12 Christmas Day menus in and around Bedford with prices from £57.95 to £110, deposits, pay-by dates and hygiene ratings. Checked November 2026.
Twelve pubs, hotels and restaurants in and around Bedford publish a Christmas Day 2026 menu, and the lowest prices are at the Anchor on Goldington Road (£57.95), the King William in Kempston (£59.99) and the Ship on St Cuthbert’s Street (£62.95). On the river, the Bedford Swan Hotel (£99) and the Embankment (£100 for five courses) are the bigger occasions, and the Kingfisher on Cardington Road is the dearest here at £110.
Two dates matter soon: the Kingfisher wants the full balance and pre-orders by Tuesday 24 November, and the Park, the Toby Carvery and the Harvester all want full payment by 1 December.
Bedford town centre and the Embankment
1. The Bedford Swan Hotel, The Embankment
The Bedford Swan is the Georgian hotel at the foot of the town bridge, with a thermal spa and the Pen & Cob restaurant. Its Christmas menus page sets Christmas Day lunch at £99 a head, served from 12.30pm to 3pm, with a three-course under-12s menu at £45.
The adult menu opens with a caramelised onion and miso soup or a chicken and pancetta terrine. The hotel takes a £20 a head deposit, which it says is non-refundable, and asks for full payment eight weeks before the event; for Christmas Day that date has already passed, so expect to pay in full when you book.
Boxing Day is a carvery at £43, £19 for under-12s.
Price Christmas Day £99, under-12s £45; Boxing Day carvery £43, under-12s £19
Booking events team; £20 a head non-refundable deposit; full payment eight weeks ahead
Call 01234 346565
Address The Embankment, Bedford, MK40 1RW
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 25 September 2025
Website bedfordswanhotel.co.uk/christmas/christmas-menus
Listing Our listing
Good for riverside hotel, children's menu, Boxing Day carvery, stay the night
2. The Embankment, The Embankment
The Embankment is the riverside pub and hotel a few hundred yards east along the river from the Swan. Its Christmas Day lunch page offers five courses at £100 a head, with children under 12 at £49, and describes the menu as “timeless Christmas favourites”.
The page does not name a year, but it sits in the venue’s current Christmas section alongside Boxing Day (two courses £40, three £45, under-12s £20). The pub’s Christmas terms ask £10 a head deposit from every Christmas diner, non-refundable but taken off the bill.
The FSA lists the Embankment as awaiting inspection under its current operator, so it has no rating to show yet.
Price Christmas Day £100 for five courses, under-12s £49; Boxing Day £40 to £45
Booking online or by phone; £10 a head deposit
Call 01234 261332
Address 6 The Embankment, Bedford, MK40 3PD
Hygiene rating awaiting inspection
Website embankmentbedford.co.uk/christmas-menus/christmas-day-lunch
Listing Our listing
Good for riverside, five courses, children's price, rooms upstairs
3. The Park, Kimbolton Road
The Park is the pub and kitchen on Kimbolton Road on the north side of town. Its Christmas page prices Christmas Day lunch at £98 for adults and £49 for children under 12, three courses “thoughtfully created to bring everyone together”.
The pub is open for Christmas Day dining and drinks from 12pm to 4pm, and anyone who has not pre-booked a table for food cannot be seated on the day. It takes £10 a head deposit, children included, wants the balance with pre-ordered food and drinks by 1 December, and says deposits are non-refundable.
Dogs are allowed in the bar and garden areas.
Open Christmas Day 12pm to 4pm
Price Christmas Day £98, children under 12 £49; Boxing Day £40 to £45
Booking £10 a head deposit including children; balance by 1 December
Call 01234 273929
Address 98 Kimbolton Road, Bedford, MK40 2PF
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 22 April 2025
Website theparkbedford.co.uk/christmas-lunch-bedford
Listing Our listing
Good for dogs in the bar, children's price, garden, Boxing Day too
4. The Ship, St Cuthbert’s Street
The Ship is the Greene King pub on St Cuthbert’s Street, east of the town centre. Its Christmas Day page offers “three delicious courses for £62.95”, and the kids’ Christmas Day menu linked from it is £27.95 for three courses.
Greene King takes a £10 deposit for every adult and child on Christmas Day bookings and confirms each booking by email.
Price Christmas Day £62.95, kids £27.95
Booking online; £10 a head deposit for adults and children
Address 7 St Cuthbert's Street, Bedford, MK40 3JB
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 12 October 2025
Website greeneking.co.uk/pubs/bedfordshire/ship/christmas/christmas-day
Listing Our listing
Good for town centre, children's price, lower price
5. Miller & Carter Bedford, Riverside Square
Miller & Carter is the steakhouse in Riverside Square by the river and the Vue cinema. Its 2026 Christmas Day menu, a PDF linked from the restaurant’s Christmas Day menu page, is headed “Luxurious Christmas Day Menu for 99.95 per person”, with the chain’s aged steaks among the mains.
A separate young guests’ Christmas Day menu is priced “from 47.95 per person”. The chain’s own booking terms apply; check them when you book.
Price Christmas Day £99.95; young guests' menu from £47.95
Booking online
Address Unit 4C, Riverside Square, Bedford, MK40 1AS
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 18 September 2024
Website millerandcarter.co.uk/restaurants/east-of-england/millerandcarterbedford/christmasdaymenu
Listing Our listing
Good for steak on Christmas Day, town centre, children's menu
Goldington and Riverfield
6. The Anchor, Goldington Road
The Anchor is the Greene King pub at 397 Goldington Road, on the eastern edge of town. Its Christmas Day menu, linked from the pub’s Christmas Day page, is “£57.95 for 3 courses” and says it is “available on 25th December 2026 only”; the kids’ Christmas Day menu is £27.95 for three courses.
That makes it the lowest Christmas Day price we found in the borough. As at the Ship, there is a £10 deposit for every adult and child.
Price Christmas Day £57.95, kids £27.95
Booking online; £10 a head deposit for adults and children
Address 397 Goldington Road, Bedford, MK41 0DS
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 21 May 2026
Website greeneking.co.uk/pubs/bedfordshire/anchor/christmas/christmas-day
Listing Our listing
Good for lowest price, children's price, families
7. Toby Carvery Goldington, Goldington Road
The Toby Carvery is next door to the Anchor, beside the Travelodge at 403 Goldington Road. Its Christmas Day menu page prices Christmas Day dining at £74.99, “with our famous carvery at the heart of it”.
Toby’s deposit rules ask £10 a head for every Christmas Day guest, whatever the size of the party, and full payment and pre-orders by 1 December. The page does not give a separate children’s Christmas Day price.
Price Christmas Day £74.99
Booking online; £10 a head deposit; full payment and pre-order by 1 December
Address 403 Goldington Road, Bedford, MK41 0DS
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 10 March 2025
Website tobycarvery.co.uk/restaurants/east-of-england/goldingtonbedford/menus/christmasdaymenu
Listing Our listing
Good for carvery, families
8. The Orchard (Harvester), Riverfield Drive
The Orchard is the Harvester on Riverfield Drive in east Bedford. Its Christmas Day menu page says the 2026 Christmas Day menu “is available for £72.99 per adult”.
Harvester’s Christmas deposit rules ask £10 a head on Christmas Day, whatever the party size, with full payment and pre-orders by 1 December. No children’s Christmas Day price is published on the page.
Price Christmas Day £72.99 per adult
Booking online; £10 a head deposit; full payment and pre-order by 1 December
Address 1 Riverfield Drive, Bedford, MK41 0UE
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 30 April 2026
Website harvester.co.uk/restaurants/eastofengland/theorchardbedford/menus/christmas-day-menu
Listing Our listing
Good for families
Kempston, Bromham and Cardington
9. The King William, Kempston
The King William is the pub on Kempston High Street. Its Christmas menus page prices Christmas Day at £59.99 for four courses for adults and £29.99 for three courses for children, promising to “take care of the cooking, the serving and even the washing up”.
All Christmas Day bookings need a £10 a head deposit, children included; the pub says deposits are non-refundable and are taken off the bill. Boxing Day is £29.99 for two courses or £34.99 for three.
Price Christmas Day £59.99 for four courses, children £29.99; Boxing Day £29.99 to £34.99
Booking £10 a head deposit including children
Call 01234 400292
Address 56 High Street, Kempston, MK42 7AL
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 11 March 2025
Website kingwilliamkempston.co.uk/christmas-menus
Listing Our listing
Good for four courses, children's price, Boxing Day too
10. The Swan, Bromham
The Swan is the Greene King pub on Bridge End in Bromham, by the old bridge over the Great Ouse. Its Christmas Day page offers three courses for £68, and the kids’ Christmas Day menu linked from it is £33 for three courses.
There is a £10 deposit for every adult and child.
Price Christmas Day £68, kids £33
Booking online; £10 a head deposit for adults and children
Address 21 Bridge End, Bromham, MK43 8LS
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 9 February 2026
Website greeneking.co.uk/pubs/bedfordshire/swan/christmas/christmas-day
Listing Our listing
Good for village pub, children's price
11. The Kingfisher, Cardington Road
The Kingfisher is the riverside hotel and pub on Cardington Road; its own site still gives the address as Barns Hotel. Its Christmas page offers Christmas Day lunch at £110 a head: a Kir Royale or Prosecco on arrival, four courses, then coffee and mince pies.
Children are £55, for a half portion of the main menu or the children’s menu. The Christmas 2026 brochure gives arrival between 12pm and 3pm, a £20 a head deposit on booking, and the full balance and pre-orders by 24 November 2026; all money is non-refundable.
Boxing Day lunch is £70, children £35.
Price Christmas Day £110 including fizz on arrival, children £55; Boxing Day £70, children £35
Booking £20 a head deposit; full balance and pre-order by 24 November
Call 01234 270044
Address Cardington Road, Bedford, MK44 3SA
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 8 July 2026
Website thekingfisherbedford.co.uk/christmas
Listing Our listing
Good for riverside hotel, four courses, Christmas breaks with rooms, children's price
Biggleswade
12. The Yorkshire Grey, London Road
The Yorkshire Grey is the Greene King pub on London Road in Biggleswade. Its Christmas Day page offers three courses for £66, and the kids’ Christmas Day menu linked from it is £29 for three courses.
There is a £10 deposit for every adult and child. The pub is rated by Central Bedfordshire Council.
Price Christmas Day £66, kids £29
Booking online; £10 a head deposit for adults and children
Address 140 London Road, Biggleswade, SG18 8EL
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 24 February 2026
Website greeneking.co.uk/pubs/bedfordshire/yorkshire-grey/christmas/christmas-day
Good for Biggleswade, children's price
How we chose
These are the places people search for when booking Christmas dinner in Bedford, Kempston and the villages around them. Each one publishes a Christmas Day price on its own site, and each has a Food Standards Agency hygiene rating of 5, apart from the Embankment, which is awaiting its first inspection under the current operator. Some places are missing because we could not find a Christmas Day price on 1 November 2026: the Bedford Arms in Oakley posts its Christmas Day menu without a price, the Gordon Arms is running festive menus and parties but no Christmas Day lunch, and the Plough at Bolnhurst had nothing about Christmas on its site. Prices are as published on 1 November 2026. Christmas menus usually need a deposit and a pre-order, so check the terms when you book.
Run a place that should be here, or spot something that has changed? Email newsdesk@bedfordtimes.co.uk. Taken a good photograph of any of these places? Email it to newsdesk@bedfordtimes.co.uk and we will add it with your name as the credit.
For more on Christmas locally, see the Bedford Christmas lights switch-on, the Christmas markets, Santa’s grottos, Shuttleworth in Lights, Christmas trains and travel, Christmas bin collections and what’s on in Bedford this month. For the rest of the year, see our guide to things to do in Bedford and the pubs in our Bedford business directory.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I have Christmas dinner in Bedford on Christmas Day 2026?
Twelve places on this list publish a Christmas Day price. The cheapest are the Anchor on Goldington Road (£57.95), the King William in Kempston (£59.99) and the Ship on St Cuthbert’s Street (£62.95). In the town centre, the Park on Kimbolton Road is £98, the Bedford Swan Hotel £99, Miller & Carter at Riverside Square £99.95 and the Embankment £100 for five courses. The Kingfisher on Cardington Road is £110.
How much is Christmas Day lunch for children in Bedford?
Published children’s prices are £27.95 at the Anchor and the Ship, £29 at the Yorkshire Grey in Biggleswade, £29.99 at the King William, £33 at the Swan in Bromham, £45 for under-12s at the Bedford Swan Hotel, £49 for under-12s at the Park and the Embankment, and £55 at the Kingfisher.
When do I have to pay for Christmas Day lunch in Bedford?
The Kingfisher wants the full balance and pre-orders by 24 November. The Park, the Toby Carvery and the Harvester want full payment by 1 December. The Bedford Swan Hotel asks for full payment eight weeks before the day, a date that has already passed, so expect to pay in full when you book there.
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