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, 26 March 2025
Quiz: A1 SpeedQuizzing
The Cellar Bar @ 8pm / bar opens at 7pm
£3pp to enter the quiz
A fun and interactive night of brain-bending 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 Owen.
Walk-ins are allowed on the night until the venue is full. To make sure you don’t miss out, reserve your table online here.
Thursday, 27 March 2025
Theatre: The Ballad of Underwater Daughter
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £16
Somewhere out there, in the murky no-man’s-land between reality and “are you pulling my leg?” there’s a mechanical island inhabited entirely by dads.
Bodged together out of mangled metal and broken dreams, Dad Island is a flawed coping mechanism that barely manages to hold itself together. Then one stormy night, a tiny barnacle-encrusted bottle floats into the harbour with a crumpled note inside which reads, “remember me?”
The Ballad of the Underwater Daughter is a strange sort of odyssey. A woozy universe of messy minds and monstrously fishy metaphors. Overloaded with puppets, props and machines, it is unquestionably the latest production from Leeds’ own theOBJECTproject (the company that may or may not have traumatised you with PIXIEMATOSIS.)
The show is suitable for adults and people aged 14+. It contains very strong language and exploding dads.
Thursday, 27 March 2025
Live streaming: NT Live presents Dr Strangelove
Stevington Cinema Club, Stevington Village Hall, MK443 7QT @ 7.15pm
Tickets: £6
Seven-time BAFTA Award-winner Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge, The Trip) plays four roles in the world premiere stage adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s comedy masterpiece Dr. Strangelove.
When a rogue U.S General triggers a nuclear attack, a surreal race takes place, seeing the Government and one eccentric scientist scramble to avert global destruction.This explosively funny satire is led by a world-renowned creative team including Emmy Award-winner Armando Iannucci (The Thick of It, Veep) and Olivier Award-winner Sean Foley (The Upstart Crow, The Play What I Wrote)
Thursday, 27 & Sunday, 30 March 2025
National Theatre Live: Dr Strangelove
The Quarry Theatre @ 7pm (Thursday) 2pm (Sunday)
Tickets: £15.50
(see info above)
Thursday, 27 March 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, 27 March 2025
Dancing: Planet Swing featuring Minnie and the Moochers
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, 28 March 2025
Children’s Theatre: Kaye Leidoscope – Exploring Springtime
The Place Theatre @ 10am
Tickets: Pay What You Can from £2
Join Kaye Leidoskope for these monthly lively and lovely interactive sessions for children two to five years and their grown-ups.
At each session, a new subject area like transport, animals and weather is explored. You can expect play, songs, crafts and they always have bubbles. Perfect for little ones to creatively learn through play.
Friday, 28 March – Tuesday, 6 May 2025
Exhibition: Mark Pinchin Art – Bedford Renaissance
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm – 9pm (opening night) / Tuesday-Wednesday 10am – 2pm / Saturdays 10am – midday
Free entry
Bedford Renaissance exhibition
Friday, 28 March 2025
Live music: HENGE
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
Space-ravers, HENGE are landing back at Esquires this month as part of an extensive tour of our solar system. Last seen in town battling the council noise pollution overlords on The River Festival main stage, now is your chance to come and see a proper Henge show in all its extra-terrestrial joy-mongering glory!
Friday, 28 March 2025
Live music: Bazooka Joe & Cameo
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm
Free entry
Bazooka Joe are back at the Cellar Bar with a full-on 80’s vibe. Embodying the enigmatic, creative, and buoyant spirit of the decade, they’ll be playing everything from Duran Duran, The Specials, Madness, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, Human League to Queen, The Jam, Simple Minds and much more.
Playing into the small hours, Cameo will be performing songs from Dolly Parton to Fleetwood Mac to The Red Hot Chili Peppers and everything in between.
Friday, 28 March 2025
Live music: The Molotovs
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £12
The Molotovs have become one of the UK’s hottest young bands with sharp, punchy anthems delivered with highly charged stagecraft that leaves absolutely nothing in the dressing room.
Siblings Mathew (vocals/guitar) and Issey Carts (bass/vocals) are joined by drummer Harry, mixing their setlists with self-penned material with a few well-chosen covers. They play with a passion and drive that more than backs up their claim that “nothing gets left in the dressing room”.
Still in their teens, they’ve been handpicked by the likes of The Sex Pistols, Blondie, The Libertines and Adam Ant to share the stage, and have been championed by Green Day both on stage and in press.
Saturday, 29 March 2025
Children’s Theatre: Pigs and Bears Don’t Come in Pairs!
The Quarry Theatre @ 2pm
Tickets: from £11
Straw, wood, brick? Porridge, chairs, beds? Two trios to tantalise and tickle your senses in this DOUBLE BILL of Furry Tails, where Goldilocks may even be more scary that the Big Bad Wolf!
If two’s company and three’s a crowd, then book your place now for these well loved stories, retold with puppets, original music and a perfectly petite pop up set.
Ideal for three to seven-year-olds.
Saturday, 29 March 2025
Money saving: Cost of Living Fair
Harpur Suite @ 10am – 3pm
Free entry
Local and national organisations, as well as charities and community groups, will be on hand to offer money-saving advice at Bedford’s first Cost of Living Fair, a new event to help Bedfordians cope with rising prices.
Read: Cost of Living Fair aims to help Bedfordians manage their money
In addition, Bedford Repair Café and Share Bedford’s library of things will be on hand, plus there will be a book swap, craft swap and competitions.
Saturday, 29 March 2025
Film: Nickel Boys
St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Road, Bedford, MK40 2PF @ 7pm / doors open @ 6.30pm
Tickets: £5 (advance booking required here)
UFP Film Club is proud to present a special screening of Nickel Boys at Bedford Film Night this month.
Adapted from Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Nickel Boys delivers a powerful and moving exploration of historical injustice, resilience, and the search for justice. The screening will take place in the main church—a distinctive and atmospheric setting that will elevate the cinematic experience, immersing audiences in a story of profound social significance.
Saturday, 29 March 2025
Live music: Jesus Jones + Guests
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £20
Jesus Jones return to Bedford as part of Esquires’ 35th Anniversary series of gigs. Blending rock, rave and techno, Jesus Jones were one of the shining lights of the early nineties alternative dance scene with such indie disco classics as ‘Never Enough’, ‘Real, Real, Real’ and the still amazing ‘Info Freako’.
Special Guests: Scant Regard, Will Crewdson’s twangy electro-fried solo project.
Saturday, 29 March 2025
Live music: Bad Hombre
The Cellar Bar at 8.30pm / bar opens at 6pm / Happy hour 6pm – 9pm
Free entry.
Bad Hombre are back at the Cellar Bar and these musical geniuses are a must-see.
This high-energy trio was formed in 2012 and with over 250 gigs under their belt, expect to hear your favourite tunes from The Jam, Stereophonics, The Kinks, The Fratellis & Kaiser Chiefs amongst many others. The band’s energy is infectious, dancing shoes and drinking hats are recommended!
Sunday, 30 March 2025
Live music: Soul Factory – Saturday Afternoon Chillout celebrating DJ Rocky & Bobby’s birthday!
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, 30 March 2025
Comedy: Omid Djalili – Namaste
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 8pm
Tickets: £28
The Persian Comedy Powerhouse performs his critically acclaimed new show Namaste where Omid peacefully bows to his inner anger and unleashes a torrent of comedic vitriol upon the current state of this dangerously messed up planet.
No government gets a green card. No tyrant avoids a takedown. No audience member leaves the theatre with an ounce of laughter left in them.
You have been warned.
Tuesday, 1 April 2025
Live music: Tuesday lunchtime concert
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ 1pm
Free entry with retiring collection (suggested donation £5)
A piano recital by Emily Han.
Free with a retiring collection.
Tuesday, 1 April 2025
Live streaming: Turandot Opera
Stevington Cinema Club, Stevington Village Hall, MK443 7QT @ 6.45pm
Tickets: £6
Puccini’s captivating opera of a cold-hearted princess and her mysterious suitor and featuring the ever-popular ‘Nessun Dorma’.
Tuesday, 1 April 2025
Film: Bedford Film Society presents Alfie
The University of Bedford, Polhill Avenue @ 7.30pm
Tickets: members free / £5/day guest
Set in postwar London, “Alfie” features Michael Caine as a chauffeur who impregnates his girlfriend and then takes off. A misfortune strikes and Alfie is forced to face the product of his ways.
Tuesday, 1 April 2025
Poetry: Ouse Muse presents Jonathan Davidson
Eagle Bookshop, St Peter’s Street @ 8pm
Jonathan Davidson is a poet of the English Midlands whose most recent books are A Commonplace – Apples, Bricks & Other People’s Poems, and Downland – a collaboration with the visual artist Anna Dillon. His poetry memoir, On Poetry – Jonathan Davidson, continues to divide opinion. All welcome.
Wednesday, 2 April 2025
Quiz: A1 SpeedQuizzing
The Cellar Bar @ 8pm / Bar opens at 7pm
£3pp to enter the quiz. £60 cash and other prizes to win
SpeedQuizzing has come to Bedford town centre – a fun, 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 a rolling jackpot each week. Hosted by experienced Speed Quizzing host Owen.
The Cellar Bar is open from 7pm and the quiz starts at 8pm. Walk ins are allowed on the night until the venue is full. Reserve your table online and get a 20-point head start.
You can reserve your table here.
Thursday, 3 – Saturday, 5 April 2025
Theatre: Sleeping Beauty
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm (Thurs/Fri) 2pm & 6.30pm (Sat)
Tickets: prices vary
Sleeping Beauty is a classic fairy tale that tells the story of a beautiful princess who falls under a curse from an evil fairy.
According to the curse, the princess would prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel on her 18th birthday and would die. A good fairy, however, intervenes and alters the curse, stating that the princess will instead sleep for 100 years and can only be awakened by true love’s kiss.
In the end, will true love’s kiss awaken the princess, and will the kingdom be saved?
Thursday, 3 April 2025
Quiz: Esquires’ Monthly Music Quiz
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
£2 per person / max six people per team
Brain cells at the ready, it’s Esquires’ music quiz and everyone’s welcome. Featuring music from the 50’s to the present, it’s £2 per person to enter with teams of up to a maximum of six people.
Cash prize for the winning team.
Thursday, 3 April 2025
Dancing: Planet Swing featuring The TBA
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, 3 April 2025
Live music: Irish Folk Night
The Castle, 17 Newnham Street @ 8.30pm
Free entry
A fun evening of foot-tapping Irish tunes to sing along to. The craic is sure to be mighty!
Friday, 4 April 2025
Double header of live music: The New Classics
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm / bar opens at 6pm / Happy Hour, 6pm – 9pm
Free entry
Hailing from Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, this five-piece band brings a dynamic and eclectic mix of music to any night.
Friday, 4 April 2025
Live music: Plateau EP launch
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £10
Fresh from their sold-out Future Sessions in February, Plateau are coming right back at ya with a full headline show to celebrate the release of their new EP, Strange Ambitions of a Sick Soul.
Hailing from Bedford, vocalist Oli Power, bassist Oscar Goodwin, drummer Max Day and guitarists Sam McCarthy and Stephen Azevedo, came together through their love of iconic bands such as The Doors and Soundgarden as well as a love for performing. With each member of the band coming from a different musical background, Plateau intertwine grunge-like vocals alongside bluesy riffs and hard-rock rhythms amongst a psychedelic tone, creating a sound that is recognisably unique to them.
The band are joined on the night by The Greensands, Crazy Division and Inertia.
Friday, 4 April 2025
Reggae: David ‘Ram Jam’ Rodigan
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
Tickets: £25
For over 35 years, David Rodigan has been the top dog in the ganja-scented, bass-heavy atmosphere of Britain’s reggae dance halls and this month he is coming to Bedford as part of Esquire’s 35th anniversary year.
Friday, 4 April 2025
Live music: Heidi Browne
The Cellar Bar at 11.00pm. Bar opens at 6.00pm. Happy hour 6.00pm – 9.00pm
Free entry.
This Friday, the Cellar Bar is delighted to welcome multi-instrumentalist & singer-songwriter Heidi Browne.
She was recognised on BBC Introducing for her distinctive vocal style and retro yet fresh sound. She went on to win Open Mic UK, tour internationally, release multiple albums and have her music played on BBC Radio 1 & 2.
Expect a lively mix of acoustic covers in her own style with lots of audience participation and upbeat vibes.
Saturday, 5 April 2025
Children’s Theatre: The Worst Princess
The Quarry Theatre @ 11.30am & 2pm
Tickets: from £8
Feisty Sue is not your everyday fairy tale superstar; in fact, she’s The Worst Princess.
After being rescued by her twit of a prince, she’s ready to start her happy end. But first she’ll have to make friends with a dragon, escape from a tower and set the Prince’s pants on fire with her new fire-breathing bestie. Will Sue find her happily ever after?
Saturday, 5 April 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.
Saturday, 5 April 2025
Live music: The Bluetones
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £25
The Bluetones are back on tour this spring, calling into Bedford Esquires on their travels.
First coming to prominence in 1995, The Bluetones’ debut release ‘Are You Blue Or Are You Blind’ broke into the Top 40 and the single proved to be the launching pad for a run that saw 14 hit singles and six albums follow.
From there on, the band, made up of brothers Mark and Scott Morriss alongside Adam Devlin and Eds Chesters, enjoyed considerable UK and Ireland successes, extending out across into Europe and Japan, before taking a hiatus in 2011 that lasted for four years.
Since then, they have re-established themselves as one of the UK’s most consistently entertaining live acts, regularly touring their extensive catalogue to their army of devoted fans.
Saturday, 5 April 2025
Live music: Double header of live music – Cameo & Five Five Six
The Cellar Bar at 8.30pm. Bar opens at 6.00pm. Happy hour 6.00pm – 9.00pm
Free entry
First up Cellar Bar favourite Cameo is back for another solo performance, expect a beautiful voice and some cracking party tunes! 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.
If you’ve not seen Five Five Six at The Cellar Bar before, you are in for a treat, get ready for a great night of legendary rock tunes. The Cellar Bar literally rocks when these guys play!
Sunday, 6 April 2025
Live music: The Polaroidz play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Relive the alternative sounds of the 1980s with The Polaroidz, who are looking forward to lifting the roof off Danny’s Bar with some help from the Sunday Session stalwarts.
Expect hits from Tears for Fears, Blondie, The Pretenders, Gary Numan, Human League, Depeche Mode, The Police, David Bowie, Teardrop Explodes, Adam and the Ants, Simple Minds, Dexy’s Midnight Runners and many more.
Sunday, 6 April 2025
Live music: Danny Graceland – Elvis Tribute
The Cellar Bar @ 5pm
Free entry
Elvis is in the building!
Danny Graceland is an nternationally multi-award-winning Elvis tribute artist, bringing you an authentic homage to the undisputed King of Rock’n’Roll.
As a die-hard Elvis fan from the age of three, Danny has ardently studied the music and life of Elvis Presley to provide as accurate a tribute as possible to the biggest selling male solo artist of all time.
The Cellar Bar is fully sold out for afternoon tea for this event. Walk-ins are welcome to watch the performance, but will be standing room only. The only way to guarantee a seat is to book for the afternoon tea packages on the first Sunday of every month.
Sunday, 6 April 2025
Poetry and Spoken Word: Read Poets Society
The Eagle Bookshop @ 7pm | Tickets: Free but please book via The Place Theatre website
Join the Read Poets Society for an interesting evening of poetry and prose. This month’s theme is “ Quaffing and Drinking will undo you!”
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 to the Cellar Bar from 7.30pm.
Theatre highlights by Paula Walker
The April 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.
