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Date of photo: 2014	Picture source: Michael Croxford
The English Rose was situated at 46 Bedford Road.The English Rose closed in early 2017 as the landlord retired. Under the ownership of the EI Group (formerly Enterprise Inns), the pub was built in 1845 and originally named The Rabbit due to the area it was located in once being referred to as Coney Heath ('coney' is an archaic English term for rabbit) as well as the site likely once being occupied by the 18th Century Coney Hall. British actress Diana Dors was briefly married to the then-landlord’s son Dennis Hamilton in the 1950s, and it is said she pulled the odd pint or two behind the bar. In 2011, the pub won the Camra Pub of the Year for South Bedfordshire.
Source: Movement80
The late actress Diana Dors has been there several times as she was dating the landlord’s son(when she was already famous)My Gran got a hug and kiss from her,Diana was in her early 20’s and my gran used to pop in the pub from time to time as she was friends with the landlady,she’d only have a bottle of Mackeson and then go home.She lived in North st.so it was just down the road.She had heard that this young actress was in the pub so she went there and the landlady called Diana from the backroom and introduced her,my gran didn’t watch movies so she didn’t know her but said she was stunningly beautiful.She had a chat and when she left to go Diana gave her a hug and a kiss.The name The English Rose may have been in reference to Diana and indeed one of their smoking shelters out the back is called Diana Dors.T
Kieron Land (February 2019)
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Date of photo: 2014	Picture source: Michael Croxford