[hubballi]

As I have a small raised bed and have carrots, onions, peas, beans, beetroot etc. I have seen small cottage garden veg plots plant them in an informal way mixed together or even clumps or squares. I am not sure which way to play it as long as they grow well. If I clump them together I will get more in as well as keeping the cat off. The only thing is how do you cater for all these veg that have different soil requirements ?

[GreenOwl]

Even planted in clumps they tend to be spaced at the between plants distance. 

Have a goggle on Square Foot Gardening.  That might help.

[noshed]

Most veg are happy in the same soil - obviously leave the manure off from where you're going to put yer carrots - but the only snag with clumps is keeping on top of the weeding. Rows make it easier to see the weeds but clumps are supposed to shade out the weeds. You can plant closer together in clumps - the average of the spacing for rows and between rows - and you can plant like domino dots to utilise the space.
Do whatever you feel looks good this year and then you can always adapt for next year when you've seen how things go.
A few short twigs poked in amongst the plants will help to keep the cat off as well. You could also plant up a pot of catnip to keep the cat happy.