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Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Monday, 16th February 2015
With picture contributions to 11568 other pubs
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Detail Pages
The Devonshire Arms, Russell Park, Bedford
Bedford
MK40 3TB
Served areas
Reviews of The Devonshire Arms (Average Rating: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Devonshire Arms
Located out in a residential area you’re unlikely to stumble across to the east of the town centre, this is a smart two-room Charles Wells house that has apparently been tied to the brewery for over 120 years. You enter into a large bare boarded front bar with half-height wall panels, some of which are painted grey, beneath plain upper sections. The servery is to the rear right and has a simple tongue and groove panelled counter beneath a nice pot shelf with decorative metalwork and frosted glass, with the pub’s name spelt out across it in gold lettering. All topped with some rather ugly blackboards listing the wine selection, which rather spoil the overall effect. The mirrored bar back has some basic dark wood shelving that looks like it might be a relatively recent replacement, but still fits in okay with the overall look. Seating comes mainly in the form of simple tables and chairs, especially through the opened out left-hand side of the room, with a few high tables and stools dotted around and hard backed pews under the front windows. The walls have been decorated with various old paintings, a fake stag’s head, plentiful CAMRA certificates and an unused TV screen. There’s a nice fireplace to the left with a plain mirror above, backed by some deer motif wallpaper. A door next to the bar leads through to a rear room with plenty more tables and chairs, a plainer version of the front servery, and more of the same traditional decor. A good 70’s and 80’s soundtrack played in the background and there was a steady stream of customers, most of whom seemed to know each other, throughout my stay.
Two Wells beers - Eagle IPA and Legacy - were available alongside Adnams Ghost Ship, St Austell Tribute and Black Sheep Bitter, and my pint of the Ghost Ship was in very good condition, meriting the pub’s inclusion in the Good Beer Guide. The two barmaids seemed friendly enough, but despite the influx of customers, there was a strange, stilted atmosphere of the sort I don’t really associate with this sort of community local’s pub.
This is quite a nice pub with a decent interior that has a few comfy spots to settle down in, and some well kept ale, albeit from quite mainstream sources. I think I’d have warmed to this one a little more if I’d caught it a bit later in the day, when it was a little livelier, but as it was, I came away feeling it was a reasonable pub without much in the way of atmosphere. Maybe one for a revisit some day.
On 22nd February 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Devonshire Arms
A well described, Victorian side street local which has the dreaded Charles Wells sign outside.
Inside is all very pleasant and the welcome was friendly. So far so good.
And it continues to surprise with beers on being Thwaites Wainwright, Marstons 61 Deep, Courage Directors, Wells Eagle IPA and an excellent Adnams Ghost Ship. Not a selection to set the world alight and with a few from the former Wells Bedford brewery but Marstons are clearly having an influence and any choice outside Bombardier has to be a good thing.
I liked it here and would make a beeline for it if in Bedford.
On 6th September 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Devonshire Arms
This pub is well worth the long walk from the town centre.It is a charming local much used by the neighbourhood and along a footpath to the side of the pub is a chippy in the next road.It's a Charles Wells house but has not been refurbed and retains a timeless charm.Originally the front room would have had a saloon but although the door has been retained it no longer opens.To the left of the front door is a seating area in dark wood with some traditional furniture,while the bar is to the right with several bar stools for regulars and a couple of square tables.Through an arch is a back room,less attractive but with it's own counter with a single handpump,while a doorway leads to a charming rear garden ,walled and a suntrap.It was very popular on a hot Saturday evening.The welcome was friendly and the atmosphere calm,a complete contrast with the circuit pubs of the town centre.
It's a GBG regular and having been in some other pubs listed in the 2018 guide ,I was wary when I saw the Charles Wells signage.However besides the dull Eagle IPA and Courage Directors I was pleased to see guest ales.Marstons now own CW brewing so whether Marstons 61 Deep and Ringwood (also owned by Marston's) Razorback are really guests I will leave others to decide,but the final guest of St Austell Tribute was on fine form and justified the GBG entry.It's not far from the River Ouse,worth seeking out if in the area.I do like Will's homage to the opening scenes of The Prisoner below.
On 22nd July 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2737 recommendations about 2737 pubs]
View more reviews of The Devonshire Arms (5)
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- Official site of The Devonshire Arms - www.devonshirearmsbedford.co.uk
- The Devonshire Arms page on the Charles Wells website - www.charleswellspubs.co.uk
- Facebook - The Devonshire Arms
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Devonshire Arms - whatpub.com
Bedford, 1.59 miles, 30 min walk (show)
Kempston Hardwick, 5 miles, 1 hr 36 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 22 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 22 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Festivals : Yes last updated 22 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 26 February 2015 by Will Larter
- Car Park : No last updated 26 February 2015 by Will Larter
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 22 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Darts : No last updated 22 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 22 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Hot Food : No last updated 22 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Jukebox : No last updated 22 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Karaoke : No last updated 22 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Live Music : Yes - Occasionally - last updated 22 July 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- Micropub : No last updated 22 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Pinball : No last updated 22 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Pool Table : No last updated 22 July 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- Quiz Night : Yes - Monthly - last updated 22 July 2018 by Bucking Fastard
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 26 February 2015 by Will Larter
- WiFi : Yes last updated 22 February 2022 by Pub SignMan
