A proper free house, not a brand exercise
Tucked into rural Bedfordshire, a few minutes from the A1 and within easy reach of the M1 and M25, The Engineers Arms has spent almost two centuries as the village's living room. No tie to a single brewery means a constantly rotating line-up of real ales, ciders, continental lagers and one of the best gin shelves in the county.
Sitting close to Champneys (the old Henlow Grange), the pub has poured pints for more than a few famous faces over the years — but it's the regulars, the dogs under the tables and the live atmosphere that keep the Engine running.
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What you'll find at the Engine
A rotating cask line-up
Up to ten hand pumps on at once, sourced from breweries across the country and changed regularly — never the same pub twice.
Thirty gins, properly served
A gin shelf that punches well above a village pub's weight, alongside ciders and continental lagers. Something for everyone.
Games, sport & good company
Board games on the side, live sport on the screens, and a bar that's just as happy with a quiet pint as a packed festival weekend.
Proper pub games
Shove ha'penny, skittles, darts and more — the Engine takes its games seriously. Drop in any time and see what's on.
Tom Canning is behind the bar now
Tom took over the Engine in September 2025 and has hit the ground running — a packed events calendar, a warm welcome and a bar that's never short of conversation. When he's not behind the pumps, Tom moonlights as a professional wrestler (Jethro) and a rock musician performing covers and tributes. He's planning a Pink Floyd tribute night at the Engine — expect at least one bell, half a whistle and a smoke machine.
See the full licensee timeline →The Engineers Arms
Events are kind of our thing
From beer festivals on the High Street to "Engineers Arms on Tour" trips around the UK and into Germany, this pub doesn't sit still for long.
Straight from the regulars (and the visitors)
"Lovely traditional local with all live sports and games. Friendly staff and a great atmosphere."
"An absolute gem of a place — a warm welcome from staff and customers alike, with an excellent choice of real ales and a wide range of gins."
"Very much a real ale pub, 8–10 hand pumps regularly on, with festivals several times a year. Smart and clean toilets too!"
First pint's on you. We'll just point you to the bar.
68 High Street, Henlow, Bedfordshire SG16 6AA — five minutes off the A1, easy reach of the M1 and M25.
