Barley Mow

Top marks for this openminded pub/bar. The only gay establishment in Bedford and the favourite hanging out place for the local hockey club. Visited it once since all other places had closed. Gays seem to keep to themselves and don't mind the drunk crowd that barges in after 1am. The place is popular since most other pubs close earlier.
Toilets are quite small, the staff are friendly and the music follow the same theme. Don't miss this place if you are out partying in cosmopolitan Bedford.

Good establishment. The issue here is the bouncers. They are homophobic and won't listen to their customers. The Barley is a good pub, but the bouncers let it down massively.

A friendly yet lively night out. Great drinks deals and to make it even better a massive selection! They have Karaoke too as well as DJ's and I did a quiz too the other night. I think I read that pool and juke box are both free on one night a week and Zumba too?! I'm going back soon 10/10!

have just been to this bar on saturday 26 aug 10, as we approached the pub the first thing noticed was that it was snowing outside, i kid u not, it was actually snowing outside the pub in august, when going inside the door man told us it was a theme night, this month was christmas theme, inside the music was pumping and so was more snow in the dance floor, it is difficult to describe the pub from this night, it was definetly different, the atmosphere was fantastic, will we go back, hell yea, defo, nest week there having a news years eve millenuium party, we will be there. :o)

A favourite haunt of mine, and lays claim to being Britain's oldest gay pub. Been through several landlords over the last decade. The last pair (Rob and his boyfriend) tried to make more money out of it by extending the opening hours. This had the unfortunate effect of bringing in just about everyone else in Bedford once the other pubs had kicked out for the night. Thankfully this annoying situation has been resolved by the current owner/landlord Jake, who has initiated a 'challenge 30' policy, meaning that the straight twentysomething crowd now look elsewhere. Beer is reasonably priced toilet facilities are good, big bar so easier to catch staff attention. Drawback: The place has signed up to the local 'BedSafe' scheme (AKA protection racket), which means the lights go on ten minutes before closing, you're hurried out of the smoking 'garden' (actually, the backyard), and then you get officious wankers in hi-vis tabards trying to hurry you out of the place. So any long night there ends with a bit of a bump. In my opinion, the Barley ought to tell BedSafe to get fucked. There's never any trouble there anyway.