The Wigmore Arms, Wigmore, Luton

The Wigmore Arms was a bonus pub that I tagged onto a tour of Buckinghamshire pubs after failing to do it the week before when in Luton! Situated on a retail park, access was difficult due to the lengthy petrol queues for the adjacent fuel station due to panic buying. My visit nearly ended in panic too after initially taking a seat in the adjacent Wigmore restaurant and bar. I somehow twigged that I was in the wrong establishment, gave my apologies to the Wigmore staff who were about to take a food and drinks order from us, before moving nextdoor! The Wigmore Arms was quite busy and many of its patrons had obviously had lengthy sessions drinking. Some were struggling to stand up. Wells Bombardier is the regular beer here. Guests were Sharp's Doom Bar & Marston's Pedigree. There was also Weston's Old Rosie & Rosie's Pig Rhubarb Cider. Most customers were either on lager or shots though. We did manage to order food, which was very reasonably priced and nice enough for a chain pub. The pub is a bit on the rough side, but I've been to many worse pubs than this.

A shopping centre pub that seems to date from about the 1960s. It's in really good nick, probably having had a fairly recent refurbishment; my only quibble would be some purple paint on the walls, but at least it's not red. More to the point is a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, which I must admit the reception committee of nicotine addicts in the doorway had not prepared me for. There are four hand pumps on the bar, with Robinsons Dark Vader, Bombardier, Greene King IPA and another of theirs "settling". I went for the Star Wars beer, which was in top condition and very quaffable (the cycle ride from the station probably helped).