The Clanger’s What’s On Guide lands every Wednesday and is the only guide you need to find out what’s on and what’s happening across the Borough for the next 11 days.
The Bedford Clanger’s What’s On Guide is kindly sponsored by Bedford Esquires.
Wednesday, 7 October 2026
Walking: “Plaques and Plinths” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the What’s On Hub in Silver Square
Tickets: £4/£2 (Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee)
Have you ever wondered about the stories behind some of the blue plaques that adorn several buildings around the town or wanted to know more about some of the statues and monuments that grace the town centre? This walk will reveal the stories behind the Plaques & Plinths and why such recognition is warranted.
Join the Association of Bedford Tour Guides for one of their fascinating weekly walks. Each walk is of 90 minutes to two hours duration and covers a distance of one or two miles. Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile.
Children of all ages are most welcome on all of the walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £4 per adult or £2 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
Wednesday, 7 – Saturday, 10 October 2026
Food & Drink: The 48th Bedford Beer & Cider Festival
Bedford Corn Exchange @ Wednesday 4pm – 11pm, Thursda/Friday noon – 11pm, Saturday noon – 10pm
Tickets: £14 inlcuding glass hire and beer tokens
The Bedford Beer and Cider Festival returns the Corn Exchange this weekend, bringing world-class brews, mouth-watering food, and, this year, a special tribute to one of the town’s legendary, but overlooked, heroes.
This year marks the 48th anniversary of the event organised by North Bedfordshire Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and it carries a poignant tribute as it marks 48 years since the passing of Bedford-born Olympic hero Harold Abrahams.
Read: Run, don’t walk to the 48th Bedford Beer and Cider Festival
Abrahams was immortalised in the multi-Oscar-award-winning film, Chariots of Fire and in his memory, organisers have invited his great-nephew Colonel Abrahams (not that one) who lives in Cardington, to be the guest of honour at the opening ceremony.
Wednesday, 7 October 2026
Live music: Red Rum Club + Cherryholt
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £23.50
Liverpool sextet Red Rum Club continue their upward curve, charging into 2026 with relentless momentum and a sound that’s become unmistakably their own, bold, brass-fueled, and bursting with ambition.
With their signature “Mariachi Merseybeat” drawing fans from Liverpool to Lima, the band are showing no signs of slowing down.
Thursday, 8 October 2026
Theatre: ExperiMental (work in progress performance)
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £10
Award-winning performer Juliette Burton is a “Fringe Favourite” (The Guardian), a “Fringe Legend” (FringeReview) and has spent most of her life on the fringes… just outside the lines.
Developed over three years with contributions from mental health service users, survivors of domestic abuse, people with lived experience of homelessness, disabled communities, LGBT communities, immigrant communities and other marginalised groups, ExperiMental is a thought-provoking, visually striking comedic theatre piece about belonging, exclusion and the ever-expanding circle of acceptance.
History is full of people who were called “crazy” – until they weren’t.
Thursday, 8 October 2026
Quiz: Esquires’ monthly music quiz
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
£2 per person/maximum of six per team
Head to Esquires for their monthly music quiz on the first Thursday of every month. Teams of up to six people compete in the quiz featuring music from the 50s to the present.
Cash prize for the winning team.
Friday, 9 October 2026
Theatre: Cringe!
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £18
Who doesn’t love to cringe at an embarrassing story?!
Enter DJ Funky Steve and his embarrassing story disco. Join Jenna as Funky Steve for a night of crazy comedy cringe as she spins real recorded tales of falls, toilet mishaps and excruciating intimate disasters using a combination of dance, song, recorded delivery, storytelling, and comedy sketches to create a brilliantly fun evening of laughter, entertainment and cringe.
Friday, 9 October 2026
Live music: Death of Guitar Pop
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £27.50
Death of Guitar Pop are bringing their high-octane ska energy to Bedford.
Their unique blend of 2 Tone-influenced ska and anthem-indie guitar pop has seen them amass a colossal army of devoted fans who have helped propel their last two albums into the top 30 of the Official UK Albums Chart.
Friday, 9 October 2026
Live music: Dick Valentine (Electric Six)
Bedford Esquires @ 10.30pm
Free entry
Dick Valentine, frontman of Detroit-based band Electric Six will be dropping into Esquires this Friday for a FREE show in the bar.
Expect great lyrics, social commentary and amusing quips as he guides you through some of his best solo tunes, such as: “I Don’t Speak French”, “We’re Running out of Potatoes”, “One Policeman Leads to Another” and “Non Binary Sluts”.
Not to mention the large slice of Electric Six hits in his repertoire, such as “Gay Bar”, “Dance Commander”, “Pink Flamingos”. And if you’re very lucky, you might even get some Back Street Boys…
This is a FREE gig; there is no support. Dick will be on stage at 10.45pm sharp.
Saturday, 10 October 2026
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Venue/where to meet: Ampthill Park, West Car Park, (W3W fizzled.perfume.discusses) @ 10am
Haynes Northwood End, MK45 3PH @ 1.30pm
The morning walk (meeting at Ampthilll at 10am) is an 11-mile exploration of Greensand Country between Ampthill and Ridgemont.
The afternoon walk takes in 7 miles of the Greensand Ridge from Haynes.
Please bring a drink, snack or lunch as the group always stops for a break. Check out the North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ excellent website for further information.
Saturday, 10 October 2026
Sketching: St. Cuthbert’s Street – October Sketch Meetup
St. Cuthbert’s Street @ 10:30am – 12:30pm
Free to attend
Join the Beds Urban Sketchers for a relaxing morning of sketching at their next monthly sketch meetup, this time in the vibrant surroundings of St. Cuthbert’s Street.
Meet at the Living Wall next to St. Cuthbert’s Arcade and reconvene after a couple of hours sketching at The Ship for a ‘throw down’ where everyone can share their efforts.
This is a volunteer-led group and is not taught. It’s free to join in on any sessions, which are open to all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please bring your own materials.
Beds Urban Sketchers are the Bedford chapter of the global organisation urbansketchers.org who practice on location, observational drawing.
Saturday, 10 October 2026
Film: Bedford Documentary Film Festival
Bunyan Meeting, Mill Street @ 10.30am – 4pm
Tickets: £9.38
The Bedford Documentary Film Festival returns this month, bringing another full day of independent documentary filmmaking to the heart of Bedford. Now celebrating its fifth year, the festival was founded by documentary producer and director Jason Gurr.
This year’s programme includes Cy Gregory: This One’s For You, a locally made documentary centred around wrestling, alongside Dyslexia & Me, a documentary exploring the experience of dyslexia. Tickets available at bedforddocs.co.uk
Saturday, 10 October 2026
Classical music: Lunchtime organ recital
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ noon
Free with retiring collection
Organ recital Conor McGlone, assistant director of music at Birmingham Cathedral. Free with retiring collection.
Saturday, 10 October 2026
Comedy: Scott Bennett: Blood Sugar Baby
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £22
One family, one condition, one hell of a hairy baby…
Scott Bennett from Live at the Apollo, The Royal Variety Performance and The News Quiz tells the amazing true story of how his daughter fell ill with a rare genetic condition, congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI).
Saturday, 10 October 2026
Creativity: Girls Who Create – Watercolours
Bedford Esquires @ 7pm – 9pm
Tickets: £9
Girls Who Create are back at Esquires for another fun, social art session. Spend the evening painting, experimenting and letting the colours do their thing.
There will be watercolour paints, brushes, paper and simple guidance to get you started, and you’re welcome to follow the prompts or completely do your own thing. No experience needed, no pressure to be “good” at it.
Just show up, play with paint, and see what happens. Expect a calm, creative atmosphere, a bit of trial and error, and something uniquely yours to take home.
Perfect if you’ve always wanted to try watercolours, or if you just fancy an easy, feel-good craft night where the mess is already handled.
Saturday, 10 October 2026
Music: The Songs of Nick Drake
The Place Theatre @ 8pm
Tickets: from £18
Nick Drake is among the most revered and loved of this country’s acoustic singer-songwriters who died in 1974 aged just 26.
Enjoy his timeless songs that shed all the tears of life within their fragile yet perfect lines, performed by Keith James. Keith will be joined by the natural, effortless musician Richie Cotterill.
Saturday, 10 October 2026
Live music: The Men They Couldn’t Hang + guests
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £25
Founded in 1984, The Men They Couldn’t Hang (TMTCH) evolved from the Shepherd’s Bush squatting and busking scene to make their debut supporting Poguemahone at the Electric Ballroom in Camden in the Easter of that year.
Their uproarious and engaging style, coupled with keenly contemporary songs, swiftly gained a passionate national following, leading to a 40-year career filled with much-loved music, a dedicated fan community and high-octane performances.
Touring continually throughout their career, TMTCH have performed across the globe and have appeared at festivals such as Glastonbury, Roskilde, Reading, Pink Pop and Cambridge Folk and have appeared with a roll call of international artists such as David Bowie, Van Morrison, Bo Diddley, The Smiths, Elvis Costello and the Oyster Band, to name a few.
Sunday, 11 October 2026
Shop local: Bedford Flea, Affordable Art & Local Produce Market
Harpur Square, Bedford @ 10am – 3pm
Find your favourite monthly market in the usual place of Harpur Square, right in the middle of Bedford town centre.
Browse and buy antiques and viintage; original artwork, prints and gifts’ local Produce, talented makers and delicious street food. Plus free live music to enjoy on the Cellar Bar music stage, featuring London-based blues musician Ash Lambe!
Free parking in all council owned car parks and dog friendly. It’s what Bedford Sundays are made for.
Sunday, 11 October 2026
Walking: “Bedford in World War II” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the What’s On Hub in Silver Square
Tickets: £4/£2 (Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee)
A walk that reveals the way of life in Bedford and some of the little-known facts about the role it played during World War II. Learn how Bedford became the main hub of the BBC during the war and how it also became a centre of wartime entertainment. Discover a ‘secret’ Bedford and the connections of the town to the code breakers at Bletchley park.
Join the Association of Bedford Tour Guides for one of their fascinating weekly walks. Each walk is of 90 minutes to two hours duration and covers a distance of one or two miles. Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile.
Children of all ages are most welcome on all of the walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £4 per adult or £2 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
Sunday, 11 October 2026
Live music: Polaroidz play at the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
80’s New Wave/Synth Pop/Post Punk from the Polaroidz as they make a welcome return to Esquires.
Monday, 12 October 2026
The Circus of Illustration & the Place Theatre present: Props – Life Drawing Goes to the Theatre
The Place Theatre, Bradgate Road @ 7pm for 7.30pm start
Tickets: £12/£10
In the latest instalment of the Circus of Illustration’s costumed life drawing events, you’re invited to watch and draw from a dress rehearsal of The Importance of Being Earnest, performed by Bedford Drama Company.
Not only will attendees have an exclusive chance to see the show, but you’ll be drawing the actors live on stage to capture their unique characterisation in your drawings. Book here.
Tuesday, 13 – Saturday, 17 October 2026
Art sale: Under The Bed – half-price art sale
Basement @ Bunyan, Mill Street @ 11am – 4pm / Tuesday late night opening til 7.30pm
Free entry
Sale of original artwork in different mediums previously stored ‘under the bed’ 9or elsewhere) in artists’ homes, now re-emerging to be sold at HALF of its original price.
Tuesday, 13 October 2026
Classical music: Lunchtime recital
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ 1pm
Free with retiring collection
Anna Le Hair (piano) and Arwen Newband (violin) bring a wealth of international performance experience to this recital.
Bedford-born Anna studied at the University of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Music, and enjoys a varied career as a performer, teacher, accompanist, examine.
The long-standing duo partners and founder members of the Icknield Ensemble are renowned for their engaging musicianship and shared passion for chamber music.. Free with retiring collection.
Tuesday, 13 October 2026
Talk: Lost Pubs of Bedford
The Devonshire Arms @ 7.30pm
Mike MacKechnie will be propping up the bar of the Devvy to take punters on a metaphorical pub crawl of the Lost pubs of Bedford.
Just the job on a chilly October evening.
Tuesday, 13 October 2026
Live music: Quiz Night
The Castle, Newnham Street @ 7.30pm
£2/person
Join Fran for the monthly Castle Quiz Night. Maximum of six people per team. The winning team gets the pot.
Booking advised 01234 353295.
Tuesday, 13 October 2026
Film: Bedford Film Society presents I’m Still Here (Brazilian Portuguese with subtitles)
University of Bedfordshire, Polhill Avenue
Tickets: Annual membership £70 / day member £5
A 2024 political biographical drama film directed by Walter Salles from a screenplay by Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega, based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s 2015 memoir of the same name.
It stars Fernanda Torres and Fernanda Montenegro as Eunice Paiva, a mother and activist coping with the forced disappearance of her husband, the dissident politician Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello), during the military dictatorship in Brazil.
Tuesday, 13 October 2026
Friends of the Higgins Bedford lecture: Royal Patronage by Tim Knox, Director of the Royal Collection in association with Bedford School Lectures
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Art historian and museum director, Tim Knox, is the guest of the Friends of the Higgins for their monthly lecture.
Since March 2018, Tim has been Director of the Royal Collection, the private art collection of the British royal family.
The Royal Collection, held in trust by The King for his successors and the nation, comprises almost all aspects of the fine and decorative arts, runs to more than a million objects, and is housed across some 15 present and former royal residences across the UK. friendsofthehiggins.org/
Tuesday, 13 – Saturday, 17 October 2026
Community Theatre: The Importance of Being Earnest
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £12
Mistaken identities, secret double lives, and outrageous romance collide in Oscar Wilde’s beloved comedy of manners.
When Algernon and Jack invent alter egos to escape their social obligations, their carefully crafted lies spiral into a whirlwind of confusion, unexpected proposals, and hilariously tangled relationships. Will Algernon and Jack learn the Importance of Being Earnest? Join us for an evening of laughter, charm, and clever twists to find out.
Wednesday, 14 October 2026
Family fun: Pop-Up Mini Puggle
St Mary’s Church Hall, Goldington @ 9.30am – 10.30am
Queen’s Park Community Centre @ 12.30pm – 2.15pm
Free
The Puggle Club is on the move, and you can find them in Goldington and Queen’s Park this month for some crafty fun for little ones.
Thursday, 15 October 2026
Bedfordshire Natural History Society 80 years: The Art of Nature workshops
The Higgins Bedford @ 11.30am–1.30pm
Free – booking essential
In celebration of the Bedfordshire Natural History Society’s 80th anniversary, come and create your own artwork inspired by our natural world, led by artist Fiona Wilson.
Workshops for adults are free, but places are limited; booking is essential. thehigginsbedford.org.uk
Thursday, 15 October 2026
BCA presents: Creative Exchange – Pitch Up!
Bunyan Basement, Mill Street, Bedford MK40 3EU @ 6pm – 7.30pm
Free
Join this free networking event for local creatives looking to meet like-minded Bedfordians and get a chance to pitch a project you’re working on or a partner you’re looking for in three minutes.
Book your place: bedfordcreativearts.org.uk/events/creative-exchange-pitch-up/
Friday, 16 October 2026
Shop local: Christmas in October
The Arc, Howard Street @ 5pm onwards
Free entry
Get your festive spirit well and truly on at the Christmas in October event at The Arc this month.
Browse their Christmas stock, enjoy smashburgers from Crown and Heel, shop a range of vintage apparel (Christmas edition) and squeal with excitement at the launch of the Resortwear X Neon Marl collection.
Free glass of fizz on arrival.
Friday, 16 October 2026
Live music: TOPLOADER + Rosellas
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £25
Iconic British band Toploader have officially joined Spotify’s exclusive One Billion Streams Club with their global hit Dancing in the Moonlight and will headline Bedford Esquires this month.
The tour will give fans a chance to enjoy hits from their multi-Brit-nominated, triple platinum-selling album, Onka’s Big Moka, as well as brand new material from their upcoming EP scheduled for release in early 2026.
Friday, 16 October 2026
Live music: Beattie
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £12
Blender and The Pad Presents have teamed up to bring the incredible Beattie back to Bedford.
Beattie is an emerging London-based singer, songwriter and producer, making a name for herself in the alt-pop world. Bedford-born, Beattie will be hitting Esquires for her second hometown show.
A multi-instrumentalist and genuine DIY artist, Beattie draws comparisons to Lana Del Ray, Banks and Radiohead. Her emotive alt-pop and powerful live presence have earned early acclaim – don’t miss her.
Friday, 16 October 2026
Music: Swing the Music with Down for the Count All-Stars
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £28
Down for the Count recreate classic tunes from the Swing Era, but this is no mere nostalgia trip – the band performs each song in their own unmistakable style, breathing new life into the best vintage music.
Combine that with the band’s top-class instrumental solos, sublime vocal performances, and irresistible warmth and joie de vivre, and you get a show that will leave you feeling uplifted and wanting more.
Saturday, 17 October 2026
Sketching: Urban Sketchers Public Drawing Day
Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Road @ 10am – 2pm
Free entry
Have you ever wondered what “Urban Sketching” is all about, or wanted to try but didn’t know where to start? If so, head to The Panacea Museum on Saturday for the Urban Sketchers Public Drawing Day.
Drawing materials will be provided, and there will be several volunteers from Beds Urban Sketchers around the Museum to talk about urban sketching.
Read: Beds Urban Sketchers: Discovering Bedford, one sketch at a time
As well as having a go at sketching something yourself, you can also check out the exhibition of work from Beds Urban Sketchers currently at the Museum. The works, inspired by the Panacea Museum, are on display until Saturday 28th November.
Saturday, 17 October 2026
Classical music: Bedford Sinfonia – New Blood, New Beginnings
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £22.50/£11.25
Bedford Sinfonia kicks off Bedford Orchestral Society’s celebratory 60th anniversary season, with the spectacular opening concert of a series where Bedfordshire Orchestral Society will perform all nine of Beethoven’s symphonies.
In the same approximate year (1795) that the great Josef Haydn’s last symphony was being composed and performed, the first sketches of Beethoven’s first symphony appeared.
Beethoven’s style owed much to Haydn (who was, for a time, his tutor), and so the classical torch was passed from one generation to the next.
Saturday, 17 October 2026
Dance music: Boombastic 90s
Bedford Esquires @ 8.30pm
Tickets: £10
You had a favourite Spice Girl. You were either Blur or Oasis, and you never missed an episode of Brookside.
BOOMBASTIC: ALL OF THE NINETIES is four hours of that. Pop perfection, Britpop anthems, dance floor euphoria, hip-hop swagger, the whole decade, played exactly the way it should be. No filler. No apologies. No guilty pleasures, because in the 90s none of it was guilty.
This was the decade that proved genre didn’t matter. You loved TLC and Oasis and Faithless and the Spice Girls all at the same time, and that was absolutely fine. It still is.
Sunday, 18 October 2026
Walking: “Bedford’s South Bank Show” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the What’s On Hub in Silver Square
Tickets: £4/£2 (Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee)
The settlement south of the River Great Ouse is attributed in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 915 to King Edward the Elder. During the latter half of the 20th Century, the south of Bedford changed dramatically as modern development took place.
This walk reveals the medieval past and the more recent lost industry, buildings, public houses and the importance of Bedford’s South Bank to the development of the town.
Join the Association of Bedford Tour Guides for one of their fascinating weekly walks. Each walk is of 90 minutes to two hours duration and covers a distance of one or two miles. Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile.
Children of all ages are most welcome on all of the walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £4 per adult or £2 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WALK CROSSES UNDER A LOW BRIDGE OF 4’ 9” HEIGHT TWICE EN ROUTE.
Sunday, 18 October 2026
The great outdoors: Bromham Apple Day 2026
Bromham Mill @ 11am – 4pm
Tickets: £8/adult, £5/concessions; children under 14 are free
Bromham Apple Day – a highlight of Bedford’s Autumn calendar – returns this month as an annual celebration of rural traditions, local crafts and the majesty of the humble apple.
Taking place in the Meadow at Bromham Mill, the event is a wonderful day out with plenty of activities and experiences to entertain the whole family.
Read: How d’you like them apples? Bromham Apple Day returns to Bromham Mill this October
From food and drink (form an orderly queue, cider fans) to the much-loved Lamb National and local craft stalls, there’s something for everyone.
Theatre by Paula Walker
Every Monday
Live music: An evening with Mat Roberts & guests
The Castle, Newnham Street @ 7.30pm
Free entry
Join Mat Roberts and special guests every Monday evening for the best live music and a chilled-out vibe.
At the Higgins Bedford
Until May 2027
New exhibition: Rhyme and Reason
The Higgins Bedford, Castle Lane
Free entry
Discover the influence of stories and poetry on artists in this new exhibition drawn from the internationally renowned Cecil Higgins Art Gallery Collection.
Greek myths and Shakespearean stories, Arthurian legends and poetry will all be explored in the works of artists such as Thomas Gainsborough, Paula Rego, Henry Moore, Ceri Richards and Henri Matisse.
A full colour catalogue by curators Professor Christiana Payne, Dr Mary O’Neill and Victoria Partridge will be available to buy in the shop.
Until April 2027
Display: A Brewery in Bedford: Celebrating 150 Years of Wells & Co.
Somewhere in England Foyer, First Floor
Free entry
Founded in 1876 by Charles Wells, the business began at Horne Lane Brewery, brewing beers and growing a thriving pub estate.
Read: 150 years of Bedford’s brewing heritage on display at The Higgins
In 2019, it moved to Brewpoint and rebranded as Wells & Co., marking an exciting new chapter. Find out more about their 150 year journey.
At the Panacea Museum
Permanent exhibition: Discover the amazing story of a unique religious community
Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Rd @ Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Free entry
This fascinating hidden gem of a museum tells the story of the Panacea Society – a secretive Christian group formed in the early twentieth century that created its own ‘Garden of Eden’ in the centre of Bedford.
The Panacea Museum is located across several Victorian buildings that formed the community’s headquarters. It tells the story of the Panacea Society and other similar religious groups.
As featured on BBC Radio 4’s Mark Steel’s in Town.
Until 28th November
Exhibition: From and Inspired By
The Panacea Museum, Newnham Road
Free entry
A vibrant mix of paintings, drawings, sketchbooks, with some textile and sculpture works – all inspired by the incredible Panacea Museum. Highly recommeded.
Every Tuesday
Community: Tuesday Chess Café
The Pavilion in the Park @ 2pm – 4pm
Free
If you’re a keen chess player or have always wanted to learn, then the weekly chess café at the Pavilion in the Park is for you.
Players meet every week, and there’s no membership.
