The Bedford Arms Oakley

I lived in Oakley for nearly 22 years in total, and in that time I've seen The Bedford Arms go through so many owners and just as many changes of decor (I even remember the smoking tables in the 90s, you never forget the smell as you walked in!). At some point in the mid-2000s, it started to appear less busy and it looked as if it might have been headed for the big pub graveyard in the sky.. At long last, they appear to have hit upon an enduring winning formula, and the patrons have returned in force. My partner and I returned to the old stomping ground two days ago for one of the best meals we've ever had. As soon as we were seated we were given complimentary bread and tzatziki, which was a lovely gesture. We started off with the continental meat platter to share, which we requested to have gluten free as my partner is coeliac, and so they did it with gluten free bread. It was delightful. It comes with parma ham, chorizo, Milano salami, grilled aubergines, mozarella balls and mixed olives with chillies. It's always fun trying to combine all the contrasting flavors and textures in one mouthful! For my main, I chose the fillet of sea bass which came with tomato and mango chutney, a seared lemon wedge and dauphinoise potatoes. The sea bass had a delightfully crisp skin and the fish itself was cooked and seasoned to perfection. My partner chose the Woburn-estate venison, which came with dauphinoise potatoes, pak choi and a port and berry jus. The venison was so rich and yet so tender, and the sweet tartness of the jus complimented the natural earthiness of the meat in a way that neither of us would ever have previously considered. I also would never have thought to pair up pak choi with a traditionally English-style dish like venison, but it works brilliantly. The dauphinoise potatoes were seasoned with mild cheddar and thyme, and they were to die for. For desert, I had the cheesecake (which according to the menu comes gluten free as standard, can we confirm that?), and my partner had the artisan 4 cheese platter, which came with celery, grapes, chutney, toasted GF bread and sliced apple. They covered all the bases there. To top off a wonderful evening, my good friend Mat Roberts serenaded us outside with his inimitable brand of live music. The general manager also wasn't shy to come out and have a dance with the patrons as well, which is always great to see. In conclusion, The Bedford Arms is once again a fully functioning institution in Oakley, and is firing on all cylinders. They have great chefs, wonderful service, a rich and varied selection of wines and spirits, locally brewed ales, great taste in live music and entertainment and they are officially coeliac-friendly. You can bet that we'll be back soon, and we'll be bringing the whole family! 🍻🍲