying hello to your new neighbours or organising a summer street party.

For me, it will be taking an active part in the support of our local rugby team. I look forward to visiting the hot dog van, bar and other vendors that may be there and telling you all about it.

The Elephant

The new Chinese and Thai restaurant on Bedford Road, Kempston didn’t disappoint. I had heard good things about Kempston’s latest eatery.

For starters it is right next to one of my favourite Indian restaurants; Blue Ginger – so I may be a little biased.

The restaurant itself is very modern and pleasing on the eye. The menu on the other hand – it’s about 20 pages and just lists dish after dish from both Chinese and Thai recipes. This, I feel brings the quality of the restaurant down. Choice is great but a menu of this magnitude is just too much. It reminds me of lower quality Chinese restaurants or takeaway menus.

This is a shame because the quality of the food is very high, the staff are attentive and friendly and the surroundings as I mentioned are very modern, comfortable and clean. Parking isn’t great but is to be expected in this area of Kempston.

I think this is a good restaurant for a group or large family meal because of its spacious layout, friendly service and fast cooking times. However, I’m not convinced it’s the best place to go if you are a couple looking for a quiet romantic evening meal.

Price- 7

Service – 7

Quality – 8

Wicbha? – Yes – on the right occasion.

The Cheese Kitchen

The Cheese Kitchen claims to be the best cheese shop and deli in Bedford- a claim that works because there isn’t much competition but also because it is indeed delightful!

The Cheese Kitchen - Castle Road, Bedford

Situation on Castle Road, you rarely walk past without seeing a queue formed inside, which means that nipping in and out quickly isn’t always an option but it also means the food is particularly good and the staff are very friendly.  You can also sit inside (although the space is very limited) or outside at the front.

For years we have been venturing in, whether for a quick coffee and panini or more commonly to stock up on various bite-size delights including olives and cheese, paninis and cakes to snack on whilst watching a big Premiership game at home. As a former resident of Cambridge and regular goer to London, there is definitely a ‘city’ feel about the Cheese Kitchen and walking down to the river with some snacks on a hot day is certainly lovely. The quality does not come cheaply though- this isn’t a ‘fast-food’ joint and if you get carried away, which can often happen, you can end up spending rather a lot. 

I’m sure eventually Justin and the team will be hoping to move to premises that allow them to have more space for people to sit and enjoy the food with a drink and a paper as unfortunately the size is very limiting and having this will undoubtedly be popular. But they certainly have captured a market that appreciates a good deli with a ‘local’ and friendly feel and we are very pleased to have them nearby.

Price- 7 (it can add up when you want a number of snacks/ cheeses)

Service – 9 (the only disadvantage is that queues can form quickly)

Quality – 10

Wicbha? - Daily

Lords and Ladies

Lords and ladies new location  in St Cuthberts Street

As a regular visitor to beauty parlours within the area, I was pleased to come across Amy and Helen Lord at LA Fitness on Kimbolton Road where they were working inside the gym running their own beauty business for members. I would regularly go and have my nails done and various other treatments after a session with my personal trainer and was always looking forward to it as both girls are so friendly and welcoming, as well as being excellent beauty practitioners.

I was so happy for them when they announced they were moving into their own premises on St. Cuthbert Street (close to The Ship pub) and the business was called ‘Lords and Ladies,’ (taken from their last name). The premise is a house that they purchased it and re-decorated inside. The front is very elegant and simple and you enter by walking through a side driveway. As soon as you walk in, you feel a lovely sense of calmness and are always greeted by a friendly receptionist who offers you a drink and a seat in a lovely room overlooking the road (presumably the original living room). You don’t have to wade through customers or shout over hairdryers and already feel relaxed before the treatment has even begun- which is quite an achievement! 

The range of treatments is extensive. Both sisters work full time along with two other beauty therapists and are open seven days a week! They then also have someone who comes in and does massage treatments and an osteopath. Each girl has their own treatment room, decorated in modern, stylish and relaxing colours and patterns. There is also a spray tan room where they use Fake Bake products, among other leading skincare brands.

What I feel is so nice about the business is their approach and welcoming nature to customers. You can go in there and feel as though you have known them for years- a touch I hope they never lose.

The Cappuccino Bar

The Cappuccino Bar

Last Wednesday evening I took an old friend from Scotland down to the Cappuccino Bar on Newnham Street, next to the auctioneers, for dinner. We were in the mood for a couple of drinks and a catch up and so I thought of this place because it is delightfully laid back. Although it states on the website ‘...it is the ideal setting for any occasion, whether it is romantic meal for two, a dinner with family or a lively celebration you have in mind..’ it’s not necessarily somewhere I would go for a romantic evening nor a birthday celebration, however it is thoroughly enjoyable for a low-key dinner, with affordable prices, nice food and friendly staff. We both opted for the ‘two courses for £9.95’ option which, unlike most restaurants with similar offers, does not exclude anything on the menu, and therefore is excellent value as the courses are by no means small. We sat in the back ‘garden’ area which is intentionally roofed with overgrown plants and flowers which creates an outdoor, Mediterranean feel where a group of Italian singers wandering from table to table would not be out of place. The only problem with that decor and the muggy summer evenings is the rise in the number of flies that are in the room, which got a little annoying whilst eating. The layout of the restaurant is also unfortunate as the narrow room can be quite noisy when the restaurant is busy- which it normally is. I have had the misfortune of sitting in the back right-hand corner of the front part of the restaurant where the cutlery is stored and it can be quite ear-piercing every time a waiter or waitress goes to fetch or replace the knives, forks and spoons. However, what I like about this place is that it doesn’t pretend to be anything that it isn’t and it works well as a cafe/restaurant for locals who want nice-sized pizza and pasta with a glass of wine, without queuing for an hour down the road in Pizza Express. One of my biggest bugbears with the British food industry, and one I have experienced countless times in Bedford, is the lack of ability to cater for customers on a busy night- restaurants will happily quote you a time of an hour or more (which is never the case if you hang around and wait) and therefore will happily lose the business to avoid being ‘over-busy’. But, in true European style, the Cappuccino bar will do everything it can to accommodate customers without sacrificing service and will gratefully receive the business, giving the restaurant a welcoming reputation.

Quality- 6-7

Price – 9

Service – 8

Would I go back again? Absolutely.

The Plough

The Plough at Bolnhurst is my favourite restaurant in the Bedford area. The food is of a consistently high quality cooked under the auspices of chef Martin Lee who trained under Raymond Blanc among others. The menu is distinctly English in character with Italian and French influences that change with the seasons. The wine list is extensive and each main menu item has a suggested wine accompaniment. An average meal with wine will set you back around £30.

Situated in this small village 10 minutes drive from the town, guests are greeted with a warm welcome from Martin and Jayne Lee who always wear a smile even at the busiest of times. There is a wide selection of ales for the beer drinker and guests are offered complimentary bread and an olive/balsamic vinegar dip with the meal if desired. Such is the popularity that booking is essential. However, if you turn up at the 6 o’clock opening time, you may be able to grab one of the tables in the bar area. The proprietors have recently built an extension to increase the number of tables inside, and on hot summer days there are many more tables outside in a pleasant environment. The pub is closed on Mondays.

Quality 9
Service 10
Price 8
#Wicbha? An unequivocal yes.

Who am I?

I am the bedfordcritic. My identity is and will remain secret. I move silently between restaurants, bars, cafés constantly assessing.

The bedfordcritic is made up of the views of two people. One male and one female to give the reader an impartial view from both genders.   

Why listen to me?


I do not do this for any remuneration. I am therefore impervious to any enticements to write a good review . I have a keen interest in service providers especially the small local businesses who I am eager to support and help improve. I am an advocate of ‘tough love’ – business owners need to be told the truth in order to change for the better.


I have experience of eating at various restaurants all over the UK with varying degrees of quality and price. I have come to realise that a high price doesn’t always mean high quality.


My judgements are based around four key elements:


Quality
Service
Price
#Wicbha? Would I come back here again? 

Stay tuned to find out more!