New theatre bar to open
MBTC-06-03-13- Number 13. New bar St Paul's Square, Bedford. Mayor Dave Hodgson with Councillor Doug McMurdo.
Lucky for some - the new Number Thirteen bar is set to open next week.
And the new venue that sits next to the Bedford Corn Exchange was opened up exclusively for the Times & Citizen to have a sneaky look around.
The Bedford Borough Council venture is set to work in conjunction with Bedford Corn Exchange and is set to offer pre-theatre dining, a licensed bar and outdoor seating.
The building has been out of use for around seven years since the former Saracens Head closed.
Mayor of Bedford Dave Hodgson said: “We bought this building three years ago and we have seriously been working on the plans for the last 18 months, so it’s fantastic that it is now nearly complete and ready to open.
“One of the great things about this is it is bringing back an old building into use again and in the town centre.
“It will enhance the theatre, giving people more of a chance to stay in Bedford for the whole evening.
“They can come here to have a drink or meal before the show, and then have a drink during the interval, whereas before they would have to go upstairs to the Harpur Suite and it just wasn’t very convenient.”
The council hopes the new venue will attract more and bigger acts to the Corn Exchange, as well as more visitors.
And it has been themed round the number 13, with 13 drinks available, 13 items of food on the menu, and it will open on Wednesday, March 13.
It also plans to have special offers for groups of 13 and on Friday 13.
General manager at the Corn Exchange Andy Pidgen said: “It’s really going to enhance the theatre experience we offer here at the Corn Exchange.
“It means people can make a whole night of it here, instead of going onto the High Street or leaving Bedford altogether.
“And it will be a venue in its own right too, it will be open during the day if you want to come in for coffee or breakfast or a spot of lunch,
“Our prices will be lower than the standard price on the High Street, but we won’t be offering what they do. We don’t claim to be a High Street bar, we will offer a different experience.”
Number Thirteen will open at 7pm on Wednesday.
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Saturday 25 May 2013
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