Bedford Esquires

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Bedford Esquires is a pub, nightclub and live music venue located in the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.

The venue is housed in a converted 19th century chapel. On the groundfloor is a regular pub (named Danny's Bar) and nightclub mostly specialising in indie and alternative rock music.

Upstairs is a live music venue which has played host to many notable acts from the 1990s and 2000's. These acts include - Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand, Muse, The Libertines, Lost Prophets, Editors, The View, The Feeling, Bloc Party, Enter Shikari, Biffy Clyro, Feeder, Graham Coxon and Super Furry Animals.^[1]

During the Britpop era, Esquires gained a reputation for featuring bands that were guarenteed to break into the charts soon after.^[2] During this time the venue played host the Bluetones, Elastica, Catatonia, Ocean Colour Scene, Echobelly, Shed Seven, Supergrass and Sleeper.^[3]

Today Esquires still promotes up-and-coming bands and artists touted by the likes of the NME. It also plays host to a variety of local un-signed acts, and stages an annual Battle of the Bands contest for the Bedford area.