Tucked away in Elstow village is St. Helena, Bedford's finest restaurant, housed in an elegant period country house on the site of a cottage where John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress, lived 1649 - 1665. St. Helena is the perfect setting for a special birthday or anniversary dinner, offering classic and contemporary British cuisine with French and Italian influence.
Raffaele Marotta, owner of St. Helena, is an fine example of the social mobility which is sadly lacking in England today. Raff is one of 6 children born to an Italian immigrant who came to work at the Stewartby Brickworks after the war and encouraged his children to make a success of their lives. Raff has run his superb restaurant for 21 years and it is fully booked most nights.
Raff finds time to attend Elstow Abbey regularly although he is a Roman Catholic and sits on the Elstow Abbey Board of Trustees with me, raising funds for church repairs and renovations.
If you want to be pampered and enjoy a delicious meal with canapes and home made chocolates served in a beautiful setting, I recommend you try St. Helena but remember to book your table well in advance because it is very popular.
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