Sign up for daily news
9 November 2026
Facebook-f Threads Instagram Linkedin Youtube
Search

Bedford Indies

Screenshots of the Perch app

New free app launches to put Bedford’s independent businesses on the map

A new app to help shoppers find Bedford's independent businesses has now launched, and its creators say it will help connect the High Street, online businesses and customers...
Read more
Beerfly's Caroline Stronkhorst behind the bar at the shop on Bedford's St Cuthbert's Street

Great Bedfordian: Beerfly’s Caroline Stronkhorst

In keeping with the Clanger's beverage-based theme this month, we’ve asked Caroline Stronkhorst of Beerfly to be October’s Great Bedfordian. A blow-in from the Netherlands...
Read more
Southeast Asian street food at Rice Street Fusions. Image Bedford Clanger

Review: Smiles and superb Southeast Asian street food at Rice Street Fusions

St Cuthbert's Street is easily one of Bedford's most vibrant spots right now, so being shown to a window seat at Rice Street Fusions to watch the world go by was the perfect start to...
Read more
Kade Burgess outside House of Kut on Castle Lane. Image Bedford Independent

A cut above: Bedford’s Kade Burgess expands from local barber to wholesale brand

When we first interviewed Kade Burgess for the Bedford Clanger back in 2012, he was an award-winning barber making a name for himself on Midland Road in Bedford. With a sharp eye...
Read more
Owner Peter Budek outside the Eagle Bookshop on St Peter's Street in Bedford. Image Cameron Scrimgeour

Bedford Indies: The Eagle Bookshop

This month's indie spotlight is on the Eagle Bookshop, Bedford's second-hand bookshop on St Peter's Street. It was opened in 1991 by Peter Budek and was a mainstay of Castle Road...
Read more
A photograph of a blurred woman hurrying through an office with a male colleague sat at a laptop.

What Bedford businesses can learn from the UK’s cashless push

With cash payments dropping below 10%, discover what the cashless push means for Bedford businesses, from managing card fees to staying competitive.
Read more
Caroline and Rosanna in front of the living wall on St Cuthbert's Street.

St Cuthbert’s Festival puts the party into the heart of Bedford

This bank holiday weekend, St Cuthbert’s Street is once again closing the road and throwing a party to celebrate the wonderful and unique businesses that make up this Bedford indies hot-spot...
Read more
The Bedford & Co area at The Arc in Bedford. The shop stocks local independent businesses.

Strength in numbers: The Arc transforms cafe space into a hub for Bedford’s indie makers

Getting retail to work in the current climate is incredibly hard. Rent, business rates and staffing costs continue to rise, while online competition shows no sign of slowing. None of that is...
Read more
Slide Record Shop. Image: Mominur Rahman

Music lovers ‘gutted’ as Bedford’s Slide Record Shop announces closure

The owners of the "much-loved" Slide Record Shop in The Arcade in Bedford town centre have announced the independent store is closing down after serving local vinyl fans since 2017...
Read more
Gemma Crawley-Roberts of The Arc, pictured sitting in the middle of the shop, wearing a Bedford Innit t-shirt and surrounded by bright products

Bedford & Co. launches at The Arc to prove our town’s independent spirit is alive and kicking

We've all suffered the misfortune of hearing someone utter the phrase, “there’s nothing in Bedford"; but Gemma, the unstoppable force behind The Arc, is here to politely but firmly prove...
Read more

Get the latest Bedford news first

Subscribe to our free daily email for our lead story each morning before we publish it anywhere else, plus the key Bedford Borough headlines from the last 24 hours – without having to log into social media.

I've already subscribed (dont show again)