12 Mill Street

The Fleur de Lis Public House: 12 Mill Street, Bedford 

Formerly an ancient inn/beerhouse which existed at least from the 1750’s up until 2009.

During Georgian times there were two Fleur de Lis/Fleur de Lys/Flower de Luce Inns, one in St Johns and one in Mill Street, St Pauls. The earliest record of one of these two establishments was a wedding settlement in 1718, but this could relate to the St Johns inn.

The earliest definite recording of the Mill Street pub can be found in licence recognizances from 1751 and 1752, which give the innkeeper as Thomas Howard, a victualler, and from 1754 and 1756 which names William L Hayes.

Unlike some of the other hostelries in Bedford, the Mill Street Fleur de Lis appears to have been a modest establishment and doesn’t appear in further records until 1847 when William Hawkins, a baker and beer retailer, is the owner. From 1850 Frederick Hardwick, also a baker and beer retailer, is living there with his family and stays until 1854.

The inn is then sold to Piggot and Wells, brewers, in 1855 and the later 1861 census then shows Charles King, a victualler and carpenter, as the innkeeper. The same year William Peek, a beer retailer, takes over and is present until at least 1867. From 1869 – 1890 John King, a beerhouse keeper/beer retailer is the licensee and is then followed by Charles Rubython from 1891 – 1894. John Rubython then takes over from at least 1897 – 1903.

A number of short staying publicans/beer retailers then take over; John F Collins,1904, John Burton, 1906-1907, Edward Seaman, 1908 – 1910 and Thomas Percy Mytton, 1911. Albert Hale is the next publican on site who is present for at least 16 years, from 1914 – 1930. We then have the longest serving incumbent, Alfred James Ives (Jim Ives) who takes over from 1931 until (at least) 1965. Although not listed on Directories, Beds Archives photos indicate Jim Ives would appear to have remained until at least 2001 or possibly 2009 when the pub closed.

In latter times the building has served as an Indian restaurant, Dawat, 2012 – 2013, a Smoke House, BBQ Bobs, 2014 and Smoke Shack, 2015 – 2018, a pizza restaurant, Panzerotto, 2019 and an Italian restaurant, Il Basilico, 2020 – 2026.  

Summary of Occupiers

1718: Occupants of “Flower de Luce” ; “Formerly the Greyhound and later the Globe, once in occupation of John White, then Samuel Nelson, Upholsterer, late of Richard Boston now of Simon Abbot"

1751 – 1752: Thomas Howard, Victualler

1754 – 1756: William L Hayes, Publican

1847: William Hawkins, Baker and Beer Retailer

1850 – 1854: Frederick Hardwick, Baker and Beer Seller

1855: Piggot and Wells, Brewers, buy Fleur de Lis

1861: Charles King, Victualler and Carpenter

1861 – 1867: William Peek, Beer Retailer

1869 – 1890: John King, Beerhouse Keeper/Beer Retailer

1891 – 1894: Charles Rubython, Publican

1897 – 1903: John Rubython, Publican

1904: John F Collins, Publican

1906 – 1907: John Burton, Publican/Beer Retailer

1908 – 1910: Edward Seaman, Publican/Beer Retailer

1911: Thomas Percy Mytton, Publican

1914 – 1930: Albert Hale, Publican/Beer Retailer

1931 – 2009?: Alfred James Ives (Jim Ives), Publican/Landlord

2009: Fleur de Lis closed

2012 – 2013: Dawat, Indian Restaurant

2014: BBQ Bobs, Smoke House

2015 – 2018: Smoke Shack, Smoke House

2019: Panzerotto, Pizza Restaurant

2020 – 2026: Il Basilico, Italian Restaurant