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The Pilgrims Progress (JD Wetherspoon), Bedford
Bedford
MK40 1QB
Pub Type
J D WetherspoonReviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Pilgrims Progress (JD Wetherspoon)
This is a large Wetherspoons pub - the only one remaining in town after the closure of the Banker’s Draft - with a decent central location a short walk from the train station. The pub occupies a very large single room, with an approximate L-shape layout, comprising a fairly shallow but wide front space running from the right-hand side, all the way to the bar on the left-hand wall, where the room then starts to extend further to the rear. The right side of the pub is mainly a split-level, carpeted area with a raised seating section under the front windows and a slightly larger space on a lower level behind. The room has plenty of dark wood panelling as well as a few rather grand bookcases filled with what I can only assume are auction job-lots, rather than someone’s esteemed library. A partitioning rail separates the two levels, and on the lower section, this is used as the backing to a row of nice banquette booths. The room is broken midway along by a large brick chimney stack with a small fireplace, which acts as the divider between the right side and the more open bar area to the left. High tables and stools dominate this space, running from the fireplace all the way to the bar, which has a simple wood panelled counter front and white tiled bar back of the sort that would look more at home in a craft beer bar than in a ‘Spoons. The room then runs a long way back, again across a couple of different levels, with lots more seating mainly in the form of basic tables and chairs. There may be some sort of beer garden or patio area to the rear, but I didn’t get a chance to explore.
The three usual ‘Spoons ales were complimented by four guest ales and two real ciders, and I enjoyed a good quality pint of the Saltaire New World. I also stopped here for some food and thought it was of a much higher standard than in your average Wetherspoons, with a bit of attention to detail paid to what are essentially nothing more than microwave reheat meals. Service was pretty good and there was a busy Wednesday evening crowd in.
This is a fairly bog-standard Wethersppons pub that doesn’t really have a great deal to make it stand out from the crowd, but it did at least have a good guest ale policy, friendly service and some decent food, which helped to round off my Before pub crawl nicely. Sure, you’ll have seen it all before, but it’s a solid choice and worthy of including on a trip around town.
On 23rd February 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Pilgrims Progress (JD Wetherspoon)
Average Wetherspoons, some booth areas, food area at rear.
On 27th January 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Pilgrims Progress (JD Wetherspoon)
This is a largish corner Spoons dating from 1997 that was originally a furniture shop. The name recalls some local bloke who wrote a book called this donkey's years ago.
It's an L shaped open plan single room where the most attractive area is around the bar at the back of the pub which leads to a paved patio. There is a screen and projector here for sporting events which to my relief was not in use on my visit. The room is filled with the usual Spoons mix of tables and chairs.
The bar has two banks of three hand pumps and a further six at the side.
The net result of this was the two GK beers doubled up, Doom Bore, Broadside, Milestone Classic Dark Mild, Hambledon Nightmare, Stonehenge Pigswill, Moorhouse Farmhouse and two beers available soon.
I went for the Moorhouse Farmhouse (£1.99) which was in very good nick.
Overall I thought this was the better of the two Bedford Spoons. The fact that the toilets are at bar level must be worth a point in itself.
On 10th April 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Pilgrims Progress (JD Wetherspoon)
I gave this place a poor review and a low rating (4) following my previous call, but I found my recent visit a rather better experience. Nothing seems to have changed in the very large 'L'-shaped bar, but both the staffing and beer selection seem to have improved. Two banks of six handpumps, offering the usual suspects plus a reasonable selection of less common beers (including two from the local White Park Brewery, e.e. Cranfield Bitter at a bargain £2.15).
On 7th May 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
lily hana left this review about Pilgrims Progress (JD Wetherspoon)
i was quite suprised at how many guest ales were availible for my friends to try, staff were very helpful at letting us try before we buy. the food was lovely and very cheap compared to other pub chains around the bedfordshire area.
On 18th February 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5 recommendations about 5 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about Pilgrims Progress (JD Wetherspoon)
Massive Wetherspoon's with a fair range of local real ales on tap.Takes for ages to get served.
On 25th August 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about Pilgrims Progress (JD Wetherspoon)
Large sprawling Wetherspoons with loads of seating in rooms either side of the main bar. On both my visits it has seemed to suffer the usual JDW understaffing problems. Generally aiming at the lower end of the market, and catching them.
On 18th January 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Pilgrims Progress (JD Wetherspoon)
The Pilgrims progress is a large Wetherspoons that has been converted from an old building.
Once inside there was a very large room with different drinking areas and the pub had lots of windows if you want to watch the world go by.
There was a good choice of real ales on the bar and i had a drink of Hop Back Summer Lightning which was a very nice drink.
The pub was very busy with the usuall Spoons type of customers.
Pub visited 20/1/2001
On 20th January 2001
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]