Welcome to our 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.
Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Entertainment: Drag Karaoke and Bingo
The Cellar Bar @ 8pm
Free entry
Guaranteed to be a very funny evening with Fanny Burns, her new home at The Cellar bar.
Drag queen Fanny Burns will bring her own spin on karaoke and bingo for a hilarious night of good not-so-clean fun. The bingo cash jackpot has been well over £100. £2 per card of six tickets, meaning six chances of winning. Raffle tickets for Fanny’s Flaps game are just £1.
This show contains adult humour and swearing and is strictly an over 18’s event.
Thursday, 22 May 2025
Theatre: The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15.50
‘Jekyll and Hyde’ – a mystery tale about the timeless conflict between good and evil – caused a sensation when it was published in 1886. In this highly acclaimed, gripping solo play, Mark Stratford offers a compelling and faithful adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s gothic classic.
In fog-bound Victorian London, Gabriel Utterson works as a respectable lawyer. Concerned by a strange clause in his friend Henry Jekyll’s will, Utterson investigates the sinister Edward Hyde – Jekyll’s unlikely protégé. Convinced that Jekyll and Hyde’s relationship is founded on blackmail, Utterson embarks on a quest to learn more but, as he does so, finds the truth to be far worse than he could have ever imagined..
Thursday, 22 May 2025
Live streaming: Ballet to Broadway
Stevington Cinema Club, Stevington Village Hall, MK443 7QT @ 4.45pm
Tickets: £6 (running time: 5 hours 20 minutes including two intervals)
Fool’s Paradise, The Two of Us, Us, An American in Paris: four works showing the remarkable choreographic range of The Royal Ballet’s Artistic Associate, Christopher Wheeldon.
Thursday, 22 May 2025
Talk: ‘Fake or Forgery – an expert eye’
Bunyan Meeting Church @ 7pm
Tickets: £10 / Friends of the Bunyan: £5
The Bunyan Meeting Church is hosting a talk this month by Nicholas Burnett ACR, one of the regular experts on the BBC’s ‘Fake or Fortune’. He will share fascinating insights into the world of art forgery and guide guests through the details of examining artwork for clues to their history.
Nicholas says “One of the joys of my work is solving problems and developing innovative techniques. Often this is in response to a challenging artwork; it’s the difficult jobs that develop us the most.
“Tailoring each job to the needs of the object and the client provides the best outcomes and means the work is ever changing.”
Thursday, 22 May 2025
On the river: Jazz cruise on the River Great Ouse featuring Amy Roberts Trio
Departing from Sovereign’s Quay @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £30.74
Enjoy a relaxing evening of jazz as the sun goes down on board the John Bunyan as we cruise along Bedford’s river.
Thursday, 22 May 2025
Live music: Karaoke
The Cellar Bar at 8pm
Free entry
The ONLY place you need to be for karaoke on a Thursday night – The Cellar Bar on the High Street. Pure karaoke with over 50,000 songs to choose from.
Perform like a pro with the Cellar Bar’s professional lighting, sound and a proper stage, with the best-sounding performers and acoustics on the High Street. Sing with your friends using multiple microphones and hosted by Cameo and Sarah Ellen.
Thursday, 22 May 2025
Dancing: Planet Swing featuring TJ Johnson & his 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, 22 May 2025
Dancing: Morris Dancing
Kent Arms, Salisbury Street @ 8pm / Burnaby Arms, Stanley Street @ 9pm
Free
Red Cuthbert Morris will be performing in Black Tom at the Kent Arms on Salisbury Street at 8pm followed by the Burnaby Arms on Stanley Street at 9pm.
Friday, 23 – Sunday, 25 May 2025
Food & drink: Bamberg Beer Festival
Harpur Suite @ noon – 11pm
Free entry
Bedfordians can kick off the late May bank holiday weekend in style at the Harpur Suite as the return of the Bamberg Beer Festival takes centre stage in the town centre for its 10th anniversary.
Read: Bamberg Beer Festival returns to Bedford for 10th anniversary edition
Celebrating the tradition established to honour Bedford’s twinning relationship with Bamberg in Germany, the three-day event will feature a wide selection of authentic German beers, traditional food, and lively cultural entertainment.
Friday, 23 May 2025
Swing music: Andrew Bourn’s Crooner Revolution
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £25
A brand new theatre show featuring unique swing style arrangements of songs from global artists such as Queen, The Rolling Stones, George Michael, Bob Dylan, Radiohead, Prince, Bee Gees, Tom Jones, Rick Astley and more. As well as a few classics from Sinatra and co along the way.
This live show features a fabulous band of top big band musicians! fun, full of energy and will have you singing from your seats.
Friday, 23 May 2025
Live music: Lene Lovich + Go Go Cult + The Gospel
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £20
Iconic post-punk pioneer Lene Lovich is set to electrify Bedford Esquires this Bank Holiday Friday, as part of her highly anticipated “Toy Box 2025 UK Tour.”
Renowned for her avant-garde style and chart-topping hits like “Lucky Number” and “New Toy,” Lovich will perform alongside her full band, delivering a night of genre-defying music that has inspired artists across generations.
Joining Lovich for this special evening are local favourites The Gospel and psychobilly stalwarts Go Go Cult, promising a dynamic lineup that celebrates both the past and present of alternative music.
Friday, 23 May 2025
Live music: Double header – Bazooka Joe & Cameo
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm / bar opens @ 6pm / Happy hour @ 6pm – 9pm
Free entry
Bazooka Joe are back with a full-on 80’s vibe. For the last 14 years they have been exciting UK audiences with their versatile repertoire of 80s classics which embody the enigmatic, creative, and buoyant spirit of the decade, from Duran Duran, The Specials, Madness, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, Human League to Queen, The Jam, Simple Minds and much more!
Afterwards, and playing into the small hours, is Cameo. Singing classic rock/pop songs from Dolly Parton to Fleetwood Mac to The Red Hot Chili Peppers and so much in between, be ready for a cracking party night.
Saturday, 24 May 2025
Food & drink: FoodDrunk #11 – Street Food – Live Music – DJs – Craft Beer – Family Silent Disco
Bedford Esquires @ noon – 9pm
Free entry
One of the tastiest days in the Esquires calendar returns with FoodDrunk – back for the 11th edition!
Some of the finest street food around, with all three sellers personally hand picked and pre-tested by Esquires HQ. This time around you can choose from: Crown & Heel Smashburgers, Fold Me Close Pizza and Papas Locas Loaded fries and Poutain.
Live music will be performed over the venue’s two stages, with more acts TBA. Confirmed so far are: Duzzy Avocado, Plateau, Moondog & The Suncats, Lyonii, Mia Rae, Matt Astell, Danny Young and Kraken.
DJs will entertaining the crowds in the outside yard, with an eclectic set of sounds, curated by Roll Your Own Records.
There will also be a brand new Family Silent Disco coming to the venue, with a concept never seen before – so don’t be silly and miss it!
Tickets and more information here.
Saturday, 24 May 2025
Food & drink: Motown Magic Afternoon Tea
Papillon Coffee House, 133 Castle Road, MK40 3RF @ 3pm-5pm
Tickets: £35 per person, includes afternoon tea
Book a delicious, Papillon Afternoon Tea and join ‘Capella Entertainment’ for an incredible afternoon of live music as you sit back and enjoy some favourite Motown hits.
Saturday, 24 May 2025
Classical music: Bedford Symphony Orchestra
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: prices vary
This Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra concert will begin with Granville Bantock’s The Sea Reivers, conducted by the composer’s great-grandson, Bjorn Bantock.
The programme will also include Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 with Jakob Kullberg, a professor of cello at the Royal College of Music, noted for his collaboration with the Danish composer Per Nørgård, as soloist.
Tchaikovsky’s most dramatic and tragic last symphony, Symphony No. 6 ‘Pathétique’, rounds off BSO’s season of concerts.
Saturday, 24 May 2025
Live music: Megapint?
The Cellar Bar at 8.30pm / bar opens @ 6pm / Happy Hour @ 6pm – 9pm
Free entry
The guys are back for another regular gig at The Cellar Bar playing all night until the small hours. Expect musical excellence mixed with a wonderfully curated list of rock/pop classics.
Sunday, 25 May 2025
Walking: “Bedford’s South Bank Show” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the box office at the Harpur Suite, Harpur Square
Tickets: £4/£2 (Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee)
The settlement south of the river 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.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WALK CROSSES UNDER A LOW BRIDGE OF 4’ 9” HEIGHT TWICE ON ROUTE.
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, 25 May 2025
On the river: Special Afternoon Tea Cruise – Priory Marina round trip
Departing from Priory Marina @ 2pm
Tickets: £42.40
A special Afternoon Tea cruise complete with vintage crockery from local caterer Crème Brew Lait.
You’ll be welcomed aboard with a glass of fruit juice, before settling down to cruise Bedford’s picturesque countryside along the river with the Afternoon Tea served at your table.
Discover abundant wildlife and view the picturesque countryside from a whole new angle, looking out through large picture windows or standing out on the John Bunyan Bow.
Sunday, 25 May 2025
Food & drink: Musical Theatre Afternoon Tea
Papillon Coffee House, 133 Castle Road, MK40 3RF @ 3pm-5pm
Tickets: £35 per person, includes afternoon tea
Book a delicious, Papillon Afternoon Tea and join ‘Capella Entertainment’ for an incredible afternoon of live music as you sit back and enjoy some favourite hits from the world of musical theatre.
Sunday, 25 May 2025
Dance music: Bank Holiday Sunday – Soul Factory – Sunday Afternoon Chillout
The Cellar Bar @ 3pm
Free entry
The perfect way to enjoy a chilled out bank holiday Sunday – an afternoon of pure soul, funk, R&B, house, Motown & northern soul classics with Soul Factory at the Cellar Bar.
Sunday, 25 May 2025
Live music: Who Stung Sting play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
A fresh four-piece playing a selection of reggae and ska classics, plus a few ‘converted’ songs. Expect to hear The Specials, Bob Marley, Toots & the Maytals, Prince Buster, Bowie, Harry J Allstars, Dawn Penn, UB40, Madness and many more.
Sunday, 25 May 2025
Music: An Evening with the Lincoln Noel Trio
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £17.50
Get ready for an unforgettable night of songs, stories, and smiles as The Lincoln Noel Trio teams up with the fabulous Standing In The Wings Songbirds for a musical journey that will warm your heart and lift your spirits!
Join us for an enchanting evening filled with timeless classics and soulful melodies, all brought to life by The Maestro and his band’s elegant jazz stylings and the harmonious voices of the Songbirds. With their rich storytelling, heartwarming anecdotes, and, of course, the joy of music, this event promises to leave you with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.
This is more than just a concert; it’s a celebration of music, friendship, and the magic that happens when talented musicians come together. Perfect for music lovers of all ages.
Sunday, 25 May 2025 / Skank Holiday Sunday
Live music: BIG 10 ‘The Ultimate Ska / 2 Tone tribute band’
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £12
Cambridge Ska legends, BIG 10, are back at Bedford Esquires for a special ‘Skank Holiday Sunday’ following their packed out show at the venue last summer.
Renowned for a huge Ska sound, entertaining stage antics and a loyal following, Big 10 are one of the most popular ska / 2 tone acts in the south east and with 8-10 musicians on stage at gigs ( including a two to three-person brass section and two to three singers) a Big 10 performance is a real treat for the senses!
Monday, 26 May 2025
Cruise the Ouse: Bank Holiday Cruise – Suspension Bridge 45-minute round trip
Suspension Bridge (Mill Meadows side) at 1.30pm & 3pm
Tickets: £11/£8
Enjoy a relaxing Bank Holiday river cruise along the river. It’s the perfect way to try the John Bunyan Boat for the first time, and great for families with young children.
Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Live music: Tuesday lunchtime concert
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ 1pm
Free entry with retiring collection (suggested donation £5)
Lunchtime recital featuring a violin recital by Teryl Zau. Free with a retiring collection.
Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Live music: Kairos Creature Club
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
£12
Kairos Creature Club (KCC) is a new project from Lena Simon (La Luz) and Glenn Van Dyke (BOYTOY). After years of playing in bands confined by genre, Van Dyke and Simon founded KCC definitively as an exploration of music.
As an ever-evolving project, KCC is fueled by collaboration, the duo seeking out individuals who are moved by the moment, and subsequently capturing the minutiae when different combinations of artistry and creativity collide.
Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Art: The Circus of Illustration’s Drink and Draw – MerMay
The Park pub, Kimbolton Road @ 7.30pm
Free (£2 donation appreciated)
On the last Tuesday of every month, Bedford’s creative community meets up at the Park pub for the Circus of Illustration’s monthly Drink and Draw sessions. With a different theme each month, it’s open to absolutely anyone (over 18) of any skill level and there’s no need to book.
At this month’s Drink & Draw you’ll be splashing into MerMay! It’s the drawing challenge that takes over the internet every May, so dive into the 2025 prompt list.
Check out the #mermay2025 hashtag across your socials for inspiration and why not post a few of your own to warm up. There are great prizes to be won if you tag @mermay_official alongside the hashtag.
Equipment and resources are provided in a no-pressure, relaxed atmosphere to chat, drink and doodle.
Wednesday, 28 May 2025
Walking: “The Jewel in Bedford’s Crown” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the box office at the Harpur Suite, Harpur Square
Tickets: £4/£2 (Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee)
The Jewel in Bedford’s Crown is undoubtedly the River Great Ouse and its Embankment. This entertaining and informative circular walk takes you along the banks of the river, which has been described as one of the finest riverside settings in England. Learn the story of the Victorian Embankment development and enjoy a walk in the ornamental gardens.
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.
Thursday, 29 May 2025
Theatre: Much Ado About Falstaff
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £16
GSP follow up recent successes with Old Herbaceous, Three Men in a Boat and What’s Wrong with Benny Hill? with a new play about Sir John Falstaff…a rogue, a philanderer and a glutton, but also one of Shakespeare’s greatest and enduring comic creations.
In this new comedy by Simon Downing we find Falstaff, played by Giles Shenton, in his bedroom in the Boars Head being nursed by Mistress Quickly, played by Georgie Taylor.
The creditors arrive demanding payment. Will Falstaff resort to marrying Mistress Quickly in order to pay off his debts? Will he turn teetotal? Will he mellow in his old age? Find out the answers to all these important questions that Shakespeare never bothered to answer and join Falstaff for an evening of jollity, frivolity, a definite lack of coequality and more Shakespearean insults than ever previously heard on a theatrical stage!
Thursday, 29 May 2025
Dancing: Planet Swing featuring Pete Gill & his 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, 30 May 2025
Children: Exploring Space with Kaye Leidoscope
The Place Theatre @ 10am
Tickets: Pay What You Can from £2
Join Kaye Leidoskope for these monthly lively & lovely interactive sessions for children two and five years and their grown-ups. At each session they explore a new subject area like transport, animals and weather.
You can expect play, songs, crafts and there are always bubbles… perfect for little ones to creatively learn through play!
Friday, 30 May 2025
Live music: The Lovely Eggs
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £20
For The Lovely Eggs, being in a band is a way of life. It’s about art. It’s about creativity and expression. It’s about following your own path and doing things your own way.
Holly and David operate on their terms, spewing out music, records, art and television shows before piling in the van and tearing round the country to perform a load of live sold-out shows. Set your EGG-timers so you don’t forget.
Friday, 30 May 2025
Live music: Samantha Hughes
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm
Free entry
Samantha has become a regular at The Cellar Bar, having previously performed at Twinwood Festival and the Festival of Vintage.
Samantha’s set will be part acoustic, so you are in for a treat as she plays a selection of rock n roll, country, 50s/60s and 80s party tunes, spreading some good old-fashioned music from years gone by.
Friday, 30 May 2025
Live music: The Future Sessions
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £8
The Future Sessions return in May with four bands gracing the Esquires stage, most for the first time and all of them eager to grab your attention.
The Skive, a pure-punk outfit from down the road in Stevenage recently won the battle of the bands in Hertford and come to Bedford with their politically-charged chaos for the first time. Don’t miss this lot on their way up.
Skelta, one of Bedford’s very new bands, released their first material this week on Spotify, and we have had ‘Vaseline’ on repeat ever since. Expect “ambient moments of tranquillity with jaw-dropping heavy impacts”. See you down the front for that.
Kate Gore will be bringing her Screamers to the front after the sad demise of Monochrome – a Future Sessions favourite. Bedford held out so much hope for Monochrome, but now it’s time for Caitlin and the gang to show us that the Kate Gore experiment is something to get excited about. Early signs look good.
Technique a brand spanking new alt-rock outfit from Milton Keynes, arriving in Bedford for the first time. As always, blender promises a night not to miss in Esquires room 2 and if you like your music new, the Future Sessions are for you.
Friday, 30 May 2025
Live music: Kyri Lillington
The Cellar Bar @ 11pm / bar opens @ 6pm
Free entry
Kyri Lillington will be back at The Cellar Bar as a solo performer, playing pop and rock classics.
Saturday, 31 May 2025
Music: R.E.M. By Stipe (unplugged)
The Quarry Theatre @ 2pm
Tickets: from £14
Two Unplugged Acoustic sessions for MTV set the scene for R.E.M.’s songs being stripped back to show beautiful melodies, clever lyricism, and arrangements in acoustic form. Stipe continue this tradition bringing these songs to life in their Unplugged Acoustic sessions.
With a string of peerless albums; one eye on the underground and one eye on the soaring chorus; we will never see their like again. Come and hear tracks like “The One I Love” through to “The End of the World” stripped back and relaxed with all the details that made R.E.M. great.
Whether it’s playing major festivals or appearing on the One Show, performing for Michael Stipe himself, Stipe are the definitive R.E.M. tribute – a complete band, and encyclopedic knowledge of the back catalogue. They bring R.E.M. to life on stage – the contrasts and the magic; that direct connection to the music.
The boys from Athens’ legacy is in good hands.
Saturday, 31 May 2025
Film: Bedford Film Night presents Aftersun
St Andrew’s Church community centre, Kimbolton Road, MK40 2PF @ 18:30 | Film: 19:00 | End: 21:00
Tickets: From £5
Directed by Charlotte Wells and starring Paul Mescal in a BAFTA- and Academy Award-nominated performance, Aftersun is a tender and emotionally resonant coming-of-age British drama. Through a quietly powerful lens, the film explores memory, identity and the fragile complexities of a father–daughter relationship during a summer holiday in the late 1990s.
Praised for its subtle storytelling and emotional depth, Aftersun has captivated audiences and critics alike, making it one of the standout independent films of recent years.
Bedford Film Night is a monthly community cinema event organised by UFP Film Club , taking place on the last Saturday of each month (excluding August and November). While the regular audience often includes residents over 65, the event welcomes all film lovers aged 16 and over.
Saturday, 31 May 2025
Live music: The Workshop Boys
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm / bar opens 6pm
Free entry
These guys need no introduction – and what could be better than them at the Cellar Bar on a Saturday night.
Formed by former members of Los Marbles and Cutting Out, The Workshop Boys have fast become one of Bedford’s most loved bar bands.
Sunday, 1 June 2025
Walking: “Bedford in WWII” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the box office at the Harpur Suite, Harpur 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, 1 June 2025
Food & drink: Afternoon Tea with live music (and cocktails)
The Cellar Bar @ 4pm
Tickets, from £25, bottomless options available
The Cellar Bar has teamed up with Creme Brew Lait to deliver a wonderful themed two-hour afternoon tea experience, combining beautiful food and wonderful drinks options. This special soul music event features an incredible performance by Sophia Soul.
There is however a twist: they’ve replaced the PG Tips with Pornstar Martinis and Sex on the Beach – cheers!
The entertainment starts at 5pm, giving you some quiet time before hand to catch up with friends or family and enjoy your afternoon tea. You can then choose to stay in the Purple Room and enjoy the music in the background or go full throttle and move to the main bar for a fully immersive experience. And don’t worry you will still be able to get your bottomless glasses filled up as soon as they empty!
Sunday, 1 June 2025
Live Music: Sophia Soul
The Cellar Bar @ 5pm / doors open @ 3pm / Happy Hour 3pm – 9pm / late close
Free entry
The wonderful Sophia Soul is appearing again at The Cellar Bar this weekend. With a career spanning 14 years, this modern day diva will blow your socks off!
Why not combine an afternoon of Soul with one of the Cellar Bar’s Bottomless Afternoon Tea packages? The performance is 5pm – 7pm. Afternoon tea is 4pm – 6pm. Book online in advance to secure a seat, otherwise it will be standing room only.
Sunday, 1 June 2025
Poetry and Spoken Word: Read Poets Society: Rewilding
The Eagle Book Shop @ 7pm
Tickets: Free but book via The Place Theatre website
As summer approaches, join the Read Poets Society for their monthly poetry readings. This month’s theme is Rewilding.
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.
Until 21 September 2025
Exhibition: The Panacea Society and the Second World War
The Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Rd, Bedford MK40 3NX @ Thursday to Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Free entry
A new social history exhibition has opened at the Panacea Museum this month, exploring the unseen story of this remarkable society and World War II.
Read: New exhibition: The Panacea Society and the Second World War
The beautiful gardens surrounding the Museum are currently filled with blossoming trees, birds, butterflies and bees, and a stroll through the grounds is a highly recommended in addition to a visit to the museum.
Every Wednesday
Quiz: A1 SpeedQuizzing
The Cellar Bar @ 8pm Bar opens at 7pm
£3pp to enter the quiz. Rolling cash jackpot of £150 plus £60 cash for the winning team and other prizes to winTo reserve your table –
Quiz nights will never be the same again as SpeedQuizzing comes to Bedford town centre. Get your team of up to six players together and enjoy a fun, interactive night of entertainment hosted by Owen.
There’s a £60 bar tab to the winners and there is a rolling jackpot each week.
Walk ins are allowed on the night until the venue is full. Reserve your table online and get a 20 point head start.
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 to the Cellar Bar from 7.30pm.
Theatre highlights by Paula Walker
