Never liked the opening words “with a heavy heart”, I find it quite annoying, but finding an alternative isn’t much fun either. So, after 36 years as Landlord at the Engineers Arms, I have decided to take a walk.
So many memories, great staff and so many friends and laughs every day. People living, sadly a lot have died, people moved away – home and abroad and even people barred, have added to this rich tapestry of The Engineers Arms history in Henlow.
I moved in on 29th August 1989. In the early days, so many characters and so many celebrities used to drink at the Engineers, enough to write a book probably.
I have sold the pub to Punch. Contracts have been exchanged, but from 1st May, I become a worker again! With my politics quite an apt date and myself and Sharon will be tenants until 3rd September.
Changes will obviously have to be made, but Punch are committed to keeping the pub pretty much the way it’s been over the years and hopefully, the spirit and ambiance will remain the same.
I have so many people to thank for their support over the years. My customers, too many to name, CAMRA for their sustained support over the many years. I hope we served the aims and objectives of CAMRA well. I guess nearly 30 consecutive years in the Good Beer Guide might answer that.
A big thanks to all the many breweries and suppliers we have used and had a strong and fruitful working relationship with.
Sincere thanks to all present and past members of staff, without their support it wouldn’t have happened.
Once again, I thank every one of our friends, family and customers who have frequented the pub. It’s been a blast and I’m pretty sure a very emotional roller-coaster over the next four months.
Love and respect, Kevin and Sharon
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Engineers Arms Henlow
“The Management and fully trained Staff at the Engineers Arms
aim to serve you with a great choice of drinks
including a fantastic range of up to 10 beautifully kept guest ales"
Engineers Arms, Henlow
The Engineers Arms is situated in Henlow, rural Bedfordshire, close to the A1, M25 and a 25 minute drive to the M1 J13.
Kevin Machin has run this popular free house for over 35 years. Kevin has made 'the Engine' (as it is locally known) one of Bedfordshire's finest hostelries, serving a superb range of real ales, ciders, continental lagers and 30 premium gins.
Due to it's close proximity to Champneys Health Spa (formerly known as Henlow Grange, or 'the Grange' you never know who you might bump into in the bar. Many of Champneys famous guests have popped down the Engine for a pint or a glass of wine over the years, including Ross Kemp, Gok Wan, Vinny Jones, Frank Bruno, George Best, Gazza,
Barbara Windsor, Julie Goodyear and TNT Tony Tucker are a few who have succumbed to the ambience of the Engine.
Not only does the pub provide a wide variety of in-house entertainment, the now infamous 'Engineers Arms on Tour' have visited numerous Beer Festivals, pubs, museums, theatres and restaurants throughout Britain over the years, and of course Germany which is covered elsewhere on this website.
You can rest assured that a very warm welcome awaits you at The Engineers Arms.
Kevin and Sharon look forward to seeing you!
FIND THE LADY - TICKETS DRAWN EVERY SUNDAY 6.30PM
GET YOUR TICKETS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN.
£1 PER TICKET
Sunday 20 April draw numbers:
28101
27999
28032
Engineers History
John Goodlet and Ken Page
The pub was established in 1830. Abraham Biggs mortgaged his copyhold property in Henlow to John Foster, merchant of Biggleswade in the sum of £60 plus interest. He died in 1834 having left this property to his son David Biggs. James Weston , brewer of Shortmead Street, Biggleswade look over the mortgage and David Biggs continued as licensee of the beer house.
The property included five cottages at the rear, two in The Alley and three in Back Lane. When James Weston died in 1850, his wife Elizabeth went into partnership with her son-in-law George Powers as Weston & Powers in trust for her son James Joseph Weston. When James Joseph Weston attained the age of 21 in 1866, he took his mother's share of the partnership with George Powers. James Joseph Weston was sole owner when he leased the pub to William Smith of Henlow (Brickayer) on 29th September 1874 at a rent of £20 per annum. He put up his brewery at Biggleswade and 17 pubs for sale (including the beer house at Henlow) on 28th May 1875.
Extract from Sale Notice 28th May 1875:
"Brick & Stud built and slated Dwelling House, Licensed for the sale of beer. Containing taproom, parlour, kitchen, and sunk cellar, 2 bedrooms and one other ditto, a large yard with gateway entrance at side, pump and well of water, brick but and sated barn or workshop having one boarded end, wood built and slated closet, ditto shed and poultry place in texture of William Smith. ALSO TWO STUD-BUILT AND BOARDED COTTAGES each containing two rooms with cupboards, pantry & stud built and slated closet, timber-built and panelled barn, 3 ashes pits, yard and as now in the tenture of John Harris. Frederick Bywaters and Charles Jordan at rentals amounting to £10.10.0d per annum: the property is bounded on the south by the estate of Rev. H. Addington and Mr Gravestocks; on the north by a foot and barrow way and the property of E. Eyre Esq,; having a frontage on the east of about 40 feet to the back, and to the west of about 36 feet to the Hitchin and Biggleswade Road through Henlow, the total depth being about 162 feet. The whole of this lot has quite recently been put into a capital state of repair, and with the house and premises is estimated to produce a rental of £30 per annum. This lot is copyhold of the Manor of Henlow Anthony. The copyhold was later enfranchised in 1915 making it a freehold property.
1903 Licensing Return: High Street. Owner Charles Wells Bedford. Condition good".
PREVIOUS OWNERS & LICENSEES
This is not a complete list - previous owners:
Abraham Biggs: 1830-1834
James Weston: 1834-1850
Weston & Powers: 1850-1869
James Joseph Weston: 1874 - 1876 (leased to William Smith 1874 - 1876)
John Weston Whittaker, Henlow: 1876 - 1878
J. Wm. Whitaker, Henlow: 1878 - 1882
J. H. Whitaker, Henlow: 1882
Samuel Lucas, Brewer of Hitchin: 1882 - 1884
Charles Wells Ltd: 1884 - 1993
Kevin Machin: 1993 - present
LIST OF LICENSEES:
David Biggs: 1834 - 1871 (& Wheelwright)
Elizabeth Biggs: 1871 - 1872
Thomas Sabey: 1872 - 1873
Thomas Ashwell: 1873 - 1874
William Smith: 1874 - 1877
Samuel tyler: 1877 - 1878
Leeman Robert Doe: 1878 - 1884 (& Bricklayer)
Edward Clark: 1884 - 1911
George Cousins: 1911 = 1931
Mrs. Elizabeth Cousins: 1936
Stanley Cousins: 1936 - 1946
Arthur William Murray: 1947 - 1953
Joyce & Eddie Evans: 1954 - 1956
Johnny Walker: 1956 - 1965
Harold Pepper: 1965 - 1967
Leonard Albert Connell: 1967 - 1971
Paul Nelson Bennett: 1971 - 1981
Trevor Alfred Tiney: 1981 - 1989
Kevin Machin: 1989 - present
BEER FESTIVAL GALLERY
GIN FESTIVAL GALLERY
“Lovely traditional local with all live sports and games. Friendly staff and a great atmosphere"!
Jonny D
“Fantastic village pub. What a find! This pub is an absolute gem of a place. A warm welcome awaited us from the staff and customers' alike. There was an excellent choice of real ales, along with the usual range of lagers and ciders not to mention a wide range of gins. There is a good selection of board games on site as well if you have children (who are more than welcome at the pub). Would return without a doubt!
James Robertson
“Real ale pub, characterful Landlord!
The Engineers Arms is very much a real ale pub with 8-10 hand pumps regularly on and real ale festivals several times a year. We visited at the start of the most recent festival in November 2021. This pub was full event at 3pm. The staff are friendly and know their ales. The Landlord is a character and again is dedicated to providing a diverse range of areas from breweries across the country. Smart and clean toilets too! This place is certainly worth a regular visit if you are in to real ale!
fork_handles, Luton
CONTACT US
We’d love to hear from you.
Call us now on 01462 812284
or email kevin.machin@hotmail.co.uk
www.engineersarms.co.uk