Emmaus Village Carlton in Bedford

Lunch in Ems cafe was tasty and reasonable prices. Friendly service, clean. Good selection of items for sale, clothes, furniture, and household items.

For a charity it is very expensive , so much so that I think there items were cheaper to buy new , don't waste your time visiting . I get the ethos behind the charity , but the high prices will harm it as a charity.

For a charity it is very expensive , so much so that I think there items were cheaper to buy new , don't waste your time visiting . I get the ethos behind the charity , but the high prices will harm it as a charity.

Nice for an afternoon out. Lots of second hand stuff to browse in more than one area. Fantastic restaurant for lunches or coffee

Nice for an afternoon out. Lots of second hand stuff to browse in more than one area. Fantastic restaurant for lunches or coffee

Had cod and chips today in Emmaus cafe it was excellent. The batter was light and crispy, chips just right not too greasy and not too dry. I am not a usual fan of mushy peas but these were really good with a little bit of spice added. Thank you. Service was friendly and patient.

Disappointed with our visit earlier. I understand things have gone up and theres Bills to pay. But I’d have thought that a charity that specifically helps homelessness wouldn’t have fallen into the over charging trap. £25 for a jacket for a 3 year old is extortionate. These things are given to you for free. I think you need to remember who is shopping with you. Because if I could afford John Lewis prices I would be going there. Such a shame. Used to be our favourite shop and the trip from Bedford was worth it. Not any more 😪

Great place. Big charity shop with lots of items for sale. All varieties. Cakes absolutely delicious.

Great 2nd hand 'bric a brack' shop 👍🏻

Great place to visit, not as good as the Cambridge one though. Cafe was excellent

The most worthwhile charity I have ever encountered. Excellent coffee and cake from the bistro.

I enjoy going to Emmaus but today rather spoilt it. I donated a large rug and dragged it to the donation point. Presumably it was near to that part closing and the guy didn’t look too pleased. He called a colleague and I think he misunderstood me when I said it was clean but someone might want to clean it. The conversation followed and the chap said they couldn’t clean it so they couldn’t take it. I repeated what I had meant and he walked off saying that they were obviously nearer than the tip. I went in and said that there was no need to be rude and that we came to donate and help them. I was ignored and did feel that they felt I was a nuisance. When I was taking the rug in a lady was walking to her car but thanked me for donating and that she used to be a trustee. That made all the difference and perhaps the chaps could be trained to be a bit more welcoming.

Most of my reviews are written with wheelchair accessibility in mind. There seemed to be only one disabled parking space but it may be that, as that one was available, I didn’t look much farther. The car park was full so it may be that there were some others that were occupied. We went to em’s cafe for a coffee and cake. The entrance to the building in which em’s cafe is located is not that easy for wheelchair access . The doorways are only just wide enough and there is a raised bit (to stop the rain getting in) which has to be negotiated. You really need someone else there to help. Once inside, everything is very accessible. The cafe is well laid out. Plenty of room to negotiate a wheelchair around the tables. The coffee was excellent and I can well recommend the chocolate traybake and the lemon cake. There’s also a good choice of second hand shops - books, DVDs and CDs as well as 12” vinyl. There other shops we didn’t go in - furniture, home, and clothes. Maybe on another visit.

Normally find something interesting to buy and everyone is super friendly.

Plenty of parking, and there's an over flow car park for busy times. The weekend does get very busy, and at times there can be queues for the cafe. The 2 main attractions are indeed the cafe, and the shop. The shop sells 2nd hand goods at affordable prices. There's a main section for furniture, and also inside the cafe, you have the smaller bits like glass, cameras cds and dvds. You can also drop goods off and will be directed to where with signs. This is a great place for people to come who are starting out needing furniture, and it's also great for a lovely cafe visit. Dogs allowed, and there are some outdoor seats too.

Online says it closes at Carlton at 4pm. I arrived with a box of items to donate at 3.50pm and was told the donation building closed at 3.30. Need to let people know online it closes at 3.30pm. Staff were sitting outside talking and refused to collect my box from my car and one of the men was very rude. Wasted journey.

We have been donating and buying things from here for many years. We enjoy visiting the cafe and the eating the food. However, two weeks ago we brought a reclining chair and a push along walker for delivery today at 9.30. We had a phone call yesterday to they things had been missed off the truck but it will be put back on and delivered just after 9. As no one has turned up before 10 I phoned an sped was told the driver said it was too far for him to deliver today and they had phoned to say so but they didn’t. Delivery now Saturday afternoon. Very disappointed.

What a great place. Can’t believe I’ve lived within half an hour of Emmaus and only just learned about it Huge and fascinating range of stuff for sale. Quality and price both really good. Staff were friendly, funny and helpful. I can only vouch for the coffee, Victoria sponge and fudge cake in the cafe, but they were excellent and everything else looked great All of this and a really worthy cause Plus, very nearby are the country park and several great pubs, so together a great day out.

My partner and I often visit Emmaus. We usually find something to buy and often sit in the cafe area for drinks or food. Wish there was more stuff to look at though. Maybe open up a few more rooms for smaller items that are donated.

Tried out the cafe in Emmaus. We had the mini breakfast at £6 each. It was hot, well cooked, and included the best sausage we have EVER had. You really need to try these sausages, I've never had better. Give it a try You won't be disappointed.

Used to come here a few years ago. Recently rediscovered Emmaus and it’s a nice place to visit with friends. The new addition of the Christmas Shop is a great addition. Lots of lights, decorations and other Christmas items all at reasonable prices. We stopped in the cafe and had a jacket potato each which was very good followed by a coffee & cake! Was very busy in the cafe and the queue was long but worth the wait! The main car park does get very busy and people tend to sit in the roadway waiting for a space and don’t give you much room to get out of the spaces - there is an overflow parking area but some people just sit and wait for a space!!! Most definitely a place to return every once in a while for a mooch!

Popped in for cake after school, grandson chose chocolate fudge cake. It was dry and tasted so artificial-yuk. I won’t be going again, it was quite pricey.

This Emmaus is a very good charity. There are a couple of good shops on site selling a lot of high quality second-hand items. The cafe is very nice. The atmosphere in the cafe is very good and so is the food. The second hand shops are spread across the site. One predominantly sells furniture and the one next to the cafe sells a bit of everything else. The staff are friendly and what the charity is there to support. Parking is good, some parts are wheelchair friendly and some are not. Staff are very helpful

Inspirational enterprise consisting of revamped and refreshed clothing, furniture, electrical equipment, music, books and more. Fabulous cafe selling breakfasts, lunches and snacks plus a variety of drinks all prepared on site. Very good value for money and tasty dishes. The inspiring factor is that the whole purpose of this enterprise is to give homeless people a second chance in living a life without needing support. These staff are given the opportunity to learn core skills in serving the public in different areas of Emmaus: cafe, retail and diy skills - in return they are given accommodation and meals. The goods on sale are good quality. Free parking. Worth a visit

Emmaus Village Carlton is a great place to shop for second hand goods and have lunch in this wonderful cafe.

Still a lovely place to go with a nice cafe, plentiful parking and a range of items to browse. Furniture seems reasonable in pricing and the café pricing is "on par" with other places given the price of food now. The food is lovely, GF and Vegan options. Coffee is delicious and clearly they're well trained baristas (as a prior barista myself, I'm scrupulous). Only things letting it down is what a previous review mentions; that the prices in the boutique area are questionable. Anyone would think it was designer, not a charity. At least with the cafe, you know they have to buy the food and use electric etc. But with clothing and furniture you know most, if not all, has been donated so any money is better than none.

A fantastic place to go for a deal! Staff are excellent too and very helpful 😃

I have been coming to emmaus for years now. I am really let down by the pricing yes you are a charity but you are also supposed to be for the less fortunate, for people like me to by next to new clothing for my family and household items. It now seems prices are more reflective of the location and higher salaried type. With Tu sainburys Next and marks and sparks being mistaken for designer? A Lonsdale jacket from the 90s in the boutique area £9.00?? Toys being dropped of but never in the childrens area just books, dvds, soft teddy's? On top of this tens of bikes hidden with the overgrowth behind the shop, this is disgusting here's an idea give them to families and children that could desperately be needing them ask for a donation even, let them fix them up, life skills? I now only come here for the cake and bric-brac area the usual bald guy has been there some time his prices are very reasonable and his a lovley chap! Could I also point out most of your friendly lovley humble staff also buy here make your pricing more fairer for all incomes! Cruddy emmaus real cruddy.

Visited today but was closed although the site says it is open

Wow, amazing charity shop, so much there ! I got some amazing shirts for cheap, and some t-shirts too Staff were really friendly and helpful, had a great conversation

Fantastic cafe, lovely staff. :)5 years later and still a fantastic place to shop and eat💜

Staff are very polite and helpful. Lots of bargains to be had.

Nice atmosphere and some great bargains, very reasonably priced goods !

What a find! We're in Carlton for a long weekend and visited Emmaus not knowing what to expect. What a fab place! Extensive collecting of clothes, furniture, books, and other nik naks. Amazing prices. Friendly staff. Cafe was fab for some great snacks! Highly recommend!

Was good n it's good to know that they are helping people to gain skills

Emmaus is my chosen charity, and visiting the village in Carton is always a treat. There's a drop-off point for donations whuch you're directed to as soon as you park the car in the car park, and it really is as simple as leave your boxes/bags on one of the shelves for them to collect and put through the warehouse. For furniture, however, always ask for an appraisal from a member of staff. The best part of the visit is always the bistro. Not only do they do a truly excellent cappuccino, but the bookstore is truly excellent. No matter what your taste is as far as your reading appetites, you'll find something in there to suit you. Support Emmaus, charity in action.

We have been supporting Emmaus since it first opened. Many (good) changes since then. We really enjoy our weekly or fortnightly visits, Bistro area is excellent although menu needs improvement.

Great spot to browse for bargains and good coffee shop

Great place, love the meaning behind it even more. Prices are amazing!

Lots of things you can buy has a café to have something to eat and drink different items from day to day

Lovely cafe with lots of treats on offer and always the possibility of snagging a bargain!

Called the day before to make sure the Bistro was still serving meals at lunchtime. Arrived with my friend whom I'd invited for lunch to be told that they had not been serving meals for some time due to staffing problems (no chef....). I ordered a sausage batch but unfortunately was given an inedible bacon batch. Cheap, very salty bacon. My friend,s lunch was a rather tasteless piece of cake and black coffee. Next time we'll head for a pub lunch!

Cyclists this is a good place for a mid-ride break. Plenty of space both inside and out. Lots of areas where bikes can be parked up in clear view of all. Food wise all the key requirements met: coffee, cake and hot food.

Really good place to visit, nice cafe as well

Good food very good staff all ways pleased to help.

We’ve only recently discovered Emmaus and can’t believe what we’ve been missing all these years! It’s in a lovely location, the people working there are so friendly and you can see they really appreciate and benefit from the chance to be there. The community feel is excellent. Plus the cafe serves good quality and reasonably priced food. The charity shop itself isn’t overpriced either which is a rarity these days. Thumbs up All round!

always a bargain to be had here and the staff are really helpful and friendly. This is a great place to go visit if you are starting out in a new place to live or are just looking for something to add to your home

Great charitable enterprise. Lots to browse through, a great cafe, and great value for money. The site is split into two main buildings. One has a cafe, books, music (CDs and vinyl), films on dvd and crockery. The other has clothes, furniture and a few bits of electronic gear like hi-fi's etc.

Went yesterday for 1st time, had loads of everything. I don't know who prices the items but I think they need speaking to. I get its a charity that runs on donations, but to put them prices on items is ridiculas, old 60's sideboard over £100, old wardrobes over £100, they won't sell. I suggest halving your prices, sell item's quicker, bigger turnaround. I saw 2 wall pictures I liked £25 each. No way would anyone pay £50 for 2 secondhand wall pictures. I walked out empty handed and disappointed. Sorry guys, could easily be improved.

Dies what a charity place should do

What a great experience! This village is the Emmaus Charity's location in Carlton.Whilst there, we decided to have lunch and headed for the bistro.Menu was a little restricted due to the recovery from Covid but our roll & Sausage (real solid sausages from a butcher rather than cash & carry, I suspect and a bacon sandwich with coffee & tea was great.A great community effort that many commercial outfits could do with replicating.

We always have a great time visiting Emmaus, and always take our visitors here, who equally enjoy it; stopping for coffee and cake before leaving. I love the up-cycling of old furniture, to give them that modern, individual look. The pandemic has hit charities hard, so now is the time to rally round and give our support. What a wonderful charity this is, helping people to get off the streets, teaching them new skills and enabling themselves towards a brighter future, well done Emmaus.

We’ve been visiting Emmaus for years, Although I’d agree with some of the comments about the “fun” being gone I think we have Covid to blame for that not the staff , all the changes I have seen have been introduced due to the virus, it’s a shame we can’t just drop donations off on a whim now, but the appointment system was introduced during lockdowns to allow them to continue to take things safely and in-line with social distancing I still enjoy coming here and seeing what bargains I can find as there are still some cheap bits, I think the Bistro has improved my selling unusual and traditional cakes and bakes, it’s a good place for a coffee & cake, but no really lunch as there’s no sandwhich selection other than sausage & bacon bap! Which is still yummy! You get generous portions! And the staff are friendly! We go at least once a month! Well worth a trip!!

Often visit with my friend and we always manage to find some goodies ranging from clothes to kitchen items all at great value.The bistro is nice too, we always stop for a cuppa and slice of their delicious homemade cakes, always a wide range to choose from, they even have a selection of gluten free and vegan options Everyone’s always really helpful and it’s good to know you are supporting a charity that is helping vulnerable people gain experience and regain their confidence Definitely worth a visit

We used to come here a lot, like once a week. Somewhere to come to to have a good rummage, maybe find a “bargain” or two then have a good cuppa with a generous slice of cake in the cafe. Alas those days are gone. The place has been tidied up, everything is now expensive to buy, some of the prices are ridiculous! (We found furniture for sale at over the new price!)The cafe has gone downhill to a point it’s not worth going to anymore. The cakes are all weird flavours etc. (Coffee & Aubergine anyone?) if they are not weird then they are GF Dairy free etc. Impossible to buy a traditional slice of normal cake. The coffee is now straight out of a machine and was OK, but was served in cardboard cups. No need for that amount of waste. (Just because they are compostable, doesn’t mean they are green). No free refill anymore either. Lunch isn’t served till 12.15 take note of this time it’s only mentioned in small letters on the menu which you don’t really look at until after you’ve queued up, and a seemingly arbitrary and frankly odd time to start lunch service. Overall, a disappointing visit, and one we won’t be rushing back to. When my mother tried to donate some items (she always likes to help out here) she was told quite abruptly she should have made an appointment. She’s been doing this for years, and wouldn’t have checked the website as she knew what she was doing. Also, not everyone can do gift aid. So in short. 1. Items to buy too expensive. 2. Cafe expensive and poor selection. 3. Appointment system to donate. Doubt we’ll be back, which is a shame as we’ve enjoyed our visits in the past.

Love it..Always stock up on cds and dvds and the coffee and snacks are great 🙂🎶🎵

After many years of visiting, donating and purchasing both on a private and corporate level we will no longer be supporting Emmaus. We checked on web site for opening times but did not follow and open all tabs , our mistake. We arrived to be told we could not donate as it was appointment only. We apologized and said would it be OK as there were 3 people standing at the drop off just waiting. No we could not. The manger we spoke to was aggressive , hands on hips and bulllish to say the least , explaining that we now have to Gift Aid , no problem, so you had to book. To the gentleman who also had not booked but was told to take it to the tip we hope you found a good home for your beautiful card table. Without generous supporters the people most in need miss out. Management listen up and be better at your job.

Friendly staff, lots of furniture to buy and a nice cafe too. Well worth a visit and as an added bonus the money you spend goes to a worthy cause.

To much new furniture very little to no furniture at affordable price. I fear you have out priced the people that would understand your mission to help the homeless and vulnerable. Just feel you may have lost your unique feel that set you apart from other furniture organizations having new stuff at higher prices such as £300 will surely be a harder sell than that old chest of drawers for £40 that you could paint example. Just sad that in the hard times you have out price the kind of people that would understand financial hardship and homelessness and may have wanted to buy to support you rather than buy on Facebook marketplace and not give the money to good cause.

Great food and lovely guys in the Bistro. Perfect place to stop off when out for a walk

People friendly a d helpful I think it deserves a 4 star rating

I love going to Emmaus. The Companions are always helpful. The food is good and I always find a bargain. Since covid, it feels really safe.

Some real bargains to be had here. Beautiful little coffee shop, lovely staff and an amazing scheme to get those who have been homeless back on track. ❤

Despite the restrictions, had a very enjoyable visit on Saturday (14th. November). A great selection was available for Takeaway only, particularly cakes. Wonderful food available at highly competitive prices with smiling staff. Not forgetting, a great Charity requiring support!

Been here numerous times.It’s other people’s ‘rubbish’ but if you search, you could find your gold here.There’s a wide range of items for sale, seems to be a little less now, perhaps due to covid, but you can still find a bargain.Will be back.

Great food in the cafe Lots of options for VE V GF Staff are friendly The items for sale are fairly priced mostly and there is food variety

A bit top slow even taking into consideration the nature/ethos of the business

Amazing, great staff, good products at low prices.

Very nice place and professionally run, with very good selection of clothes and books. We also had a light lunch at the Bistro, which was simple and fresh. The staff are very friendly and professional and the place is very clean.

Very professionally run with good quality food in the bistro

amazing visit wonderful people who serve us polite kind caring .Jolly and very very helpful. \I wish I lived closer to Volunteer help. Best wishes to all who work so hard to make it successful...we have been customers to carlton. ever since they opened.

Great cause and bargains galore!

Brilliant breakfast. Covid safe . polite service .Def would recommend !

Always able to find a bargain and never leave empty handed, even when just going to have a look round 🤦🏻‍♂️😂👍🏼

Used to love coming here but last time I picked a handful of records as I've started collecting vinyl. When I went to the till the guy wasn't sure about the price but eventually decided they were £2.50 each!! They were nothing special, didn't want to make a scene so I bought them and left. With hindsight I should have said no thanks and put them back. Not sure how they get the price £2.50, pretty sure the CDs were only 50p. Maybe a good idea to have the price clearly marked.

Although one way no one seemed to adhere to it even staff. Tea lovely but smartie tray bake was rock hard and scones crumbled so much you couldnt eat them. Not eatingvthere again. It used to be a pleasure going there. Not so much now. Also for a charity furniture was expensive.

Always an exciting explore. Difficult not to find something useful. Not a penny being unproductive. Giving so much help to so many needy people.

Great place, friendly staff, always find a bargain.

I'm Paul i live at emmaus in carlton and when I came to emmaus I was on a iot of drugs class A and I really didn't care about life but I had help from my support worker Sarah to stop taking drugs and when I was low she was all ways there to talk she was great and then I had a heart attack and then all the staff at emmaus was so caring thay all helped me get back on my feet so what I am saying is if you are homeless and down on your luck then try emmaus because the staff will help you get back on your feet and you will feel like you can start life again i would not be a live if i wasn't at emmaus so I really want to thank all the staff at emmaus carlton for everything you have al done for me getting me back on my feet

Fantastic space fantastic food!

Emmaus have made their premises Covid-19 safe. They have obviously put a lot of thought into the process. The one way system worked very well. Staff were very helpful. The public maintained social distancing and wore masks. Also pleased with my purchases!

Absolutely love visiting the staff are friendly and professional, but for a second hand shop it’s rather expensive and puts me off buying 😊

some of the stuff is overpriced but if you search you can find a bargain,i got a child bike for £5 sold as seen,with a bit of cleaning ect was perfect.i dont look at the clothes as i wouldnt wear second hand clothes but others seemed to like them.love the knitting/sewing bit and they have got the covid part working ok,was impressed

Drove all the way to Carlton this afternoon to donate a (good) TV and a redundant pressure washer (in good working order) only to be asked 'Have you made an appointment?' No, we haven't! So brought the stuff back home and I will now chuck the stuff in the skip at work - quite ridiculous!!

Drop off by appt only but shop open and take away food and drink( huge marquee at side) Taken social distancing very seriously and good to see them back in business

The staff are amazing and go out of their way to assist you. Highly recommend that you pay this place a visit if you are looking for household furniture and effects.

A wonderful team collected items from our home - they were polite, cheerful and helpful. Will definitely have them collect more from us very soon...

I love visiting here, great quality used items, the staff are always very friendly, the bistro serves beautiful food and it’s lovely and clean. See you soon Deb

Fabulous coffee and delicious cake served in very comfortable surroundings. Very friendly staff, happy to wait as they were in training at the till 😀

Emmaus has rapidly gone down hill with their silly pricing. Considering that all stock is donated you would think that they would want a quick turnaround. The last few visits have been a complete waste of time. They are selling second hand clothing more than it would cost in a shop. Common sense has gone out of the window and Emmaus has now become just a place the elderly come to spin out their day.

Overpriced junk job. The management here need to review their pricing policy as the common sense has gone out of the window with laughable prices. If I wanted to pay 15 quid for a t shirt then I would buy a new one. Emmaus has just become a place for the elderly to drag out their day. The last few visits have been a complete waste of time and I will not be returning here.

Great place! Grab some bargains and then relax in the coffee shop. This charity helps homeless people and it is very well organised. Highly recommended

Far to expensive, the prices are not consistent. Some real bargains to be had, but also overpriced tat. Sort your prices out and you'll be far busier.....

We often go the Emaeus village at Charlton to donate goods and clothes. They help people who are homeless. They have a cafe serving good basic food and drink. It's always nice and friendly and it helps people get a better life. Plenty of goods to buy. Always worth a look.

So overpriced now! Your a charity! What do you do look on ebay and then add another 25% on? Robbing people of their money. Even your eBay shop is so overpriced! Won't be going back

Had coffee and cake. Bought great jigsaw puzzle - 4 Seasons complete with Vivaldi CD and very nice drinking mug with lid and straw.

A great place to donate or buy second hand goods - electronics, books, vinyl, furniture and much more. There's a cafe too, which serves hot drinks and cakes with a good selection of free-from alternatives. This, along with the bike loops outside, make the cafe a very popular rest break for cyclists!

Hello, A massive thank you to Dean & Tony for making our late lunch so enjoyable today. The specially prepared chili dish and baked rice prepared by Dean was outstanding. All served with great professionalism, skill, smiles and laughter. Just simply, both companions going that extra mile. We'll return very soon (usually 2-3 times a month) and hope that Dean and Tony are on duty for our next visit. L'Abbé Pierre would be so proud of them and your "bistro". Merci beaucoup and many thanks, Pam & Ellie xx

Excellent place for recycling either buying or donating. For a very good cause. Great place to stop for a coffee or meal while having a good peruse of the offerings. I especially love to browse the vinyl records & check out furniture.

This is an amazing place. Have visited many times over the years. The good work they do for people less fortunate. The Bistro is run by both paid and volunteer staff. We had the breakfast and it was great. One of the best breakfasts we have had. All food freshly cooked and served. Will definetly be going again.