Bedford Clanger - December 2025 by Bedford Clanger

Christmas Opening Times

CENTRE OPENING TIMES

Saturday 22nd November

Christmas Light Switch On 9am - 6pm

Friday 28th November

Black Friday 9am - 5:30pm

LATE NIGHT SHOPPING

Thursday 11th December 9am - 8pm

Thursday 18th December 9am - 8pm

Friday 19th December 9am - 8pm

Monday 22nd December 8am - 8pm

Tuesday 23rd December 8am - 8pm

Christmas Eve 8am - 5pm

Christmas Day CLOSED

Boxing Day

10am - 5pm*

Saturday 27th December 9am - 5:30pm

Sunday 28th December 10am - 4pm

Monday 29th December 9am - 5:30pm

Tuesday 30th December 9am - 5:30pm

New Year’s Eve 9am - 5pm

New Year’s Day CLOSED

Friday 2nd January 2026 9am - 5:30pm

12 DAYS OF BEDS INDIES | 4

Check out our rendition!

INDIE CHRISTMAS | 5

A call out for an upcoming exhibition by The Circus of Illustration

WHAT’S ON | 6

Diaries at the ready

FILM | 9

Grab the popcorn

INDIE SPOTLIGHT | 10

The Arc

THEATRE | 12

The best of this month’s theatre

LIVE MUSIC | 14

Bring the noise

Introduction

Thank you for picking up the December issue of the Bedford Clanger - your guide to the best of Bedford’s art, culture, live music, theatre, shopping, heritage and more this festive season.

This month, we’re shining a spotlight on all of the festive fun to be had throughout December in Bedford Borough, from brass band concerts to Bedford Flea, film screenings to craft fairs - there’s something for everyone.

To share of love of local businesses, we’ve rewritten the lyrics of the 12 Days of Christmas, with Bedford’s independent shops in mind. Not only can you read all about it on

MEET THE TEAM

page 4, but you can also hear The 12 Days of Bedford Indies sung by the wonderful Goldentones by scanning the QR code.

This Christmas we’re banging the #BoughtInBedford drum (page 16), so don’t forget to add the hashtag to any photos of your recent purchases so you could be in with a chance of winning a £50 voucher!

Thank you for supporting the Bedford Clanger throughout 2025. All that remains is to wish all our readers a very happy Christmas and we shall see you again in the New Year.

Team Clanger

Even more events are included in our weekly What’s On Guide, published every Wednesday on our website at bedfordindependent.co.uk

Editor: Erica Roffe / clanger@bedfordindependent.co.uk

Commercial Director: Julia Course / julia@bedfordindependent.co.uk

Design: Ben Graham / ben@twenty-sixstudios.co.uk

Photography: Cameron Scrimgeour / cameronscrimgeour.com

Theatre: Paula Walker

Food & Drink: Paul Hutchinson / paul@bedfordindependent.co.uk

Website: bedfordindependent.co.uk

The Bedford Clanger is published by Progress Publishing

Fuego (WILFRED) GEORGE CARTER

Ken Parsons

Erica Roffe, Julia Course & Paul Hutchinson (Image: Two-D Photography)

12 DAYS OF BEDFORD INDIES

This month, we’ve taken our love of Bedford’s independent shops and businesses and rewritten the 12 Days of Christmas as an ode to them.

December sees the return of Small Business Saturday (6 December), and, based on the average person spending £50 on presents, if all 185,300 adults in Bedford bought just one of their Christmas

gifts from a small business, that would put an extra £9.2 million into the pockets of Bedford’s indie retailers. Extrapolated throughout the country, and that equates to £2.6 billion.**

So, this Christmas, grab your copy of Bought in Bedford*** for inspiration, head to the town centre, merrily humming our tune…

Bedford’s fabulous Goldentones have very kindly recorded our version of the song, and you can watch their video by simply scanning the QR code.

*based on the number of 20 - 65-year-olds in Bedford Borough’s population of 185,300 / **based on figures shared by @loudmouthcontent

…. And a donation to the BI

By making a donation to the Bedford Independent you are supporting an indie business and keeping local news alive.

Why did Adele cross the road? To say hello from the other side.

Twelve sweary art prints The Arc Eleven cans of craft beer Beerfly, Brewpoint

Ten scented candles épanoui, Not Another Jungle, The Store

Nine Booker Prize winners Eagle Bookshop, Oxfam Books

Eight Herd roast dinners

Seven cosy cushions IMPAKT, épanoui

Six pairs of earrings John Medhurst, Lavender Moss, épanoui, Boutique Planet, Baker Brothers

Five doughnut rings Say Doughnuts

Four party frocks Planet Clothing

*** Bought in Bedford be found at our usual pick up points or online at issuu.com/BedfordClanger

Three sausage rolls Lingers, Johnson Family Butchers

Two refillable shampoos The Store

INDIE CHRISTMAS

Some of our favourite businesses are pulling out all the stops this month to make Christmas in Bedford the most wonderful time of the year.

On Saturday, 6 and Sunday, 7 December, Harpur Square will be full to bursting with Bedford’s ever-popular Flea, Affordable Art and Local Produce market, plus there will be a Christmas market in the Harpur Suite.

The town centre will also be hosting an outdoor cinema, showing family-friendly festive favourites from 10am til 8pm, with food and drink stalls to keep up your energy levels.

On Sunday, 14 December, the businesses of St Cuthbert Street are once again putting up the road blocks, closing the street to traffic and showcasing the thriving indie scene in the heart of Bedford, all in time for Christmas.

From 11am - 4pm, the St Cuthbert’s Street Christmas Fair will be the place to be.

Expect traditional Christmas vibes with an indie business twist, Rosanna Heasman, Organiser, The Store

They will be serving up hot drinks, live music, Christmas street food and festive fun for all the family. A great way to get into the festive spirit while supporting our fabulous town centre businesses.

Greeting Cards / Image: Marisa Straccia

Image: St Cuthbert’s Street Christmas Fair

WHAT’S ON

Bedford Christmas Tree Festival

Wednesday, 3 - Sunday, 7 December

St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Square MK40 1SQ @ Wed-Sat 10am - 5pm, Sunday 12pm - 4pm. Entry: £4 / under 16 years free

Bedford Christmas Tree Festival

Celebrate 25 years of the Bedford Christmas Tree Festival and browse 70 trees decorated with this year’s theme of ‘Christmas Past, Present and Future’. There are daily music performances and competitions for all.

Fizz at the Festival

Wednesday, 3 December

St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Square MK40 1SQ @ 6pm - 8pm

Tickets: £12 (in aid of St Paul’s church and Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends)

Enjoy fizz and canapés with friends and colleagues at this private viewing of the magical Christmas Tree Festival in sparkling evening light. Open to everyone.

Tickets in advance by calling 01234 340163 (10 – 4pm Monday to Friday) or emailing fizzatthefestival@stpaulschurchbedford.org.uk

Aurie Styla’s Christmas Crack-Up

Thursday, 4 December

Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £28.50

After a year of performing worldwide, award-winning comedian Aurie Styla is back on tour with his biggest one to date. bedfordcornexchange.co.uk

Quiz: Big Christmas Raise the Roof Quiz

Friday, 5 December 2025

The Place Theatre @ 7pm / Tickets: £3

Join the Place team for their last festive quiz of the year! The bar will be open and there might even be some mince pies!

Shuttleworth in Lights

5 December - 3 January

Shuttleworth Collection and Swiss Gardens, SG18 9DT @ times vary

Tickets: £17.50/£16 (adult) / £10 (ages 3 - 15)

Shuttleworth’s dedicated team will once again turn their collection and Swiss Garden into an illuminated experience that shows Shuttleworth in a whole new light [see what we did there?]. Produced entirely in-house, the light trail lets you explore Swiss Garden’s quirky features aglow in vibrant colours, with some fun interactive elements and photo-worthy moments.

In the Collection hangars, Shuttleworth’s iconic aircraft, vehicles, and machines will be bathed in light. As this is an outside event, warm, waterproof protective clothing and footwear is recommended.

To the guy who invented zero, thanks for nothing.

Image:

Image: The Place Bedford

Image: Shuttleworth in Lights

Image: Aurie Styla

Bedford Christmas Craft Market, Bedford Flea and Outdoor Cinema

Saturday, 6 and Sunday, 7 December

Harpur Square and the Harpur Suite @ 10am - 8pm

Over the first weekend in Decemer, Harpur Square will host a festive craft market, Bedford ‘Fleamas’ and here will also be a large screen showing Christmas films from 10am-8pm, a bar, and food available to purchase.

Festive family fun: Letters to Santa Saturday, 6 December

Bedford Central Library, Harpur Square / Free

Take part in this free craft session to make a letter to send to

bedford.gov.uk/Libraries

Image: Marisa Straccia

Image: Pixabay

Father Christmas.

Artisan Fair

Sunday, 7 December

Bromham Mill MK43 8LP @ 10am - 2pm / Free entry

Step into the festive spirit at Bromham Mill’s annual Christmas Fair – their last of the season, set in the charming surroundings of the historic mill. Browse a delightful selection of stalls featuring handmade gifts, festive crafts, decorations, and local treats.

Reminiscence Session: Ukrainian Christmas Folk Traditions

Thursday, 11 December

The Higgins Bedford @ 11am - 12.30pm / Free, drop in

Explore the Higgins’ Ukrainian Folk and Heritage exhibition and learn about Christmas traditions, along with sharing some festive treats.

Bedford Santa Run 2025

Sunday, 14 December

The Embankment @ 11am

£10/adult (includes Santa suit) / £5/child (includes festive headband) / £30/family (2 x adult 3 x children)

Get that festive feeling by joining hundreds of Santas running around the Embankment in Bedford - all in aid of Keech Hospice. Come and join in the fun and help Keech continue to provide specialist care for their patients and their families. Learn more and book your space at bedfordcornexchange.co.uk/events/santa-run-2025/

Festive family fun: Sunday Crafternoon

Sunday, 14 December

The Higgins Bedford, Castle Lane @ 2pm - 4pm

Join local artists for these creative activity sessions for families to have a go at making together. All resources are provided. Suitable for under 12s. thehigginsbedford.org.uk

Aladdin - The Pantomime

Saturday, 20 - Wednesday, 31 December

Bedford Corn Exchange (times vary) / Tickets: prices vary

A family-friendly production with all the slapstick and comedy expected from a traditional pantomime. Jam-packed with classic tunes, old and new, together with audience participation, an excellent treat for all the family. Relaxed performance on 29 December at 1pm. bedfordcornexchange.co.uk

A Christmas Bird Walk

Saturday, 27 December

The Forest of Marston Vale @ 8:30am / Tickets: £4

Join the expert volunteers at the Millennium Country Park, Marston Moretaine, for a peaceful guided walk. You’ll be on the lookout for robins, ducks and thrushes, plus redwing and fieldfare. The eagle-eyed volunteer guides have been known to spot other wildlife along the way, so you might be in for a surprise.

Image: Bedford Borough Council

Image: Pixabay

Image: Bedford Corn Exchange

Image: Pixabay

Film: Bedford Film Society presents Penguin Lessons

Tuesday, 2 December 2025

University of Bedfordshire, Polhill Avenue / Tickets: Annual membership £70 / day member £5

During the 1976 coup in Argentina, an English teacher rescues a penguin from an oil spill and brings it to his boarding school. His life begins to change when the bird’s presence starts to have a positive effect on the school.

Screening: The Snowman

Saturday, 13 December

The Quarry Theatre @ 12.15pm & 1.30pm / Tickets: from £6

Enjoy a special screening of the timeless classic animated film, The Snowman, featuring a live performance of Howard Blake’s musical score, specially adapted for brass band and performed by the Hitchin Band together with a pianist and young solo singer. A must-see family tradition marking the start of Christmas. quarrytheatre.org.uk

Friday 19 December 2025

Screening: Home Alone

The Quarry Theatre @ 7pm / Tickets: from £6

Come and join The Quarry team for a screening of this Christmas classic now 35 years old!

An eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone, must defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas Eve.

Saturday, 6 December

Festive films

Bedford town centre @ 10am - 8pm / Free

As part of Bedford town centre’s festive weekend, Riverside Square will host an outdoor cinema throughout the day on Saturday, 6 December. It will feature screenings of Christmas classics and family favourites. bedford.gov.uk

Christmas shopping

at The Higgins, Bedford

Discover beautiful artist designed calendars and Christmas cards, along with unique gifts inspired by our temporary exhibitions and collections.

The Arc

Gemma Crawley-Roberts

7 Howard Street, Bedford MK40 3HS

Mon - Sat: 8.30am-5pm / Sun: 10am - 3pm

The Arc is one of Bedford’s brightest indie success stories. Born when its founder returned home after having her second child, the shop opened right at the start of the pandemic, a bold leap that paid off. Today, The Arc is a joyful, vibrant space where a fully female team curates homeware, art, kids’ gifts, vintage finds and framing with real passion. They champion brands they love, many of them women-led, and their knowledge runs from candle ingredients to the perfect way to frame a canvas.

Inside, giant glitter balls twinkle over their art-for-sale gallery wall and shelves full of cards, gifts, ornaments, homewares, trinkets, jewellery, clothing and accessories. There really is something for everyone. What’s more, The Arc smells delicious thanks to their neighbouring café, You For Coffee. The café has become a community hub in its own right, serving locally roasted Doe & Fawn coffee, homemade cakes and comforting food in a warm, family-friendly space. Together, they make Bedford that little bit brighter.

You are one of Bedford’s best-loved indie shops. What is the ethos at the heart of your business?

Joy in a word - I always wanted to be the place you can go to forget all the other stuff - have a mooch, have a shop, have a coffee, have a chat.

Times are tough, but you’ve just celebrated your eighth birthday. What’s the secret of your success?

Times are super tough (please make sure to support your local Indie this Christmas, we need you) The only way I think we’ve kept going is through not standing still - I’m always thinking of ways to get people in or involved with us; from Drag Queen Bingo to our Bedford merch line and all the other events and new lines inbetween - it’s a constant search for something else fun, joyful and brilliant to add to our collection.

What is the best business advice you’ve been given?

I was told that in the same way they say if you’re writing a book to write about something you know, make sure your business, especially a small indie, reflects you entirely - it deffo means I don’t second guess my decisions as I normally just ask ‘would I love this’.

Which Bedford indie do you most recommend to your customers?

We have seen quite a few customers recently who don’t live in Bedford and are exploring (which is exciting - word is getting out) and we always send them off to Not Another Jungle - it’s a gorgeous plant and lovely bits shop on Silver Street - Tony has infinite knowledge of plants plus it’s the perfect place to pick up a fabulous gift. We always joke that his place is a classy, tasteful place of calm and mine is a but more bright pink and in your face! We compliment each other!

THEATRE

Festive fun, family-friendly treats and Christmas comedy…

Theatre: A Pleasing Terror

Wednesday, 3 December 2025

The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £14.50

Over a century after they were first published, the ghost stories of M R James retain their power to terrify and amuse. This gripping one-man show retells two of the earliest and eeriest. In Canon Alberic’s Scrap-book, a young Cambridge antiquary discovers the devil in the details of an old book in a medieval town in the French Pyrenees. In The Mezzotint a ghoulish revenge is enacted within a work of art, before the helpless eyes of a museum curator in Oxford… quarrytheatre.org.uk

Theatre: The Pantaloons present Robin Hood

Wednesday, 10 December - Tuesday, 23 December

The Place Theatre @ 2.30pm & 7.30pm / Tickets: from £16

Join utter legends Robin, Marian and the Merry Men in Sherwood Forest for a hilariously adventurous take on the timeless tales of everyone’s favourite archer. Pernicious Prince John and the shifty Sheriff of Nottingham have hatched a plan to put a stop to Robin Hood’s charitable crime spree once and for all. Can they outwit the outlaw? Or will Robin hit the target once again? theplacebedford.org.uk

Theatre: A Christmas Carol Thursday, 11 December

The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £14.50

Following a sell-out performance in 2023, the award-winning Dyad Productions are bringing Dickens’ classic and perennially relevant ghost story back to the Quarry Theatre! Draw near for an evening of mistletoe and merriment in the company of Marley, Fezziwig, and Cratchit et al to discover the true meaning of Christmas: tenderness for the past, courage for the present, and hope for the future. quarrytheatre.org.uk

Theatre : James Phelan - The Man Who Was Magic Friday, 12 December

The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £20

Following an unprecedented five years of sold-out shows around the world, this five-star magic show guarantees to leave you aching with laughter and dizzy in disbelief. Keeping the magic alive is the award-winning James Phelan, the first magician in history to sell out a solo run at The Magic Circle, and most infamous for jamming the BBC switchboard after he correctly predicted the lottery. quarrytheatre.org.uk

Long fairy tales have a tendency to dragon.

Theatre: A Christmas Carol

Monday, 15 December - Sunday, 21 December

The Place Theatre @ 2.30 &7.30pm / Tickets: from £16

It’s Christmas Eve, and tight-fisted Ebenezer Scrooge is meaner than ever. He is shunning his only living relative, underpaying his clerk and refusing to acknowledge the plight of the poor… but will timely visits from the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future change his miserly ways before it’s too late? Performed by a multi-talented cast in The Pantaloons’ own inimitable, hilarious and moving style this show features live music, audience interaction and absolutely no humbug!*

*There may be some humbug. theplacebedford.org.uk

Comedy: Castle Comedy Christmas Special 2025

Thursday, 18 December

The Quarry Theatre @ 8pm / Tickets: £16

Bona fide comedy legend, Bob Mills is bringing some festive cheer to the Castle Comedy Christmas Special. With over 30 years at the top of the UK circuit, you will recognise him from his cult classic 90’s TV show ‘In Bed with Me Dinner’ and regular appearances on BBC 5Live’s ‘Fighting Talk’. Support comes from Jonny Awsum, a gag-slashing guitar hero sure to get you singing along. He was a semi-finalist on Britain’s Got Talent and is now a favourite at the biggest UK festivals, including Glastonbury! Host with the most is Paul Revill. quarrytheatre.org.uk

Recycle your real Christmas tree this January.

Our reliable team of volunteers will collect your real Christmas tree directly from your home.

Capacity is limited so reserve your collection now.

Search Sue Ryder Christmas Treecycling to see if we’re in your area and reserve your collection today.

LIVE MUSIC

Christmas Tree Festival concert featuring Amici Music

Friday, 5 December

St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Square MK40 1SQ @ 7.30pm

Tickets: £25 (in aid of St Paul’s church and Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends)

Twenty-five talented musicians are celebrating 25 years of the Bedford Christmas Tree Festival by performing seasonal favourites including Bach, Mozart and Vivaldi. Tickets are available from peoplesfundraising.com/concert-tickets

Mên an Tol

Friday, 5 December

Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £12

Formed in the orbit of a South London pub, the spirit of Mên An Tol channels the raw grit of folk greats like The Pogues and The Waterboys alongside the mainstage urgency and confidence of Britpop giants. Perhaps most vitally, the songs proudly reclaim lost folk traditions with the use of the mandolin coupled with vibrant storytelling.

Jazz festive lunch

Tuesday, 9 and Tuesday, 16 December

Forest of Marston Vale @ 12.30pm

Two course meal £30 per person / Three course meal £36 per person

Celebrate the season in smooth style with the Forest Centre’s Jazz Festive Lunch - a relaxing afternoon of delicious food and live music.

Enjoy a festive two or three-course Christmas lunch, accompanied by the soulful sounds of live jazz duo Jazz The Two Of Us performing throughout the afternoon. marstonvale.org/

Christmas with Continuum - world class voices: local roots

Wednesday, 10 December

St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Square @ 7.30pm

Former Bedford School Chapel Choir member, Harry Guthrie, founded Continuum in 2018, bringing together a group of outstanding young singers who first met as choral scholars at Cambridge University. This year’s Christmas With Continuum concert programme includes festive favourites such as In dulci jubilo, Gaudete, The Holly and the Ivy, and In the Bleak Midwinter, alongside seasonal classics by Benjamin Britten, Vaughan Williams, Herbert Howells and Eric Whitacre.

To book tickets, search online for “Christmas with Continuum Bedford, Eventbrite 10 December 2025”. Tickets are also available on the door.

‘m on a seafood diet. I see food, and I eat it.

Bands of Bedford Brass Christmas Charity Concert

Thursday, 11 December

Kempston East Methodist Church @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £8 / children free

Celebrate the festive season with Bands of Bedford Brass at their annual Christmas Charity Concert. This special event promises a joyful evening filled with Christmas music, perfect for all ages. The concert is supporting the Sue Ryder Charity.

The 113 + guests

Saturday, 13 December

Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £12

Known for their energetic live shows, the 113’s sound is visceral, spitting emotionally charged melodies that hit hard yet move bodies. Though firmly rooted in punk traditions, the band draws inspiration from hip-hop’s lyrical approach, blending raw storytelling with driving force. bedfordesquires.co.uk

Five Star Swing at Christmas

Sunday, 14 December

The Quarry Theatre @ 2.30pm

The Quarry Theatre invites you to swing into Christmas with the “Five Star Swing at Christmas” show. The afternoon promises a dynamic swing band treatment from Glenn Miller, Sinatra, Basie, Nat King Cole - jazzing up those Jingle Bells. quarrytheatre.org.uk

Ultimate RnB

Sunday, 29 December

Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £15

After incredible, sold-out shows at the venue, Esquires is welcoming Ultimate RnB back for a very special Christmas party, with the highest quality tribute to some of the greatest

music ever made. Ultimate RnB are a full six-piece live band featuring session musicians and vocalists that have played with some stone-cold legends. Expect classics from the likes of En Vogue, Lauryn Hill, Sisqo, Next, TLC, Boyz II Men, with support from DJ MASS C, who will be spinning hip-hop, funk, soul and breaks before and after Ultimate RnB.

Step into Christmas Sunday, 7 December

Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £30

This Christmas feel-good show brings all the magic of the season to life, with all your favourite songs including All I Want for Christmas Is You, Last Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock, Stay Another Day, Let it Snow, White Christmas, Do They Know it’s Christmas, A Winter’s Tale, Merry Xmas Everybody, and many many more! bedfordcornexchange.co.uk

Bedford Choral Society’s Family Christmas Concert Saturday, 13 December

Bedford Corn Exchange @ 3pm / Tickets: £10

A Christmas concert for all the family, featuring a selection of traditional Christmas carols and well-loved Christmas music, new and old. bedfordcornexchange.co.uk

What a perfect start to the festive season for our latest #BoughtInBedford winner, Charmain.

She had a fabulous shopping spree in Bedford’s independent shops, starting at The Store to stock up her pantry, followed by a pint at The Hidden Barrel with pizza and garlic bread from Mamma Concetta.

Then, thanks to the Too Good To Go app, she got a surprise bag of seafood from GCH Fishmonger and sweet treats from Arcadia Sweet Shop.

Finally, some beautiful earrings and a bracelet from Lavender Moss.

“Thank you so much for the voucher. What a wonderful surprise to brighten this gloomy Wednesday afternoon,” Charmain told the Bedford Clanger

Charmain has now received a £50 voucher to spend at their favourite Bedford indie business and you could too, if you take part in our December giveaway.

To be in with a chance of winning £50 to spend at a Bedford Borough independent business of your choice, follow these simple steps:

1. Make a purchase from one of Bedford Borough’s brilliant indies. This can be an item, food, a service (for instance, a haircut, beauty treatment), or a drink… dare we even suggest a coffee from one of our many fine coffee shops?

2. Take a photo of what you have purchased.

3. Share the photo publicly on an Instagram post using the hashtag #BoughtInBedford and tag @bedfordindependent and the business you bought it from.

If you don’t have an Instagram account or a public profile, you can email win@bedfordindependent.co.uk the photo, including a description of what you bought, where you purchased it, with your name.

Full terms and conditions can be found at BedfordIndependent.co.uk.

When I get naked in the bathroom, the shower usually gets turned on.

Lavender Moss purchases / Image: Charmain (BIB Winner)

The Store purchases / Image: Charmain (BIB Winner)

FOOD & DRINK

Fuego - fast, fresh and full of Spanish flavour

If you work in town, you’ll know the holy trinity of a good lunch: quick, good value and reliably on time. Fuego understands that perfectly, and their lunch menu hits all three without losing the magic of proper Spanish cooking.

Run by Chef Juan Carlos and General Manager Beatriz, a husband-and-wife team from San Sebastian, Fuego is a true family-run independent that’s brought a slice of Spain to Bedford’s riverside. Evenings are for lingering over tapas in the traditional way, but lunchtime is a different rhythm. The dishes still feel lovingly made, but they hit the table fast, fresh and full of flavour.

The lunch deal is simple, three tapas for £22, chosen from their à la carte favourites. Plenty of places cut corners with lunchtime menus, but not here. You get a genuine spread of meat, fish and vegetarian choices, cooked with the same care as the evening service.

We tucked into Champiñones al Ajillo, rich mushrooms in white wine and garlic with a silky potato purée. The Chorizo Lollipops were a standout, fried in saffron tempura and impossible not to smile at. The Bavette de Vaca was tender and beautifully charred, served with roasted piquillos and crispy garlic. Calamares Fritos were light and crisp, the Gambas arrived bubbling in chilli, garlic and olive oil, and the seafood croquettes were soft, comforting and full of flavour.

Much of the cooking is done in their charcoal oven, giving dishes that unmistakable depth you’d expect in Spain. Even the beer is local, with Bedford’s own Estrella on the menu. The drinks list is just as carefully considered, with a strong focus on organic wines that avoid sulphates and additives. Beer lovers have plenty of choice and there’s a solid range of spirits, including Spanish favourites. Cocktails and mocktails bring a welcome hit of sunshine, and there are plenty of alcohol-free options too. And of course, the homemade sangria is as good as you’d hope.

Free sangria

With the festive season on the horizon, Fuego is offering a set of special dishes for December. The Ibérico Llauna Rice returns, rich and smoky and perfect for winter evenings. Charcoal-grilled scallops come in an Albariño cream with prawns and samphire, while cep and Manchego croquettes with truffle aïoli add a seasonal indulgence. When two people order all three specials plus two additional tapas, they receive two complimentary glasses of sangria, or a jug for tables of six or more. The offer runs all month, excluding Friday and Saturday evenings.

Beyond Christmas, Paella Sundays offer a brilliant alternative to a roast, Tipsy Tapas provides unlimited cocktails and tapas, and a new breakfast and brunch menu launches soon. Having recently returned from San Sebastian myself, it was a joy to be reminded of those flavours here at home. On a cold winter’s day, it was exactly what I needed, and I’ll keep going back as the seasons change. I hope you will too.

Fuego is at 3b Riverside North, Bedford MK40 1AS. Open Tuesday to Thursday: 12pm–10pm, Friday to Saturday: 12pm–11pm, Sunday: 12pm–5pm. Book at https://fuegotapas.co.uk/ or call 07398 054 718.

Fuego - Lunch Menu

Chorizo Lollipops and Gambas

Calamares Fritos

HOMETOWN TOURIST

(WILFRED) GEORGE CARTER

Sir Frank Whittle, the inventor of the jet engine, is a name we all remember, but he would not have got off the ground without Bedford’s George Carter, who was commissioned by the Ministry of Aircraft in the Second World War to design a brand new aircraft for Whittle’s engine. The result was the Gloster E. 28/29 ‘Pioneer’.

George Carter was born in 1889 at Howbury Street, the son of a journeyman carpenter/builder. Twelve years later, the young George, together with his parents and younger sister Gladys, were living at 101 Tavistock Street, with his cabinet maker grandfather. He was probably educated at Harpur Central, becoming an apprentice at W H Allen at age seventeen and was at the works when the generators were made for the Titanic. In 1912, aged 23, he changed jobs to work on the design of internal combustion engines and transmission units for the Saunderson Tractor and Implement Co, Elstow Works, Ampthill Road. In 1915, he started his career in the aircraft industry by becoming chief draughtsman at Sopwith Aviation, Kingston on Thames, which struggled after the War and was wound up in September 1920. Carter came back to Bedford to WH Robertsons on Ampthill Road, returning to aircraft, as chief designer at Hawker Engineering in 1923.

Resigning in 1925, he returned again to Robertsons for six months, then joined the de Havilland Company for the design of the DH77 interceptor, another highperformance monoplane with a new engine. Carter moved to Gloster Aircraft Company in 1927, taking over as their chief designer in 1937.

On a visit in April 1939, he was unimpressed by Frank Whittle’s Power Jets Company, but in September the Air Ministry issued Gloster with the order for the world’s first jet-powered prototype, carrying Whittle’s engine. The resulting E.28/39 designed by Carter, flew for the first time on 15 May 1941 for 17 minutes at Cranwell. He went on to design its successor, the famed twin-engine Gloster Meteor, the first jet aircraft in operational service. A total of 3,875 Meteors were built, in over 34 versions, for 14 different nations and it changed the course of military aviation across the world.

In 1947, he was awarded the CBE for his work on jet aircraft and received the Royal Aeronautical Society’s silver medal. He died in 1969 aged 79.

By David Fowler, Bedford Tour Guides

GREAT BEDFORDIAN

This month’s Great Bedfordian is proud Kempstonian, Ken Parsons, the host of the wonderful Bedford Podcast

“I got frustrated at the amount of negative moaning on social media about Bedford,” said Ken. “So I set up the podcast to celebrate the amazing people in the borough who might otherwise slip under the radar.”

Guests so far have been Blues’ director of rugby Mike Rayer, proud Bedfordian DJ Spoony, and former Super League netball captain Beth Brittain.

Ken records the podcast alongside his job as a sports massage therapist and his charitable endeavours, including the Bedford Charity Chase, which he set up last year. Over to you, Ken…

Born here or blow in? Born and bred Bedford, lived in Kempston all my life.

Best breakfast in Bedford? Sunbeam Cafe Kempston. It opens early and serves a great breakfast.

Best boozer? So many great pubs in and around Bedford, but The Castle on Newnham Street just pips it.

coffee or cuppa? Project 229 in Kempston - they do an amazing Chocolate Toothpaste

Best takeaway? Diya Royal, the Nepalese restaurant in Kempston.

Best gig you’ve seen in Bedford? Human League/Blancmange/ Thompson Twins at Bedford Park last summer. They were all amazing, authentic and still hit the notes.

Ever read John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress? We were taught extracts at school, but no.

Ever eaten a Bedfordshire Clanger? Yes. It was lovely, but if we’re talking about Bedfordshire delicacies, I’m more of a chocolate toothpaste tart person!

An off-the-beaten-track gem that everyone should know about? The viewing point on Clay Way on the Bunyan Trail, just south of Bromham. It offers an amazing panoramic view of Bedford.