The Bedford Arms Oakley

All very pleasant, attentive staff, good menu, fair price, I'll go again. Service a bit slow. Price per person: £20–30 Food: 4 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4

Visited the Bedford Arms with in a party of four on Thursday evening. We ordered Prawn starters. For main a mix of the Hake, Sea Bass and Fillet Steak. For desert the crumble. The food was of excellent quality as was the wine all topped off with excellent attentive waiter service. Well Done Price per person: £100+ Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4 Recommended dishes: Baked Cod, Traditional Smoked Salmon

The Sunday roast was a bit expensive at around £20, but the portion sizes were quite generous. If we're in the area again, we’ll definitely return. Price per person: £20–30 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Recommended dish: Sunday Roast Parking: Ample parking available Options: Free parking lot

I took my grandparents to this restaurant as a birthday gift. While I don’t mind waiting for a good roast, our food took quite some time to arrive. When it did, the presentation was lovely, but the dishes were lukewarm. We returned both roast beef plates to be reheated, only to receive them back re-plated and looking hurried, with some elements missing, including the parsnip. There was also insufficient beef, and the food was still not hot. When I mentioned this to the waiter, he responded curtly and without an apology, stating that they don’t serve their roast dinners hot. The service was slow, and one of the waitstaff was unfriendly and not very engaging. To top it off, the table next to us remained uncleaned for over an hour after the guests left. Given the price of over £30 per person for lunch, I expected much better service. I won’t be returning. Food: 2 Service: 1 Atmosphere: 3

My partner and I visited this beloved spot two days ago and enjoyed one of the best meals we’ve ever had. Right after we were seated, we were pleasantly surprised with complimentary bread and tzatziki—a lovely touch. We started with the continental meat platter to share, which we requested to be gluten-free because my partner is coeliac. They happily accommodated us with gluten-free bread, and the platter was delightful, featuring parma ham, chorizo, Milano salami, grilled aubergines, mozzarella balls, and mixed olives with chillies. It was a fun challenge to combine all those varied flavors and textures in each bite! For my main course, I ordered the fillet of sea bass, served with tomato and mango chutney, a seared lemon wedge, and dauphinoise potatoes. The sea bass had a wonderfully crispy skin, and the fish itself was cooked and seasoned perfectly. My partner opted for the Woburn estate venison, accompanied by dauphinoise potatoes, pak choi, and a port and berry jus. The venison was rich and tender, with the sweet acidity of the jus enhancing the meat’s earthy flavors in a way we had never thought possible. I also wouldn’t have imagined pairing pak choi with a traditional dish like venison, but it worked beautifully. The dauphinoise potatoes, seasoned with mild cheddar and thyme, were simply divine. For dessert, I tried the cheesecake (which the menu claims is gluten-free by default—can we confirm that?), while my partner enjoyed the artisan four-cheese platter, complete with celery, grapes, chutney, toasted gluten-free bread, and sliced apple. They certainly covered all the bases there. To wrap up the evening, my good friend Mat Roberts serenaded us outside with his unique style of live music, and the general manager even joined in the fun, dancing with patrons, which was fantastic to see. In summary, The Bedford Arms has successfully revitalized itself as a vibrant dining destination in Oakley, operating at full capacity. They boast talented chefs, attentive service, a diverse selection of wines and spirits, locally brewed ales, excellent live music, and they are officially coeliac-friendly. We’ll definitely be returning soon, and we plan to bring the whole family! Vegetarian options: A variety of vegetarian choices available. Dietary restrictions: Able to cater to coeliac, vegetarian, and vegan diets. Parking: Car park available outside the pub, plus on-street parking. Price per person: £40-50 Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Recommended dishes: Fish and Chips, Seared Gressingham Duck Breast Parking: Plenty of parking available, with free options in the lot and on the street.