Indian fusion menu proves a safe bet

FOOD REVIEW: CURRY GARDEN, DUNSTABLE

When your regular dining partner finds barbecue flavoured crisps 'too spicy' going to an Indian restaurant is not usually the first port of call...  (10/10/2008) [Read More]

Town centre pub bubbles back to life

DRINK: BEDFORD

The Fleur de Lis in Mill Street, Bedford, is now in the hands of chef and successful businessman Eric Welleck. Eric owns the Tudor Oaks Lodge and restaurant on ...  (01/07/2008) [Read More]

Value and imagination curry customers' favour

FOOD: INDIYA, THE BROADWAY, BEDFORD

Competition among Indian restaurants to attract customers is as hot as a chicken vindaloo. In Bedford, a town with almost as many curry houses as there are people ...  (14/06/2008) [Read More]

We loved it yeah, yeah, yeah

FOOD: THE OAKLEY ARMS, HARROLD

It was 40 years ago today, Paul McCartney stopped his car to play! At the Oakley Arms in Harrold as he travelled back to London from up north ...  (10/10/2008) [Read More]

Spice up your tastebuds

FOOD: THE ANARKALI, HIGH ST STH, DUNSTABLE

From the outside the Anarkali looks small, but as we are led to our seats I am struck by the almost Tardis-like quality of the restaurant, the outcome is deceptively ...  (10/10/2008) [Read More]

French Horn and Paris House - bon appetit!

What started out as just another beans on toast kind of week for leisure editor Sue Brickay took a turn for the better half way through ...  (16/05/2008) [Read More]

A little piece of Italy

FOOD REVIEW: PIZZA IL FORNO, BUSHMEAD, LUTON

Deep in the heart of Bushmead, Luton is a miniature Italy. Pizza Il Forno, hidden away on Hancock Drive, is a haven of good food, good service and good atmosphere ...  (16/05/2008) [Read More]

Four restaurant now gets nine out of ten

FOOD: FOUR, KIMBOLTON RD, BEDFORD

Last time one of my colleagues went to Four he was, to say the least, disappointed. So I was a bit concerned when my companion told me that was the venue ...  (13/05/2008) [Read More]

Beers for Australia are an-tipple-dean success

DRINK

Bedford brewed beers have come out top down under at the world's second largest beer festival which is held in Australia ...  (13/05/2008) [Read More]

You don't have to go to Manchester to have the best food in Salford

FOOD: THE SWAN, WAVENDON RD SALFORD

I'll be the first to admit that when a meal in Salford was suggested I thought that it seemed a bit of a way to go ...  (13/05/2008) [Read More]

Fratelli

FOOD: DUNSTABLE ST, AMPTHILL

Let's be honest, Ampthill doesn't feature large on the map for its choice of classy restaurants which is probably why we had to book weeks in advance for a table ...  (13/05/2008) [Read More]

Moggerhanger Park Tearooms wins excellence award

DRINK

Moggerhanger Park Tearooms in has been won an award of excellence in the UK Tea Council's coveted Top Tea Place 2008 awards ...  (04/04/2008) [Read More]

A nice cuppa' history

DRINK

The traditional British past-time of afternoon tea is reported to have been invented in Bedfordshire by Anna Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford ...  (04/04/2008) [Read More]

Harpurs

FOOD: TAVISTOCK ST, BEDFORD

You've only got to take a peep inside to see that Harpurs is Bedford's newest, coolest place to eat. The make-over of the wonderful early 19th century pub with its pleasing ...  (29/03/2008) [Read More]

Noble Rot Wine Bar

DRINK: TAVISTOCK ST, BEDFORD

It comes to something when what you like about a place is the fact that it is so unlike everything else in Bedford. But then, there really isn't a great choice ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Santaniello

FOOD: NEWNHAM ST, BEDFORD

I've never eaten in a trattoria in Naples. But there's something about the cheery, noisy atmosphere, the bright lights and the red and white plastic tablecloths of Pizzeria Santaniello that ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Luscious Juice Bar

FOOD: LIME ST, BEDFORD

Just because it's good for you doesn't mean it's boring. In fact, boring is the last thing you can accuse the luscious juice bar's menu of being ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

The Cross Keys

FOOD: KEMPSTON

I do like a nice Sunday lunch and, since it's one of the few things I can actually cook well, I'm not that easy to impress...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Nicholl's

FOOD: THE EMBANKMENT, BEDFORD

Romance is dead - so say my grandparents and probably yours too. At least, I'd say, the sort that flutters its eyelids on Valentine's Day ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Rajkot

FOOD: HIGH ST, BEDFORD

I have a suggestion to make. If, by the end of the week, you are sick to the back teeth of turkey, sausage rolls, mince pies and Christmas pud, try some ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

The Black Horse

FOOD: HIGH ST, WOBURN

Set in the middle of Woburn village, The Black Horse is an impressive combination of sophisticated restaurant and cosy, traditional bar. After squeezing our way through the crowded communal area - ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Riobello Italian

FOOD: ST MARY'S ST, BEDFORD

I'm a huge fan of garlic bread but I do draw the line if it's soaked in oil and topped with whole cloves. Luckily, my partner shared in the vampire-repellent experience ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Harvester

FOOD: RIVERFIELD DR, BEDFORD

I'm the first to admit that I am a Sunday snob. I'm not proud of it, but I am what I am. By 'Sunday snob' I mean that if someone suggests going ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

The New Bombay

FOOD: HARPUR ST, BEDFORD

He should have known better. If you order a dish that contains green chillies because you like your Indian meal HOT you have to be prepared for the consequences ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Brewery in toast to triple tipple success

DRINK: BEDFORD

Bedfordshire is officially home to some of the best beers in the world. Three of Bedford-based brewers Wells and Young's top beers have been recognised at the annual International Beer Challenge ...  (06/06/2008) [Read More]

Fox and Duck

FOOD: ARLESEY RD, STOTFOLD

Being set a challenge is always a good thing and I believe the waitress at the Fox and Duck really thought she could beat me ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Spooners

FOOD: WOBURN SANDS

Spooners is a family-run restaurant that offers first-class silver service and fine cuisine. The owners, Martin and Susan Spooner, have run the restaurant for 23 years adapting the menu and decor ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Summer wines

DRINK

Dust off the deckchairs, sort out the sun cream and put the refreshments on ice - it's nearly summer time and the living is easy. We've put together a selection ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Mill Yard Caffe

FOOD: MILL YARD, BEDFORD

I am a lady who lunches. Usually though, in an attempt to stave off the hunger pangs without piling on the pounds, it is a mean and miserable affair; a couple of Ryvita and a few lettuce leaves ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Drinkers in Arms toast new pub

DRINK: BEDFORD

Brewery brass turned out in force for the opening of Charles Wells' newest pub. I'll drink to that: Anthony Wallis, MD of Charles Wells, landlord Eric Mills and Peter ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Ali's Indian Cuisine

FOOD: TAVISTOCK ST, BEDFORD

I can't tell you why - not because I'm going all mysterious on you but because I genuinely don't know - but I had a feeling about Ali's restaurant ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Cellar V

FOOD: HIGH ST, BEDFORD

Ask yourself, when was the last time you looked up above ground floor level as you wallked along Bedford High Street? There's a ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

The Indian Chef

FOOD: SOUTHBRIDGE ST, SHEFFORD

All-you-can-eat are the four words that somebody who is still keeping their new year's resolution never likes to hear ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Man Do

FOOD: MIDLAND RD, BEDFORD

I don't know much about Chinese food but I know what I like. Or more specifically, I know what I don't like ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

China Palace Restaurant

FOOD: LIME ST, BEDFORD

If it's quantity you're after, the 'all-you-can-eat for a fixed price' option makes sense. But quality can sometimes suffer. When the chicken soup is hanging around ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

The Cabin

FOOD: GT NORTH ST, SANDY

For the past two years all I have heard from members of my family is that the best ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

The Cock

FOOD: PAVENHAM

Once upon a time, Bedfordshire skittles was played in lots of the county's pubs. Once upon a time (not too long ago) The Cock at Pavenham was a deeply depressing place to visit ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Alamin

FOOD: TAVISTOCK ST, BEDFORD

Favourite restaurants are like old friends, you expect to be able to rely on them and it comes as a nasty surprise when they let you down ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Orlando's

FOOD: COMMERCIAL RD, BEDFORD

There's been a lot of passion about this week. Valentine's Day brought it out in bucket-loads ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

The Grand Indian Tandoori

FOOD: TAVISTOCK ST, BEDFORD

It is late afternoon. Lunch - such as it was (low cal; high fibre; desperately dull due to an eggcess of Easter over-indulgence) - seems like a very long time ago ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Gospoda

FOOD: BEDFORD

Gospoda means restaurant in Polish. Or rather it did. It has largely fallen out of favour in these days of restaurante euro-speak ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

The George and Dragon

FOOD: MILL ST, BEDFORD

The George and Dragon on Bedford's Mill Street is a pub for all hours. On weekdays, it is a Mill Street pub with live DJs and a generally mellow atmosphere ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]

Tokyo Japanese Restaurant

FOOD: GREYFRIARS, BEDFORD

Since the colourful hit movie 'Memoirs of a Geisha' hit cinema screens last month I have had a fascination with all things Japanese ...  (25/03/2008) [Read More]