Carpenters Arms, Leighton Buzzard

The pub sign indicating a tie with The Vale Brewery is now out of date,this pub has had quite a significant internal makeover which has removed a lot of character.You enter into a dining area with two large tables while the bar is immediately ahead .There is a seperate room to the right which is now also given over to diners.The wood flooring throughout is a bit harsh on the eye,and the drinking area to the front of the pub has a selection of modern low backed leather chairs and a blocked up front doorway.The one traditional feature that I appreciated was the outside lavs which must cause some diners a bit of consternation.There are some exterior tables and chairs. The new regime offer food between noon and 8pm,with sandwiches £5 to pub grub between £7-£8 per main.The bar has 4 handpumps with GK IPA,London Pride and Doom Bar with one reversed on my trip ,a dull selection but beer in good nick. Musak on a constant loop recording and so when Hotel California came on for the second time,we knew it was time to push off back to the canal which is the obligatory 10 minutes walk away. The thatched roof promises more but this is a reliable stop off for a quick refuel.

The Carpenters Arms is a small and pretty thatched pub in the middle of the attractive village of Slapton. Unfortunately, the inside has been overly modernised and where once were traditional settles and original floors is now modern furniture and pine boards. It makes for a light, airy and clean feeling pub though. There are effectively two rooms, an open plan area kitted out with modern tables and chairs with the bar at the far end, around which are a few stools and a small table and a small dining area at the back. There are also one or two table outside. There's a food menu on the blackboard with pub staples listed and our sandwiches were very good indeed. The ale range is unfortunately unadventurous with Doom Bar, Pride, which was good, and GK IPA offered. A pleasant place to be and a reliable stop for food but would be improved with just one interesting guest beer.