Your weekly what’s on guide for Bedford and the surrounding area from the Bedford Clanger.
Never miss a thing in Bedford ever again. From theatre to film, live music to art exhibitions, The Bedford Clanger 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 The Cellar Bar Bedford.
Unitl Saturday, 16 March 2025
Community Theatre: Dracula – the Bloody Truth!
Sharnbrook Mill Theatre, Sharnbrook, MK44 1NP@ 7.30pm
Tickets: £18
A hilarious and silly comedy retelling of the iconic gothic novel Dracula comes to the award-winning Sharnbrook Mill Theatre. The year is 1900 and Professor Van Helsing is not happy. Bram Stoker’s novel may be entertaining but it’s not the truth, the bloody truth… and the truth must come out!
Dracula: The Bloody Truth – features just four actors playing 40 characters with countless costume changes, a dead parrot and a six-foot-tall crucifix!
Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Quiz: A1 SpeedQuizzing
The Cellar Bar @ 8pm / bar opens at 7.00pm.
£3pp to enter the quiz
Quiz nights in Bedford will never be the same again. The Cellar Bar is bringing SpeedQuizzing to Bedford town centre – a fun and incredibly interactive night of entertainment. Get your team of up to six players together and give it a go. £60 bar tab to the winners and there is a rolling jackpot each week. Hosted by experienced Speed Quizzing host Reno.
The bar is open from 7pm and the quiz starts at 8pm. Walk-ins are allowed on the night until we the bar is full. To ensure you don’t miss out, reserve your table online here.
Wednesday, 12 March 2025
Comedy: Harry Hill – New bits and greatest hits
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £30
The Badger Parade is back on! Join Harry on his Diamond Jubilee lap of honour as he celebrates 60 Glorious Years of fun, laughter and low-level disruption.
Marvel as he offers new insights into the hot topics of the day such as the demise of the SCART lead, The Culture Wars, the differences between crab sticks and rhubarb and the origins of Tirimisu.
Cough awkwardly as Gary (Harry’s son from his first marriage) attempts to take over the business again.
Plus one lucky audience member will get to join me in a double act! So, get on board the laughter train!
Thursday, 13 March 2025
Live streaming: Gladiator IIl
Stevington Cinema Club, Stevington Village Hall, MK443 7QT @ 7.15pm
Tickets: £6
Ridley Scott’s epic award-winning sequel to Gladiator, starring Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington.
Thursday, 13 March 2025
Dancing: Planet Swing featuring The Umbrella Big Band
The Dance Hall, Wixams Retirement Village, Bedford Road, Bedford, MK42 6EA @ 8pm – 10.30pm
Tickets: £12.99
An evening for dancers and music enthusiasts alike. Cashless bar, plenty of seating (night club set up) and dance floor. Book in advance and come along at 7.15pm for a 45-minute dance class in Balboa, one of the original swing dances of the era. For the main event, just turn up – pay cash at reception – have fun, no booking needed.
Thursday, 13 March 2025
Comedy: Alex Mitchell: Tics Towards Perfection
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £17.50
Britain’s Got Talent 2024 finalist Alex Mitchell is an autistic comic with functional neurological disorder (FND). He uses self-deprecating humour – laughing at himself, his neurodivergence, disability and sexuality – to reflect on some of the most difficult subjects within his own life and wider society.
His debut show, Tics Towards Puffection, tackles his desperate obsession for perfection and being “the best version” of himself. He explores how and if he’ll ever achieve this, and how this has impacted and continues to impact his life.Reflecting on society’s perception of queer, disabled, and neurodiverse communities, as well as his own perception of himself, Mitchell creates a heartwarming, emotional but always hilarious show.
Thursday, 13 March 2025
Live music: Tony Wright (Terrorvision) + Guests
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
Tony Wright is best known as the singer for Bradford rock band Terrorvision. However, when he’s not touring with Terrorvision, he writes, records and tours under his own name with a setlist made up of songs he has written on his acoustic guitar – some upbeat, some melancholic, but all thought-provoking.
Tony always looks to pick up inspiration anywhere he can find it as he is always thinking about writing new material. Be sure to catch him on the road because you never know – you might just end up being the subject of one of his songs.
Friday, 14 March 2025
Shopping: Swish Clothes Swap Event
Lavender Moss, 5b The Arcade Bedford, MK40 @ 7pm
£12 standard ticket or £15 golden ticket (choose your first two items in priority order)
You are invited to bring those old clothes, accessories and shoes which are sitting in your wardrobe and for some reason you just don’t wear…. and you can swap with others on the night at Lavender Moss’s inaugural swishing event.
General admission is £12.00, or upgrade to a golden tickets at £15.00, allowing you to pick two items before anyone else has a chance to grab.
The doors open at 6pm which allows people to have a drink and look around and try on items before the swish starts at 7pm.
Tickets can be purchased here. Once bought, you will be notified about drop off points and will receive more detailed information about the rules.
Friday, 14 March 2025
Sport: An evening with Paul Merson
Bedford Corn Exchange @
Tickets: £29 / VIP £70
Join us for An Evening with Paul Merson, as the football star discusses his illustrious career with Arsenal, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth and England. He’ll talk about games, dressing room/training ground stories, managers, fall outs and everything you wanted to know about playing for a successful football club.
Merson will open up about his experiences both on and off the pitch, his addictions, his media career and so much more. Paul’s wit and charisma makes an entertaining night and engaging evening for all football fans.
Talksport and ex Arsenal team mate Perry Groves will host an evening and a Q&A with a chance to pose your questions to Paul.
A limited number of VIP tickets are available, affording the opportunity for a meet and greet with the legendary players and a photograph opportunity before the show.
Friday, 14 March 2025
Theatre: Is That a Whip in Your Hand?
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £13.50
Following performances in USA, UK and recently, Australia, Gavin Robertson focuses his attention on the fortune-hunter movie phenomenon encompassing everything from ‘Indiana Jones’ to ‘National Treasure’ via ‘Romancing The Stone’ – in his latest physical cartoon style adventure – spoofing the characters adored by millions, and exploding every cliché… solo!
Featuring the usual mix of clues, maps, travel and tricky situations, it’s minimum props, maximum effect as our hero searches for treasure via Columbia and Greece, evading trouble at every turn.
Friday, 14 March 2025
Live music: Single File
The Castle, 17 Newnham Street @ 8.30pm
Free entry
Get ready for a night of rock and pop magic as Single File bring the house down with melodic rock and high energy vibes at The Castle.
Not only will there be a fun night of entertainment the team will be saying goodbye to Jenny who has worked at the Castle for 10 years and moving away to her new life.
Good luck Jenny!
Friday, 14 March 2025
Live Music: Double Header – Katherine Sefton & Tie One On
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm Bar opens at 6.00pm, Happy Hour until 9.00pm. 3.00am close
Free entry
After some incredible performances at The Cellar Bar, Tie One On will be rocking the venue once again.
They are a rock/ blues band with a vast amount of live experience, from large festivals or pubs and clubs. They are down-to-earth, honest, hard-working musicians with a knack for lighting up a night of Blues Rock Mayhem.
With Katherine Sefton supporting, it’s sure to be a great night of fantastic music.
Saturday, 15 March 2025
Education: Saturday workshops
Rothsay Education Centre, 6 Rothsay Gardens MK40 3QB
Find out more about one of Bedford’s ‘best-kept secrets’ at this month’s Saturday Workshops at the REC.
Choose from sessions in Humanology, Shakespeare and Marriage, Winter into Spring Birdwatching Day, Start Drawing, From Carta to Charter and English Rebels with a Cause. No membership is required to join a workshop.
Book online at recbedford.co.uk
Saturday, 15 March 2025
Sport & fitness: Open Day
Bedford International Athletics Stadium @ 9am – 5pm
Free entry
Come along to Bedford International Athletic Stadium this Saturday where the team will be hosting an open day for the people of Bedford to come down and enjoy what the stadium has to offer.
Activities will include taster sessions of badminton, short tennis, basketball, pickleball and table tennis | Bedford Thunder basketball coaching | Fitness classes including Body Attack, Combat and Zumba | Fitness and sports challenges throughout the day | Soft play for young children | Children’s football with 2020 soccer | Rugby with Bedford Blues Junior team | Make a smoothie using pedal power on the Smoothie Bike | Activities for supported needs | Wheelchair racing club training from 11am – 1pm and opportunity to speak to coaches and members | Athletics training throughout the day to showase running, jumping and throwing events | Wheelchair basketball coached session @ 1pm | Learn CPR with St John Ambulance | Thai boxing demo and taster session | Bedford College recruitment stand | Opportunity to speak about current vacancies at Bedford International Athletic Stadium @ 1pm – 4pm
Saturday, 15 March 2025
Family fun: Science Labs
The Higgins Bedford @ 11am onwards
Free entry
As part of British Science Week, head to the Higgins Bedford to be inspired by Alison Goodyear’s Light and Colour Community Project installation and be guided by the artist to create virtual artwork together. Artist, Graham Fudger embarks on a Curious Adventure in Colour and Light as he brings together ten light-themed activities for a hands-on workshop to explore scientific principles of colour, light, and the science of seeing. Both of these workshops have limited places so booking is essential.
Geologists from the Bedfordshire Geology Group will be on hand to answer questions on all aspects of geology and the current Mary Anning exhibition. A selection of fossils and minerals will be on display, and feel free to bring along your own samples to find out more about them. Plus, follow the Timeline and see how our use of materials has changed through history.
Read: Take part in free events to unleash your inner scientist at the Higgins Bedford this weekend
All activities are free. Please visit the Higgins website to book your place.
Saturday, 15 March 2025
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Afternoon walk: Harrold/Odell Country Park, MK43 7DS @ 1.30pm
After meeting at Harrold/Odell Country Park, a 6.5mile walk to Pavenham.
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, 15 March 2025
Community arts: Kempston Light Walk
Approx MK42 7FB to MK42 8RX @ 4.30pm
Free entry
Join Bedford Creative Arts on Saturday, 15 March for a magical illuminated light walk along the riverbank and see Kempston like never before.
As dusk falls, artistic installations will be revealed along the Kempston Riverside Path between Kempston Mill and Sanders Close/Hillgrounds Road as part of the Kemspton Light Walk.
Read: Join the Kempston Light Walk to see the riverside like never before
This family-friendly event invites you to discover Kempston’s nighttime wildlife, enjoy the natural beauty of the riverside, and immerse yourself in the work of talented local artists.
Live acoustic music will provide the perfect soundtrack as you explore, and hot drinks and snacks will be available from vendors along the route.
The event is free, but booking is required. You can secure your spot here.
Saturday, 15 March 2025
Live music: St Patrick’s Celebrations featuring The Black and Gold
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm
Free entry
The Black and Gold band were formed for the Cellar Bar’s St Patrick’s Celebrations last year and the Irish supergroup is still going strong.
Samantha Hughes (banjo/vocals), Rich Taylor (guitar/lead vocals, Mary Wilcockson (fiddle), James Lewin (drums), Dan McGrath (harmonica), will be playing songs by The Pogues, The Dubliners, American-Irish and upbeat trad tunes to get you in the St Paddy’s Day party mood.
Saturday, 15 March 2025
Live music: ABDOUJAPAROV (Ex Carter USM)
Bedford Esquires @ 7:30pm
Tickets: £12
Formed by Les Carter (aka Fruitbat) in 1998 after the breakup of Carter USM, Abdoujaparov are named after a former Tour De France cyclist. The band’s musical foundations are the joyous and shambolic influences of 1977 Punk Rock & New Wave, but there is so much more than that under the covers. Eight EPs, four singles and six albums have been released on Spinach Records.
2025 is going to be a busy one. Both a Spring and Autumn tour are booked and we have some sweet festivals spots coming up in the summer.
Saturday, 15 March 2025
Live music: The Ultimate Mod Revue
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £25
The Goldhawks deliver a blistering, high-voltage, feel-good show featuring the very best of singalong Mod hits from the 60s through to the 80s performed by some of the UK’s finest musicians and singers.
Produced by the team that brought you Quadrophenia, the album, LIVE! in 2019, the performance is backed by a huge screen projection of bespoke film and takes you on a journey of the Mod subculture favourites from 60s onward with The Who, The Jam, Small Faces, Ocean Colour Scene, The Kinks and more…
Bring your lungs; this is a must-see, sing-along show for all music lovers, not just Mods.
Saturday, 15 March 2025
Comedy: Matt Bragg Has Nothing Wrong With Him
The Quarry Theatre @ 8pm
Tickets: £16.50
Recently described by Chortle as a mix between Jack Dee and Frank Skinner wrapped in a Mod’s fashion sense, Matt is taking his debut show on tour.
A selection of his best bits from seven years on the comedy circuit which have taken him all over Europe – from basements to theatres and arenas supporting the likes of Ricky Gervais, John Bishop, Suzi Ruffell and Jason Manford.
Sunday, 16 March 2025
Family fun: St Patrick’s Day Party
Harpur Square / Harpur Suite @ midday
Free entry
A free festival celebrating all things Irish will take place in Bedford town centre this Sunday (16 March) to coincide with St Patrick’s Day festivities.
From midday, Harpur Square will host some of Bedford’s best-loved Irish bands, including The Barrys, The Black and Gold, Out of the Hat, Also-rans and Chris Law.
Read: Join in the craic at Bedford’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations
Irish dance school Stuart Irish Dance Bedford will also showcase their talents and run a taster session inside the Harpur Suite. Irish food will be served in the Harpur Centre and The Kings Arms pub on St Mary’s Street, and drinks will also be available in the square.
Sunday, 16 March 2025
Family fun: Toby’s Tall Tales
The Higgins Bedford @ 2.30pm
Free
Join trained actor and teacher Toby in the art gallery on a creative exploration of stories.
Sunday, 16 March 2024
Live music: U18’s Open Mic
The Cellar Bar @ 5pm – 7.00pm / bar opens at 3pm
Free entry
The Cellar Bar is throwing its doors open to the next generation of Bedford musicians, with a dedicated junior open mic session for under 18s.
Whether you sing, play guitar, drums, or any other musical instrument, or are a band already, you are welcome to take part. It’s a chance for you to perform on a stage in front of an audience with a full pa, drum kit, amps, lighting.
Hosted by none other than Mat Roberts, Mat will be on hand to offer support and advice, as well as doing a few jam sessions of his own.
Under 18’s are welcome in the bar from 5pm until 9pm on Sundays for Junior Open Mic.
Sunday, 16 March 2025
Live music: The Workshop Boys play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Formed by former members of Los Marbles and Cutting Out, The Workshop Boys have fast become one of Bedford’s most loved bar bands and make a welcome return to the Esquires Sunday Afternoon Session.
Monday, 17 March 2025
Live music: The Life of Riley
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £10
Having formed in Bedford in 1991, The Life Of Riley are one of Bedford’s best loved bands and are still going strong after over 35 years.
The band are a full throttle nod to Irish folk music and dance-along shanties, so head to Esquires to enjoy the St Paddy’s Day craic – dancing shoes compulsory!
Monday, 17 March 2025
Live music: Open Mic Night with Mat Roberts
The Castle, 17 Newnham Street @ 8.30pm
Free entry
Join Mat Roberts every Monday at The Castle for Open Mic Night.
Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Live music: Tuesday lunchtime concert
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ 1pm
Free entry with retiring collection (suggested donation £5)
Augustin Cornwall-Irving is a lute, guitar and theorbo player from London who has performed both as a soloist and in various ensembles.
Byung-ook Kim is a South Korean lutenist and guitarist, holding a Bachelor of Music in guitar and a Master of Music in lute from the Royal College of Music.
Together, they form the Cornwall Kim Lute Duo, and their programme at St Paul’s Church features works by some of the best-known composers of music for the lute. All are welcome to our recitals, which begin at 1pm, last around an hour, and are free with a retiring collection, suggested minimum £5.00.
Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Film: Bedford Film Society presents The Holdovers
The University of Bedford, Polhill Avenue @ 7.30pm
Tickets: members free / £5/day guest
The Holdovers follows a curmudgeonly instructor (Paul Giamatti) at a New England prep school who forms an unlikely bond with a student and the school’s head cook, after they are forced to remain on campus during Christmas break.
Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Classical Music: Cantamus Chamber Choir
All Saints Church Ravensden MK44 2RL @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £10
Conductor Gary Mudd and organist Paul Edwards lead the Cantamus Chamber Choir singing For all the Saints: anthems from five centuries for the Saints’ Days through the Church year.
Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Karaoke: Drag karaoke and Bingo hosted by Drag Queen Fanny Burns
The Cellar Bar @ 8pm / bar opens at 7pm
Free entry
Guaranteed to be a very funny evening with Fanny Burns, her new home at The Cellar bar.
Joining us every month, drag queen Fanny Burns will bring her own spin on karaoke and bingo, it’s hilarious and good fun. The bingo cash jackpot has been well over £100. £2 per card of 6 tickets, meaning 6 chances of winning. Raffle tickets for Fanny’s Flaps game are just £1. £2 tickets for Fanny’s Flaps with a cash jackpot of upto £250 to be won.
The Cellar Bar is a safe, inclusive, environment for all of our customers. Free entry, just turn up.
Make sure you’re there early enough to get drinks and bingo tickets. Bar opens at 7pm. This show contains adult humour and swearing and is strictly an over 18’s event.
Thursday, 20 March 2025
Bedford Skeptics: Life as an archaeologist (from Sussex to Sharnbrook, via Shropshire, South Wales, Saltburn and Sandy) by Mike Luke
The North End Social Club, 60 Roff Avenue MK41 7TW @ 7pm
Donations appreciated
Local archaeologist, Mike Luke, will provide a whistle-stop account of his work and associated journey on sites around England and Wales, which eventually led him to live in Sharnbrook.
He will summarise his time from being a young archaeologist to a professional working for Albion Archaeology. By doing so he will provide a general introduction to archaeology and he will highlight some of the changes throughout his career. He will also briefly describe some of the more significant discoveries made by Albion in Bedfordshire.
Thursday, 20 March 2025
Dancing: Planet Swing featuring the Queen Bee Blues Band
The Dance Hall, Wixams Retirement Village, Bedford Road, Bedford, MK42 6EA @ 8pm – 10.30pm
Tickets: £12.99
An evening for dancers and music enthusiasts alike. Cashless bar, plenty of seating (night club set up) and dance floor. Book in advance and come along at 7.15pm for a 45-minute dance class in Balboa, one of the original swing dances of the era. For the main event, just turn up – pay cash at reception – have fun, no booking needed.
Friday, 21 – Sunday, 23 March 2025
Art: Open Studio Big Weekender
POP4, The Old Arcade
Free entry
Five Bedford-based artists are inviting the public into their town centre studio to get up close and personal with their work.
Mo Rahman, Talia Giles, Fiona Wilson, Emily Baxter and Giacomo Verdura are the artists in residence at POP STUDIO4 in the Old Arcade in Bedford. Beginning with drinks and a DJ at the ‘Friday Late’ on 21 March, the space will be open for the whole weekend, giving a glimpse into the life of a Bedford artist.
Read: Behind-the-scenes at the Open Studio Big Weekender
As well as an opportunity to meet the artists in person, there will be live drawing and painting demonstrations by resident artists Fiona Wilson and Mo Rahman and an eclectic selection of fine art and illustration, both original paintings and prints, to browse and buy.
Friday, 21 March 2025
Classical music: Osmo Vänskä conducts Mendelssohn
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: prices vary
Programme: MAZZOLI These Worlds In Us / MOZART Piano Concerto No. 25, K. 503 / MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 5, ‘Reformation’
Young Japanese pianist Mao Fujita is taking the classical music world by storm with his technical mastery and ‘tremendous versatility’ (The Times). Celebrated for his interpretations of Mozart, he will perform the composer’s Piano Concerto No. 25. A jewel of the Classical period, it is widely considered one of Mozart’s greatest concertos.
Friday, 21 March 2025
Theatre: In Other Words
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £13.50
They call it ‘the incident’ now. What happened when they first met. He always said it was part of his ‘romantic plan’, but they both know that’s rubbish.
Connected by the music of Frank Sinatra, this intimate, humorous and deeply moving love story explores the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and the transformative power of music to help us remember the past, connect with the present and hope for the future.
In Other Words has more than 20 five and four-star reviews and has been seen by over 300,000 people in multiple languages across the globe. It is the English language original of 4x Moliere Award-winning phenomenon Oublie Moi.
Friday, 21 March 2025
Live music: Lost for Words
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm / bar opens @ 6pm / Happy Hour @ 6pm – 9pm
Free entry
Lost for Words make their debut at The Cellar Bar, so expect musical excellence and a selection of songs by Jimi Hendrix, Radiohead, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Talking Heads, REM, Coldplay, Kings of Leon, Gary Moore, David Bowie, Stereophonics and much more.
Saturday, 22 March 2025
Dance music: Motown Saturdays
The Wellington Arms, Wellington Street @ from 4pm
Free entry
The perfect excuse to enjoy a chilled-out chat, have a laugh, enjoy a drink, reminise and dance to top draw soul music with Martyn, Chris, Andy and Geoff at the Wellington Arms.
Saturday, 22 March 2025
Music: Sounds like the 80s
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £18
Just like that old school disco, you will be singing the night away in proper 80s fashion, remembering the music from a decade that brought us the birth of MTV, chunky mobile phones, and the Rubik’s cube, plus blockbuster movies like ET and Dirty Dancing.
All your 80s mixtape favourites from Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, OMD, Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, Pointer Sisters, Toto, Wham, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Irene Cara, and so so many more in a show where the hits keep coming.
So grab those neon legwarmers, big shoulder pads and shell suits out of the back of the cupboard and join us for a fantastic night remembering the songs that made the 80s the best!
Saturday, 22 March 2025
Choral music: Bedford Choral Society presents African Sanctus
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: Prices vary
Bob Chilcott – Little Jazz Mass / Ariel Ramirez – Misa Criolla / Fanshawe – African Sanctus
This is a Bedford Choral Society concert with a difference! Three pieces contrasting in style but unified in exuberance and energy. The rarely performed African Sanctus is an electrifying cross-cultural fusion of different religions with a timely message of inclusion and understanding.
The Misa Criolla’s Latin American folk and dance rhythms are soulful and infectious and the Little Jazz Mass will have you toe tapping to a variety of jazz, swing and blues styles. An experience not to be missed!
Saturday, 22 March 2025
Live Music: The Krakens
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm / late close
Free entry
The Krakens are back at the Cellar Bar and they’ll be covering a variety of rock songs through the ages from the likes of Elton John, Queen, Nirvana, Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day and many more.
Saturday, 22 March 2025
Live music: Dub Pistols
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £20
After a four-year gap, Dub Pistols return to Bedford Esquires with a show as part of the venue’s 35th Anniversary celebrations.
The Dubs may have had an easier ride of it if they’d been a cartoon band like Gorillaz. There wouldn’t have been assorted band member casualties along the way as life on the road took its toll.
The multi-cultural collective has involved dozens of artists and musicians over the years — some remaining for years, a few for the duration, and others just popping in for a guest appearance. Their sound has accordingly morphed a variety of times since their inception: taking in dub, punk, jungle, ska, breakbeat, hip-hop and a whole lot more, it’s been a long road travelled.
Sunday, 23 March 2025
Family fun: Crafternoon at the Higgins
The Higgins Bedford @ 2pm – 4pm
Free entry
Take part in free monthly creative activities at the Higgins Bedford. Guided by local artists, the sessions are suitable for all the family and particularly those under 12.
Sunday, 23 March 2025
Live music: Soul Factory – Saturday Afternoon Chillout with DJ Rocky & Bobby
The Cellar Bar @ 3pm
Free entry
Head to the Cellar Bar for an afternoon of pure soul, funk, R&B, house, Motown & Northern Soul classics with Soul Factory.
Sunday, 23 March 2025
Live music: The X-Certs play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
The X-Certs return for this weeks Sunday afternoon session playing New Wave, Post Punk and 60’s and 70’s pop.
Last chance to see…
Until Sunday, 23 March 2025
Geology: Mary Anning Rocks
The Higgins Bedford
Free entry
The Higgins Bedford’s Mary Anning exhibition will close on Sunday, 23 March, so make sure you grab the chance to see it.
Mary Anning Rocks tells the awe-inspiring story of Mary Anning, the pioneering fossil hunter who unearthed marine reptiles and discovered the secrets of Jurassic life. Explore the Jurassic specimens held at The Higgins Bedford in this display curated in partnership with Bedfordshire Geology Group.
At the Higgins Bedford
Exhibition: Colour and Light
The Higgins Bedford until 2 November 2025
Free entry
Art from the 18th century right up to the present day will be on display at The Higgins Bedford in its new exhibition, exploring the fascinating relationship between Colour and Light.
Read: Exhibition: ‘Colour and Light’ illuminates The Higgins Bedford
Running until 2 November 2025, the exhibition will showcase works from The Cecil Higgins Art Gallery Collection, including iconic pieces by JMW Turner, John Singer Sargent, Sonia Delaunay, Peter Blake, and Chila Kumari Singh Burman.
Colour and Light will also feature a specially commissioned artwork by Bedford-based artist, Alison Goodyear, entitled ‘Light & Colour’, as featured on the front cover of the February issue of the Bedford Clanger. This immersive digital experience, created in collaboration with four Bedford community groups and is inspired by the works in the exhibition.
Exhibition: Rediscovering Black Portraiture
The Higgins Bedford
Free entry
The newest exhibition at the Higgins began as a diversionary lockdown project in 2020 and can now be seen at Kensington Palace, the Bodeian Library in Oxford and now in Bedford.
It features the work of Manchester-born professional opera singer, Peter Brathwaite, who has lived in the Black Tom area of Bedford since 2018.
With all his singing work cancelled during the pandemic, Peter began looking for an outlet for his creative talents and started recreating famous and lesser-known Black portraiture paintings using as props whatever he could find around his house.
It was inspired by the Getty Foundation’s lockdown project, but quickly took on a life of its own, gathering a large international online following. You can explore the project at his Instagram page @peter_brathwaite.
And from Saturday, 18 May, they will form part of an installation at the Higgins Bedford which will lead visitors through the main collections and into Cecil Higgins’ house, with Peter’s interpretation of The Paston Treasure at its heart.
Read: ‘Rediscovering Black Portraiture’ at the Higgins Bedford this May
At the Panacea Museum
Permanent exhibition: Discover the amazing story of a unique religious community
Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Rd, Bedford MK40 3NX
11am – 5pm (last entry 4.30) Thursday – Sunday
Free entry
This fascinating hidden gem of a museum tells the story of the Panacea Society – a Christian group formed in the early twentieth century who created their 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.
Every Thursday
Cocktails, Quiz Night & Karaoke
The Cellar Bar from 5.00pm
Pit your wits against The Cellar Bar’s resident quizmaster to see if you can win the jackpot every Thursday from 8pm. £2 per person entry and a maximum of six per team. The winning team will win the jackpot PLUS a round of shots. Followed by Karaoke til close
Every Saturday
Food & drink: Cocktail mixology masterclass
The Cellar Bar @ 3pm / doors open at 12 noon
£30 per person
The Cellar Bar’s resident mixologist, Marley, will explain how to create some outstanding cocktails for your tasting enjoyment. Then, it’s your turn to put what you’ve learned into practice by making (and drinking) three cocktails!
Every Sunday
Live Music: Open Mic Night
The Cellar Bar @ 7.30pm
Free Entry
Every Sunday, join Mat Roberts for the Cellar Bar’s weekly Open Mic night. An opportunity for new and experienced performers to get up on stage and perform.
So whether you think you are the next Tom Grennan or just want a good night of entertainment, head the to Cellar Bar from 7.30pm.
Theatre highlights by Paula Walker
The March issue of the Bedford Clanger is out now. Grab a copy at one of our many pick-up points throughout the Borough.
You can find your nearest one using our map here.
