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The Three Cups, Bedford
Bedford
MK40 3JR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Three Cups
This is a pleasant backstreet boozer just a short walk from the town centre. The pub has an uneven U-shaped layout, with bare boards through much of the interior, plus some nice parquet flooring to the right of the entrance. The left side of the pub is a simple seating area with several tables and chairs centred around a brick fireplace with some nice mirrors set into the mantlepiece. Near full-height wall panels cover much of the room, decorated with a few paintings to break up the monotony. The servery is opposite the entrance and has a decent dark wood counter, broken by a couple of small pillars, with a mediocre modern bar back that uses a mirror with the pub’s name on it as a centrepiece. To the right, a mix of upholstered benches and Chesterfield sofas stand beneath similar panelled walls, before giving way to a series of tables and chairs further to the rear, mostly around another fireplace with a plain mirror above. Beyond, there’s a further seating area with nice banquettes to the right and a strange recessed booth to the left, with cramped padded benches and no real view of the rest of the pub. This rear area was decorated with balloons and birthday banners, suggesting some sort of private function might be taking place that evening. The whole pub had a bit of an ‘alternative’ vibe - everyone seemed to be wearing t-shirts of various metal bands for instance - but there was a bland pop soundtrack playing in the background which dispelled this illusion somewhat.
There was a strong ale range at the bar, with a choice of Milestone Missy Sippy, Italia and English Rose, Greene King IPA, Wadworth 6X, Kelchner Lekker and one other that I couldn’t read. I tried the Missy Sippy, which was a pretty flavoursome old ale kept in excellent condition. The barman was very friendly and there was a small band of bantering locals on a late midweek afternoon, helping to generate a bit of a convivial atmosphere.
It’s a shame I came to this place early in the day, as I could well imagine it’s a fine little boozer with a lively atmosphere. It has one of the better ale ranges I found across ten pubs I visited on my crawl and is a pleasant enough space to while away a bit of time in.
On 23rd February 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Three Cups
slightly modernised pub, but still has character, 6 real ales including local offerings. Nice place
On 27th January 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Three Cups
A Greene King pub in an interesting building down a quiet backwater of town.The interior has wood panelling,a fine bench seat below the left hand window in red leather and buttoned back.To the right leads to a back room with more red leather banquettes,and more wood panelling.So far ,so good.
We arrived on the back of it's GBG listing and after winning the local CAMRA pub of the year award.This is a Local Heroes lease offered by Greene King with the deal that you can have as many guest beers as you are prepared to offer GK beers.Sadly the licencee on our trip decided rather than showcase some interesting and varied real ale as guests,he would offer up Hornes Ryestone,B&T Shefford Plum Porter (both uninspiring) and Buntingford 92 Squadron (a very BBB).The three GK horrors were IPA,Old Speckled Hen and Yardbird Pale along with Olde Rosie cider.
My colleagues ordered keg lager and keg cider rather than force down a poor real ale,however well conditioned.We all left wondering what kind of judgement the local CAMRA branch must have.Not one on my revisit list despite the fact that White Park ales were nowhere to be seen ,and the pub intends to brew on the premises via two wooden vessels placed near the bar.
On 15th July 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Three Cups
Although still a Greene King pub, this lovely old building is now one of their "local hero" pubs, in conjunction with local White Park brewery. There are two of their beers on the bar (GB and White Gold) among eight hand pumps; also being served at the time of my visit were GK Old Speckled Hen, IPA and Suffolk Porter, Milton Nero and Banks & Taylor Shefford Bitter, plus a real cider.
There's a really nice feel to this pub, with its old fashioned wood panelling and Paul McCartney on the sound system. OK, I could have done without Macca, and to be honest the heating was a bit high, too. Watch out for the big step down if you have to go to the gents. I would definitely include this on another visit to Bedford - apart from anything else, it breaks up the walk to or from the Devonshire nicely.
On 26th February 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3745 recommendations about 3482 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Three Cups
The person who called this "a good example of a town pub that feels like a country pub" seems to have got it just right. The building retains a two-room layout, with furniture and decor giving a traditional feel. Three handpumps in each bar offering a good range of Greene King beers (including the Dark Mild and a seasonal), plus a guest beer (such as Nethergate April Fool at £3.30). Well worth the walk to the eastern edge of Bedford town centre (also passing several other decent pubs en route).
On 7th May 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]