In a town where much has changed, The King’s Arms pub on St Mary’s Street remains a constant. A living link to Bedford’s Irish heritage, music, memory and community and at its centre is Sean O’Donnell, a landlord whose own story mirrors that of the town’s Irish diaspora.
“Mum and dad are both Irish… Dad’s from Tipperary, Mum’s from Leitrim. They came over in the mid ’60s,” Sean says.
His family began running pubs in Bedford in 1978, and he has now spent 27 years at the helm of The King’s Arms, bringing the family’s legacy close to 50 years in the town’s pub trade.
Growing up immersed in Bedford’s Irish community, Sean saw firsthand how pubs and churches formed the backbone of community life. And while he doesn’t label The King’s Arms simply as an “Irish pub”, its roots are undeniable.
“We’ve got our roots in this… we celebrate everything that we can, because we’re Irish.”
That identity is expressed most powerfully through music. The pub has become one of Bedford’s key venues for live Irish music, hosting regular sessions that keep traditions alive.
Sean runs Irish music nights most Tuesdays, alongside other weekly events that bring diverse audiences together, and live music fills the pub every Saturday night, giving locals a lively end to the week.
Over the years, bands such as Out of the Hat, Skimmington Ride, and Hair of the Dog have all performed there, helping to make the pub a recognised home for Irish sound and storytelling in Bedford.
Nowhere is that cultural role clearer than on St Patrick’s Day.
Read: St Patrick’s Day: a celebration of Irish community, culture and craic
“We’ve always done huge things on St. Patrick’s…It’s the place to be in Bedford,” Sean says.
With traditional food, live bands and generations of families returning year after year, the day is less about novelty and more about reunion.
“It’s just bringing the community together… people don’t see each other from year to year, but they will always meet up on St. Patrick’s Day and have a good craic.”
Despite the challenges facing independent pubs, rising costs, changing habits and fewer young people drinking regularly, Sean remains focused on legacy. “I would like to get to the milestone of running pubs in Bedford for 50 years… hopefully that will be my legacy.”
As Bedford prepares for this year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations, including QPCO’s Celebration Party in Harpur Square, The King’s Arms stands as a cultural anchor.
It is a stage, a kitchen and a community hall all in one. A place where traditions are kept alive around the bar, the band and the table.
