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Disappointment of the week with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Devonshire Arms, Russell Park, Bedford
Bedford
MK40 3TB
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 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 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Devonshire Arms
Imagine finding yourself transported overnight from wherever you happen to live now to the anonymous redbrick back streets of Bedford - what a nightmare! But then you draw back your curtains and look out of your front window to find: The Devonshire Arms. Now that would put a completely different complexion on things. This is the back street local we all dream of and deserve, but only a lucky few can call their local. At first glance, on my just-after-opening Saturday visit, there's nothing special about this pub, it's just a fairly basic bare-boards alehouse. But take a closer look and it's clearly a well-used and well-loved community facility. Even for a casual beer tourist, there's plenty to like about this pub, starting with six hand pumps and going through to the local Camra awards (including pub of the year 2013). Beers available at the time of my visit were Youngs Special, Gold and Winter Warmer, Wells Eagle IPA, plus Courage Directors (all brewed at Wells brewery here in Bedford), and the solitary guest: Cottage Scrum Up. Perhaps not the most enticing line up, but my half of Directors was in very good condition. There were also three real ciders advertised, though not apparent, so I presume they were in polypins somewhere behind the bar. In summary, if you don't happen to live across the road, this one is worth the walk from the town centre.
On 26th February 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3733 recommendations about 3470 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Devonshire Arms
The 'Devvy' is a traditional pub located in a quiet side street in quite a well-heeled residential area. Pool table and fairly basic wooden furniture in the front bar, with a comfortable looking lounge further back. Three of the four handpumps in operation, with Tribute plus a couple of offerings from the Wells & Youngs brewery (including a decent pint of Eagle IPA at £2.50). Worth seeking out.
On 26th February 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]