With Spring weather starting to delight and bulbs beginning to flower, start Mother’s Day (after the obligatory lie in) with a scenic walk along the Embankment. Then there is a wealth to choose from.

Brunch, lunch or dinner…

The Pen & Cob brassiere in the Swan Hotel are offering a Special ‘Bottomless Brunch’ (10am or 11am) which can even be upgraded for Mother’s Day to include gin! The Swan are also offering a luxury Afternoon Tea (served in The Swan’s State Room) or special offer lunch and dinner menu.

Pen and Cob

Along the river The Embankment is a perennial favourite for a great Roast, and they are also offering a Champagne Breakfast special for Mother’s Day.   Or just over the Butterfly Bridge the Longholme Café is a great place to treat your mum to brunch (and even boat hire for the more energetic!).

d’Parys

Bedford has some great pubs for Sunday lunch, book at The Park on Kimbolton Road or d’Parys which has a special Mother’s Day menu. With both close to Bedford Park you can digest with a stroll after lunch or coffee at the Pavilion. The Castle Pub on Newnham Street is a cosy alternative or BrewHouse Kitchen who are offering all Mum’s a complimentary Gin & Tonic when a table is booked. Out of town alternatives include The Legstraps and The Red Lion, Stevington with Mother’s Day menus.

Newly opened 3 St Peters are open for bookings for Champagne Afternoon Tea (non-members welcome) and for an afternoon in Stately surrounds try Woodland’s Manor or Moggerhanger Park.

Gift ideas…
For book lovers head to The Eagle Bookshop and browse their extensive collection to find a truly personal gift.

Spoil fashionista’s with accessories or clothing in the Arcade from Anorak or Boutique Planet or for music lovers check out what delights Slide Records have in stock.

Browse perfect gifts and jewellery at Epanoui on Mill Street, gifts at No. 13 from Made in Bedford or The Higgins Museum shop which is also a good stop for quirky gifts, cards and wrapping paper.

Culture
Treat Culture lovers to tickets to a performance at one of our theatres. If you want to include all the family head to The Quarry for Bedford’s Preparatory School production of Wind in the Willows (19-21 March) or Dom Joly, known for Trigger Happy TV, on 28 March. The Place have a Swan Theatre production running from 17-21 March of ‘The Father’ or visit later in the week for ‘The Vessel’ (from Laura O’Keeffe) 25 March and ‘Bleak House’ 29 March.

Everyone loves flowers…
There are many superb florists in Bedford. Take your pick from Harpur Centre Florist, Fleurette or Daisy May Florists in the town centre or Bedford Florist on Castle Road, Forever Flowers Putnoe, Simmons Florists in Elstow or Greycourt Florists and Cottage Garden in Kempston.