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Submitted on Thursday, 10th December 2015
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Detail Pages
The Albion, Bedford
Ampthill
Postal town: Bedford
MK45 2JT
Served areas
Reviews of The Albion (Average Rating: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Albion Arms
A very thorough review from Steve of N21 needs little adding.I was also impressed that this modest sized pub can support a choice of 12 real ales.On my trip the B&T ales were Golden Fox,Dragon Slayer and Shefford Bitter,while the rotating guests were Dent Golden Fleece,Revolution's Le Freak,Blackmere Nectar,Milestone's Fletcher Ale,Bath Gem,Oakham JHB,Shugborough Lordship's Own and Mi Lady's Fancy (£3.10).Everard's Tiger as a regular made up the dozen.Thee thirds are offered at £3.10 if you want to sample a variety.The ale selection is advertised on a board close to the entrance,as it the bottled selection and ciders.
The pub has a good ale house feel,there is a woodburner in the front section,and musak was played at a discreet level.Among the breweriana,I chortled at the prize medal and diploma awarded to Charles Wells at The Brewers Exhibition ,London 1928.Thankfully none of their brews nowadays pollute the bar of this fine establishment.I only wish I lived a lot closer,this pub would receive my regular custom if I did.Another winner from Project William.
On 3rd August 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Albion Arms
The Albion was apparently one of the less desirable pubs in Ampthill. That was until the pub on Dunstable Street closed in October 2009 and underwent a major refurbishment overseen by new owner Everards and, Bedfordshire’s Banks and Taylor brewery. Everards own the pub, but lease it back to the B&T Brewery based in Shefford, as part of Everards Project William scheme, where they turn struggling or closed businesses into thriving ale houses.
Now open again for business, the Albion has been turned into a top real ale pub with no less than 12 handpulls serving a selection of B&T’s own brews, Everards’ Tiger Best Bitter and a range of guest ales on regular rotation. There are also usually three cask conditioned ciders and imported draught lagers from Holland, Germany and the Czech Republic.
According to the B&T Brewery web site blurb, they have tried to capture the atmosphere of a traditional Victorian ale house that befits the pub’s age, and in my opinion, they have done a pretty good job.
It’s a fairly unimposing pub from the outside but once inside it’s hard to believe that the traditional Victorian drinking house décor is just over a year old. The main section of the pub is divided in three sections. Of these the front and middle sections are plain wood floored and the back section is carpeted. All three sections are decorated with pub mirrors ( an impressive Trumans one in the back bar) and collections of pub memorabilia. This includes a fairly impressive beer bottle collection on shelves near the ceiling in all sections.
Then there is a small separate room beyond these sections, which is known as the sports room due to the multiple sports team pictures which adorn the walls. And then finally, an outside courtyard area underneath a large Jumbrella where the walls are decorated with old pub signs mainly Banks, GK and Charles Wells houses.
The square bar has sides on the front , middle and back bar sections , but it is still impressive that they can squeeze in 12 hand pumps on these three sections including the three Cider polypins, as well as some standard Guinness and Lager pumps.
On my inaugural visit this week , three B&T beers and two Everard Ales were complemented by seven ales from other regional and micro breweries, including a pale ale, a strong mild and a couple of summer ales, providing a balanced choice and the couple I tried were well kept. Good service from behind the bar and a knowledgeable landlord who is keen on helping with the choice.
Was certainly worth taking the detour from the M1 to visit this one after seeing it advertised in the local CAMRA newsletter and for sure I will be back.
For the ale aficionado this appears to be heading towards being the perfect pub, and hopefully after a few more visits, I’ll be able to rate it as such.
On 2nd September 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
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- The Albion page on the B&T website - www.banksandtaylor.com
- Facebook - The Albion
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Albion - whatpub.com
Millbrook (Beds), 2.74 miles, 52 min walk (show)
Lidlington, 4.27 miles, 1 hr 22 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.
- Pool Table : No last updated 30 July 2017 by Komakino .
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 02 September 2011 by hondo .
