Bears & Tales

BIG NEWS!
After weeks of tweaking, tasting and photoshop-ing, our new menu is finally available for all you lovely people. We’ve got 5 new additions for you to try, so for the next 5 weeks, we’re going to be selecting one per weekend to offer to you at a reduced price of £5!
First up, it’s the fabulously fruity Bears Reviver #1. A tropical twist on the classic Corpse Reviver, we shake together Napoleonic Brandy with Apricot Calvados, fresh lemon juice, mirabelle plum jam an...d pineapple and star anise bitters before finishing it all off with a sweet ginger foam. It’s a coupe full of zesty, Caribbean goodness.
As normal, we’re open this week from 6pm-12.30am Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Get those bookings in!
B&T xx
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***WE'RE HIRING!***
Bears & Tales is on the look out for a passionate, super dedicated individual to join our small bar team. This position is far more than just a bartender, with roles and responsibilities reaching further than pouring drinks.
Experience isn't essential, but knowledge and understanding of the world of hospitality would fare greatly in your favour.
... If you think this sounds like something you'd be interested in, email over a CV and a little paragraph about yourself to -
bearsandtales@gmail.com
B&T x
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Hurrah! We are thrilled to receive our 5 star food hygiene rating.
Great service, quality drinks and a clean, comfortable venue have always been things we have always striven to uphold, so it’s great to be rewarded for it.
We’ll be open this week as normal from 6pm - 12.30am Thursday, Friday and Saturday so pop on by, or message for those reservations. Oh, and we’ve got a few awesome new summer menu additions dropping very soon. Watch this space
... B&T
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Looking to conquer those mid-week blues? Bears & Tales midweek monthly masterclass is open to the public tomorrow night! There’s 20 spaces available, so if there are any couples or small groups that have wanted to learn the tricks of the trade, nows your chance!
£25 will get you a prosecco on arrival, the chance to make one drink of your choice, and a shot of our vast range of liqueurs as you leave
Just pop us a message to get involved!
... B&T
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Lots going on this weekend! With the River Festival celebrating its 40th year, there’ll be plenty of things to keep you lovely people busy. Be sure to check out the Main Stage, with our sister company The Pad Presents putting on some festival madness.
We’ll be open as usual this week from 6-12.30am Thursday, Friday and Saturday so pop on down for a pre, post, or during cocktail or three! We’ve got a special on this weekend to show our commiserations for our England football t...eams valiant efforts in the World Cup, for only £6!
Next Time Sour
Good effort boys, here’s to ‘Next Time’! We’re shaking together Tanqueray Navy Strength Gin with blackberry liqueur, bitter cherry Ratafia, ginger syrup, fresh lime, grapefruit bitters and egg white before finishing everything off with a fitting garnish.
Cheers!
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The weekend is a’comin, and the weather is super beaut! Our air-cons are blasting out cool air, as our bar team are shaking some liquid funk for all you lovely people. We’ll be open as usual from 6-12.30am Thursday, Friday and Saturday so either get those reservations in, or feel free to walk on by! Our current special of the month is perfect for this sun...
Taraboojo Cooler
Mixing up all the classic summertime flavours, as we shake together Cachaca, liquor 43, our own aloe v...era infused Grapa Aperitivo, fresh lime, watermelon chai muscovado syrup and rhubarb bitters. It’s awfully refreshing
Cheers!
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Our July edition of Bears & Tales Unplugged features the amazing Danni Nicholls, as she brings her beautifully velvet voice to our humble surroundings.
Smoky soul, folk-pop and heart-wrenching alt-country, all in a rich voice - Q Magazine
As before, this is a free entry event by guestlist only. To reserve a space just pop us a message!

We are very pleased to announce that Danni Nicholls will be our guest for the 3rd installment of Bears & Tales and LimeLight TV: Unplugged!
Entry to these events is by free guestlist only - To grab yourself a table, please send a message to Bears & Tales and reserve your place.
With an Americana Association UK ‘album of the year’ award nomination for ‘Mockingbird Lane’, a 28 date UK tour supporting the legendary Shakin’ Stevens, a new live album released in association with V...
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Still a few places left for this Wednesday’s Unplugged sessions! This time, Tim Barron of the Ouse Valley Singles Club graces our ‘stage’. Just message the page for reservations and more info
Cheers!

It’s time! The moment we’ve all been waiting for - a new Bears & Tales special of the month! It's just right to see in the summer, and an easy sipper for this fine weather we've been having. We’ll be open as normal this week from 6-12.30am Thursday, Friday and Saturday, so pop in to try a few. Reservations as normal, or walk on in! To that special...
Taraboojo Cooler
Keeping things cool this month, as we shake together Sagatiba Cachaca with Liquor 43, Aloe Vera water infused ...Grapa Aperitivo, fresh lime juice, watermelon chai muscovado syrup, and dashes of rhubarb bitters. It’s really rather lovely!
Cheers!
B&T
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We’re still taking reservations for our second unplugged acoustic sessions, with none other than The Ouse Valley Singles Club! Songs of love, life and possible naughtiness - perfect for a bit of mid-week madness! Simply message the page for info, or send a text to 07471681318
Cheers!
B&T

There’s something happening this weekend that all you lovely people are sure to want to celebrate...this Saturday, is world gin day! To show our appreciation for all things botanical, we’ve come up with a Speciality Gin Vase, serving enough double Gin and Tonics for 4 people with your choice of bitters and a smorgasbord of garnishes, for only £26!
We’ll be open from 5.30pm to 12.30am Thursday, Friday and Saturday so pop in and give it a try! Our monthly special the Peru Hito Sour is also going down a storm.
Cheers!

Our second Bears & Tales Unplugged session features The Ouse Valley Singles Club main man Timothy Andrew Barron - Expect songs about love, life, death and Julia Bradbury. And possibly naughty things.
Entry is again free, but space is limited - To book onto the guest list, either send us a message or give us a call!
These events are filmed and in partnership with LimeLight TV.

Bears & Tales and LimeLight TV present... Bears & Tales Unplugged!
We are very pleased to announce our second Bears & Tales Unplugged, this time we feature Bedfordshire's premier comedy skiffle punk band The Ouse Valley Singles Club! Main man Tim Barron will be playing a stripped (even more stripped) back set, with songs about love, life, death and Julia Bradbury.
A band that need no introduction to regular gig goers, The Ouse Valley Singles Club are a mainstay of the festiv...al circuit and sell out their home town shows. Catching Tim up close, personal and for the cost of the price of air, is a rarity.
With the team behind the programming at Esquires booking these events, expect to see some of the finest talent at these regular last Wednesday of the month sessions.
Space is VERY limited and doors will open at 7pm, with the support starting at 7.45pm sharp. Last entry is 7.30pm.
This is a free entry event - To book a table please direct message Bears & Tales page, alternatively text B&T on 07471681318
Support comes from local punk rock poet James Burke, who hits the stage at 7.30pm!
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What a night! Our first unplugged acoustic sessions with The Wholls and Sara Music went down a storm.
Now, we’re planning next weeks midweek madness! Our second open cocktail masterclass is next Wednesday, the 6th of June. Reservations are essential, with only 20 places available. Come and learn a few tricks of the trade!

The first Bears & Tales unplugged is tonight, with The Wholls and Sara Music playing stripped back sets.
As always with guestlist only shows, a few people have dropped out, so we have 8 spaces available for tonight - Let us know if you want in - It's free entry and the sessions are filmed, with ample breaks for drinks orders!

What a fantastic place, really friendly staff and great intimate venue. Decor is good and the cocktails are awesome and it’s right here in Bedford. Will definitely visit again.�

Well what a night, celebrating my husbands birthday! The staff were amazing....Tom is the king of cocktails! Great service, great night.....apologies for the state of my hubby!

Totally amazing find in Bedford....



If you in the mood for a great range of cocktails this is the place to make a bee line too...

My partner and i visited last night for the 1st time. Molly our host looked after us all evening and did a great job. I had ordered a drink which i really didn't like (the chocolate flip) and rather than Molly just taking it away she offered to make it in to something i might like. Not many places would bother to do that.

Bears and tails will now be my choice of a night out in Bedford.

Great service, friendly atmosphere and delicious cocktails that are not over priced.

Can't wait for my next visit.

My favourite place in bedford. The lemon meringue cocktail is my absolute favourite. There is always a good vibe in bears& tales. Tom and co are always accommodating and make you feel welcome. If you haven’t been then you really are missing out !

Lovely rustic cocktail bar. Good variety of cocktails on the menu from your classics to something for those who want to try something a little different! Would definitely visit again and recommend ��

Love this place! The best cocktails in Bedford.

Love the team and the cocktails at Bears and Tails. Great atmosphere, quick service, amazing tasting cocktails. They have a huge selection of cocktails all expertly made by Tom. The best cocktails in Bedford by far

I've now been a few times and I've never been disappointed. Every cocktail is delicious and the atmosphere simple but perfect. Can't recommend it enough. Tom is not only a genius at the bar but also very accommodating - he managed to wangle it so we could stay beyond our booked time on a very busy night.

I love this place! The vibe, the music, Everything! Tom makes the best cocktails with the best ingredients, your glass looks as pretty as it tastes. Every time we've been there the staff are engaging and know the menu so can recommend depending on what your preferences are!

I also love that it's like an old fashioned speakeasy so you have to have a seat, it's grown up and funky and intimate. They also handle allergies well too. I haven't got a favourite cocktail yet as too many to choose from. Oh well, guess I will have to continue visiting!

I booked half of Bears and Tales to celebrate my wife’s 40th birthday with 20 or so friends. I can’t recommend the place highly enough. Tom Madden is a fantastic host who bent over backwards to accommodate us. The service provided by the girls was excellent with drinks provided expeditiously. The whole vibe of the place is very cool with good music, recommendations catered for by Spotify. 5/5

Having heard such good things about Bears & Tales I can see why. First visit and the service was excellent from being welcomed in to the delicious and extremely potent cocktails made for us. Will definitely be back. Love the decor as well

Fantastic venue and lovely staff. Tom and team work really hard to make it a unique experience. There's a fantastic range of cocktails, a particular highlight was the spiced ginger daiquiri.

Cannot recommend this place enough and it's the "in" place to be. I advise you book a table and Tom can ensure you get a good spot and you won't be disappointed. The cocktails are shamazing � �

Booked a cocktail making masterclass with a couple of friends... what a fantastic start to an evening! Tom made everything fun, informative and delicious! Such a great time: arriving to prosecco, making two scrummy cocktails and hearing how Tom designed his Easter special (before sampling that as well).

Highly recommend this for birthdays, hen do, special celebration or just because you deserve it!

Amazing cocktail bar with lovely friendly staff who accomdated us after being late for our reservation. Also the best cocktails in Bedford! You won't be disappointed!

Thanks for reviving the “corpse reviver” for me 😍 Great staff, especially the doorman, his customer service always impresses me. Great drinks, great company 👌🏻

Really good evening with a good crowd..

Cocktails 🍹 🍸.. lovely.

Prices expensive at 8.50 or £10.00 for featured special cocktail .. Hmm .. but we did have a nice evening. 😀👍

A gorgeous quirky cocktail bar. The menu cocktails were a bit funky, but the lovely staff were more than willing to adjust to our needs. The prices were also closer to London prices but that didn't stop us ordering a few rounds!



The atmosphere is great, with good music, a variety of seating, even a bowl of popcorn on entry! We will definitely be back.