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Poll for date of York crawl in June or July 2025. with Gann
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Submitted on Sunday, 12th April 2015
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The Pilgrims Progress (JD Wetherspoon), Bedford
Bedford
MK40 1QB
Reviews of The Pilgrims Progress (JD Wetherspoon) (Average Rating: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Pilgrims Progress (JD Wetherspoon)
This is a 1997 shop conversion now hotel, named after The Pilgrim’s Progress, written by local boy John Bunyan, now buried in Bunhill Fields, just opposite the Artillery Arms, EC1; according to CAMRA, the interior pays homage to Glen Miller who was stationed nearby, shortly before his aeroplane was lost.
The interior to me seemed typical of a ‘spoons with some fake ‘ye olden-style’ wood panelling. I only popped in here for a swift one before getting the train back home, having just attended a Simple Minds (and Alison Moyet/K. T. Tunstall) gig in nearby Bedford Park. Given that Bedford town centre constitutes a comprehensive collection of boarded-up shops, it was no surprise that the place wasn’t alive and kicking, despite it being a Thursday at 10.40pm, but customers were typical ‘spoon benders.
I went for a pint of Jaipur, just £3.10, in good nick, served by a friendly barman.
Probably better than the town centre's Bedfordshire clangers, this place serves a purpose, but only if you’re in the mood.
On 4th July 2025
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2250 recommendations about 2204 pubs]
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 3361 recommendations about 3361 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 1556 recommendations about 1533 pubs]
View more reviews of The Pilgrims Progress (JD Wetherspoon) (9)
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- Official site of The Pilgrims Progress (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Pilgrims Progress (JD Wetherspoon) - whatpub.com
Bedford St Johns, 0.71 miles, 13 min walk (show)
Kempston Hardwick, 4.18 miles, 1 hr 20 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 : Yes last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : Yes last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : Yes - Rear Patio - last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Child Friendly : Yes - Baby changing. - last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Dog Friendly : No last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Function Room : Yes - Meeting facilities. - last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Jukebox : No last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : No last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Real Cider : Yes - Cider festival 27th June - 6th July. - last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- Wheelchair Access : Yes - Step-free. - last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 04 July 2025 by Tris C
