CONTENTS
PUBS | 4
INDIE SPOTLIGHT | 8
LIVE MUSIC | 15
WHAT’S ON | 6,7 & 10
Love your local Diaries at the ready
| 10
Be in with the chance to win!
Introduction
This month, we’re bidding farewell to Dry January and raising a glass to celebrate Bedford’s amazing pubs and publicans in our Love Your Local special.
Pub aficionado and award-winning writer, Lloyd Lugsden, shares his favourite pubs, past and present (pages 4 & 5), and our cover design is by one of our favourite illustrators, Robyn Caley, who has captured some of the town’s best-loved boozers.
Our Great Bedfordian is Ronnie Toms, the landlord of the Devonshire Arms, who
Evermore Tattoo Parlour
THEATRE | 11
The best of this month’s theatre
FILM | 13
Grab the popcorn
shares his favourite places in the town, including his love for The Place Theatre and the pubs he likes to visit when he can sneak out from behind his own bar.
Photographer Cameron Scrimgeour has peeked behind the scenes at Evermore Tattoo Studio this month and you can see his fabulous photos on pages 8 and 9
We hope you have a wonderful February.
Cheers!
Team Clanger
Bring the noise
GREAT BEDFORDIAN | 15
Erica Roffe, Julia Course & Paul Hutchinson (Image: Two-D Photography)
Even more events are included in our weekly What’s On Guide, published every Wednesday on our website at bedfordindependent.co.uk
MEET THE TEAM
Editor: Erica Roffe / clanger@bedfordindependent.co.uk
Commercial Director: Julia Course / julia@bedfordindependent.co.uk
Design: Ben Graham / ben@twenty-sixstudios.co.uk
Cover design: Robyn Caley / @robyncaley.illustration
Photography (centre spread): Cameron Scrimgeour / cameronscrimgeour.com
Theatre: Paula Walker
Website: bedfordindependent.co.uk
The Bedford Clanger is published by Progress Publishing
Cheers! It’s Ronnie Tomms
PUBS
Love Your Local
by Lloyd Lugsden
At the heart of many communities, pubs need our support now more than ever. As more and more disappear, these centuries-old establishments are a vital part of the fabric of our culture, offering fun, friendship and a lifetime of (hazy) memories.
The Wellington Arms (aka The Welly)… Wellington Street
A classic backstreet corner boozer, this freehouse is run by Liz Sutton and her friendly team. As well as cask ales and craft keg beers, there is a fridge of exotic continental beers, and importantly, the crisp selection is bang on point, including Wheat Crunchies and Nik Naks.
The Hidden Barrel, Bedford Harpur Street
A relatively new pub (previously Bar Citrus, The Stanley Arms and Tam O Shanter if anyone remembers that one?), serving guest ales and Lithuanian beers. There’s a pool table, table football and its own pub dog, Sparky.
The Castle Newnham Street
Bustling ‘village pub’ in the heart of Bedford town centre with great guest ales and regular events including quiz nights, open mic nights and a record club. They also serve pizzas from Santaniellos restaurant nearby - recommended!
As we bid farewell to Dry January, we asked Clanger contributor and award-winning pub writer, Lloyd Lugsden, author of Dead Pubs of Bedfordshire, to raise a glass to some of Bedford Borough’s best boozers, plus a few that live long in the memory but that we’ve lost along the way. Cheers! (please drink responsibly)
The
Fox at Carlton
Tucked away just north of Bedford, The Fox is a 200-year-old CAMRA award-winning freehouse, selling great, unpretentious home-cooked food, plus there are regular live bands, beer festivals and charity events. A truly welcoming community pub that deserves all its plaudits.
The Sun Inn Felmersham
A photogenic bolthole that wouldn’t be out of place in the Cotswolds. Renowned for its innovative menu, great ales and pleasant accommodation upstairs.
Honourable mentions: The Devonshire Arms, Dudley Street; The Ship at St Cuthberts; Burnaby Arms, Bedford; Oakley Arms at Harrold (restaurant); The Cock at Pavenham
Dead but not forgotten
The Windsor Silver Street (1937 - 1987)
A relatively short-lived but popular town centre boozer in the building now occupied by Halifax Building Society. It had three rooms: bar, snug and lounge and was opposite Burton’s menswear.
The Old George Off Silver Street (15thC - 1927)
Behind the former Debenhams building there was an old inn with monastic origins - The George. It was demolished in the 1920s to make way for the department store.
Beer pressure made me do it!
The
Woolpack Commercial Road, Bedford (1868 - 2014)
This area was a bit of a pub hub, with three other pubs nearby and handy for the old cattle market, which was opposite. The building is now a Salvation Army community hub, so tambourines over cow bells.
Mad Dog Little Odell (1831
- 1997)
Many remember their childhoods, playing in the garden which had a hand-propelled merry-go-round, apparently won in a bet. A classic pub with beams, open fires and ghosts...
These ‘dead pubs’ and many more are celebrated and remembered in the Dead Pubs of Bedfordshire series of books available direct on Facebook & Instagram (just search for Dead Pubs of Bedfordshire) or from Eagle Bookshop, Bedford. Volume 4 is due out later this year.
Pub pictures
Our cover illustration this month is by Bedford artist, Robyn Caley. Robyn has been drawing buildings of interest for over five years and says she enjoys capturing the ‘face’ of buildings in her paintings.
The Case is Altered Ravensden (1800s
- 1995)
An unusual name and well-known bolthole. It was a bit like walking into somebody’s living room as the pub had no bar, and Connie Peet, the landlady, would serve beer from a hatch from the cellar. The building is now a private house.
“Everyone has their favourite pub and usually a tale or two to accompany it – where they had their first date, got engaged, went every weekend ‘back in the day’, or their favourite place to hang out with friends.” You can find Robyn at local art markets where she sells the limited edition print we’ve featured on the front cover, along with individual prints of all these pubs. They can also be purchased on her website robyncaleyillustration.com
HALF TERM FAMILY ACTIVITIES
AT THE HIGGINS BEDFORD
17 Feb: Explore wildlife on your doorstep with the Good Life Garden
18 Feb: Create your own clay puffin with Anne-Marie Abbate
19 Feb: Have a go at circus skills with Tabatha Ladbrook-Hutt
To find out more or to book a place, scan the QR code, visit www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk or call the Booking Office on 01234 718044
WHAT’S ON
Poetry: Ouse Muse featuring Julia Webb + open mic
Tuesday, 3 February
Eagle Bookshop, St Peter’s Street @ 7.45pm / Free entry
Ouse Muse returns for 2026 with guest Julia Webb, a Norwichbased poet with four collections, including Bird Sisters (2016),Threat (2019), The Telling (2022) and Grey Time (2025). Julia is one of the founding editors of Lighthouse (a journal for new writing), teaches poetry courses, runs the Norwich Stanza and also works for Cafe Writers. The evening will conclude with an open mic session as usual.
Exhibition: The Garden Press
Thursday, 5 February
Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Rd @ 10am - 4pm
As it reopens for 2026, The Panacea Museum presents a new exhibition about the Society’s publishing company. The Garden Press, printed leaflets, posters, books and magazines, sharing their Healing offer and encouraging people to support the opening of Joanna Southcott’s Box of Prophecies. panaceamuseum.org
Bedford Artists’ Social
Saturday, 7 February
Albero Lounge (upstairs), Riverside Square @ 10.30am - midday
A regular informal gathering of like-minded visual artists to network, share aspirations and chat. There will be information on the community art gallery project, too and how you can get involved.
Noel Carrington Exhibition Tour
Wednesday, 11 February
The Higgins Bedford @ 12 - 12.30pm / Tickets £3.95, conc
£3.35 / Booking essential
Join the Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art for a lunchtime tour of some of the highlights of the Higgins’ latest exhibition.
Reminiscence Session: Puffin Picture Books
Thursday, 12 February
The Higgins Bedford @ 11am - 12.30pm / Free, drop in
Come and share your favourite Puffin books and find out more about their history in the Higgins’ exhibition about Noel Carrington, their founder.
Crafternoon
Sunday, 15 February
The Higgins Bedford @ 2pm - 4pm / Free, drop-in, no need to book
Join local artist Marisa Straccia to make your own threedimensional Orlanda cat model. Orlando is one of the stars of the Noel Carrington exhibition and Marisa has created a cat template for you decorate and build. All resources are provided. Suitable for under 12s.
Ale be seeing you!
Inside the new Garden Press / Image: The Panacea Museum
Image: Pixabay
A Book of Swimming cover / Image: The Higgins Bedford
Bedford National Trust Association talk: Houghton Mill
Tuesday, 17 February
Addison Centre, Kempston, MK42 8PN @ 2.15 pm / Further info 01480 860421
A volunteer from the National Trust property, Houghton Mill, will give a talk. Everyone welcome.
Lacemaking demonstration
Saturday, 21 February
The Higgins Bedford @ 11am / Free, drop-in
Aragon Lacemakers will be at the Higgins Bedford to share the traditional Bedfordshire craft of bobbin lacemaking with a ‘have a go pillow’.
Airships XR - pop up experience
Saturday, 21 and Sunday, 22 February
The Shuttleworth Collection, Alder Drive, SG18 9DT @ 10am4pm / Free entry
Discover Bedford’s exciting airship story in this free pop-up experience that features Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality technology. Step inside history and explore what it was like to design, fly, and investigate these incredible engineering feats.
You can explore 3D airship worlds in immersive VR, try prototype XR experiences — from flight decks to museum galleries and discover Bedford’s airship heritage through cutting-edge storytelling and technology. bedfordcreativearts.org.uk
Lacemaking / Image:
Image: Airship Heritage Trust / Bedford Creative Arts
Evermore Tattoo Parlour
Nick Barrett
3 Newnham St, Bedford MK40 3JR Appointment Only
Design for life
Evermore Tattoo Parlour opened in 2012, and owner Nick says he still gets pure joy from meeting and connecting with people over art and ideas. What started with Nick working seven-days a week has evolved into a custom, appointment-only studio with a team of talented, passionate and diverse artists.
You have been at the heart of Newnham Street for 13 years. What is the ethos that drives your business?
I know it sounds corny, but the most important thing is just to be nice! That’s it, really. Getting a tattoo is a big deal, the bravery it takes to share your ideas, it’s always a big day. We never look at our job as ‘just another day at work’, because it’s not and we try to make the experience as special as we can, and that all starts with kindness.
How have you seen tattooing evolve? What is your favourite style to create?
Tattooing has changed a lot, even since I started in 2010; it’s a very different industry now and social media has had the biggest impact on it. Style-wise, I tend to work a lot in black and grey realism, but the studio covers many different styles. I love working in other styles too, it depends what I’m asked to do.
Which Bedford Indies do you always recommend?
Most of our local recommendations are places we use ourselves - we love Say Donuts (Mill Street), and Vanilla Tree (St Cuthbert’s Street) does the best bagels you’ll find anywhere. My favourite coffee in Bedford would be from Caffe Crema on the High Street: great coffee and lovely people. For vegans, we rate the Green Earth Cafe in St Paul’s Square.
What is the best business advice you’ve been given?
The best piece of business advice I ever got was told to me on a tiny boat in a crocodile-infested lake in the Mexican jungle by a man who was living the high life in the 80s, but there was no passion. One morning, he was given six months to live. He went to his mum’s and cried for the next two weeks - until his mum, the hero of the story, told him “that’s enough of that now. You’ve got six months and more money than most people will ever have. What do you want to spend this time doing? He had two main passions, the Maya civilisation and scuba diving.
Today, or last I heard, he is still living a life following his two passions. He told me he had chased happiness, and everything else fell into place. And that’s the advice: find something that makes you happy, that you think you could do every day, and you think you could do well, and find a way to build your life around that thing. Everything else will come.
WHAT’S ON
Talk on Noel Carrington by Joe Pearson
Friday, 27 February
Bunyan Meeting Church, Mill Street @ 2pm - 3pm / Free, booking essential
Join exhibition curator Joe Pearson to learn more about the amazing career of Noel Carrington and the artists he championed. Joe is an established collector and writer on mid-century lithography. In 2015 he founded Design for Today, a press and publisher, with the aim of working with designers and illustrators to create limited edition books and cards. thehigginsbedford.org.uk
Bedford Repair Cafe
Saturday, 28 February
Project 229, Bedford Road, Kempston MK42 8DA @ 10am3pm drop in. Last entry 2.30pm
Get one item per household fixed for free by local volunteers. The friendly fixers can repair household electrical items, bikes, clothes, toys, costume jewellery, woodwork, and more. bedfordrepaircafe.co.uk
New courses @ Rothsay Education Centre
Throughout February
Play Reading Plus: Monday 2pm-4pm 5 weeks from 23 February
A relaxed course for reading and exploring plays together. The course will bring characters and scenes to life, and working in small groups, you’ll dip into everything from Shakespeare to contemporary drama. It’s flexible, creative, and all about enjoying plays.
Understanding British Government(s): Monday 2pm-4pm 3 weeks from 23 February
The UK has around 12,500 elected governments, from Westminster to parish councils. This short course explores what all these layers of government do - elected and unelected - and how they affect our lives, for better and for worse.
Classical Mythology: A visual and literary tour: Thursday 2pm-4pm 5 weeks from 26 February
Classical mythology is full of strange and wonderful stories, and this course explores some of the lesser-known ones. Each week will focus on a new theme - from the Trojan War and Odysseus’ travels to Athens, Rome, and Ovid’s Metamorphoses.
This month’s #BoughtInBedford winner of a £50 voucher is Sarah. She bought this awesome bag from The Arc and shared a photo of it in Cyprus where she and her fabulous bag were soaking up some winter sunshine.
Share what you have #BoughtInBedford to be in with a chance of winning £50 to spend at a Bedford Borough independent business of your choice.
To be in with a chance, just 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: * Email win@bedfordindependent.co.uk the photo, including a description of what you bought, where you purchased it, with your name.
Another horse walks into a pub. The bartender says, “Hey.” The horse says, “Yes, please.”
Bedford Resortwear at The Arc / Image: Sarah
THEATRE
Children’s Theatre: A Winter’s Tail
Sunday, 1 February
The Place Theatre @ 1pm / Tickets: from £8
Dottie Dormouse has invited Hettie Hedgehog over for a sleepover, and both are super excited. The trouble is that Hettie is finding it harder than normal to fall asleep this year. Holly Berry Fae, the resident Wobbly Wood faerie, is on hand to help them navigate their first experiences of winter. Ages 3 - 10.
Theatre: Yes, Prime Minister
Thursday, 5 - Saturday, 7 February
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm each night / Tickets: from £15
From
Comedy: The Noise Next Door
Friday, 6 February
The Quarry theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £17
Funny stuff, made up on the spot by this super-talented, awardwinning, Edinburgh-Fringe-selling-out improv group. No gimmicks, no tricks - just the quickest, wittiest improvisers in the UK putting on a show to make you laugh like nobody’s business.
the writers of the original television series Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister comes the equally satirical stage version.
BRAVE Youth Theatre presents: Jason and the Argonauts and Midsummer Night’s Dream
Wednesday, 11 and Thursday, 12 February
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £12
Two shows created by The Place Theatre’s youth drama group, BRAVE. One, a sweeping tale of gods, monsters, and the power of unity, the other, Shakespeare’s timeless, enchanting comedy.
Comedy: Castle Comedy Valentine Special
Thursday, 12 February
The Quarry Theatre @ 8pm / Tickets: £18
Castle Comedy is back at The Quarry Theatre with its traditional Valentine’s Special. Featuring Lloyd Griffith (Ted Lasso, Return to Paradise), Fiona Allen (Emmy-award-winning star of Smack the Pony) and David Eagle (award-winning musical comedy). Hosted as ever by Paul Revell, the awardwinning comedian and one of the most likeable acts on the UK comedy circuit.
Theatre: My Life with Kenneth Williams
Friday, 13 February
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £22
In celebration of Kenneth Williams’ 100th birthday, David Benson revisits his classic portrait of the much-missed Carry On star in a new version of his show exploring the astonishing connection that intertwined his life with that of Williams when Benson was still a schoolboy. A captivating raconteur in his own right, Benson has many tales to tell of his time as ‘the man who does Kenneth Williams’ and the adventures he has had since in an unconventional career.
Comedy: Biff to the Future
Saturday, 14 February
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £23
Fresh from an acclaimed, award-winning Edinburgh Festival
Fringe premiere, Biff To The Future is a heartfelt and unauthorised parody that explores the highs and lows of a life chasing power, fame and fortune, reliving Biff’s encounters with Marty and Doc across the Back to the Future-verse.
Bedford Drama Company presents: An Evening with Tom Stoppard
Tuesday, 17 - Saturday, 21 February
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from: £12
Get ready for an evening of absurd comedy with this doublebill of The Real Inspector Hound (1962) and If You’re Glad I’ll Be Frank (1966).
Comedy: Geoff Norcott: Basic Bloke 2 - There’s No Bloke Without Fire
Sunday 22 February 2026
The Quarry Theatre @ 8pm / Tickets: £18
Basic Bloke 2 is Geoff’s first tour under a Labour government, so he’s got plenty to get off his chest, and it’s fair to say the gloves are off.
Living It Up Performing Arts presents: Battle of the Bands
Tuesday, 17 February
The Quarry Theatre @ 6.15pm / Tickets: £7.50 – carers and under 14s free
It’s the ultimate showdown of ‘Snap, Crackle, Pop, Rock and Roll!’ in this one-night-only, raucous show featuring historic music rivals, Rock vs Pop. The entire show has been created by members of the Living It Up Performing Arts Centre (adults with learning disabilities and/or autism) and is certain to leave the audience laughing, cheering and singing along throughout! Audience participation strongly encouraged.
What did the grape say when the elephant stood on it? Nothing, it just let out a little wine.
FILM
Bedford Film Society
University of Bedfordshire, Polhill Avenue
Tickets: Annual membership £70 / day member £5
All of Us Strangers
Tuesday, 3 February
A screenwriter drawn back to his childhood home enters into a fledgling relationship with his downstairs neighbour while discovering a mysterious new way to heal from losing his parents 30 years ago.
Vermiglio (Italian with subtitles)
Tuesday, 10 February
1944, Vermiglio, a remote mountain village. The arrival of Pietro, a deserter, into the local teacher’s family, and his love for the teacher’s eldest daughter, will change the course of everyone’s life.
Small Things Like These
Tuesday, 24 February
In this adaptation of Claire Keegan’s incredible book, devoted father Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy) discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent and uncovers shocking truths of his own. bedfordfilmsociety.org.uk
NTLive Theatre: Hamlet
Friday, 27 February & Sunday, 1 March 2026
The Quarry Theatre @ 7pm Friday & 2pm Sunday / Tickets: £15.50
Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi) is Hamlet in this fearless, contemporary take on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy. quarrytheatre.org.uk
LIVE MUSIC
The Boo Radleys + Freya Bear
Saturday, 7 February
Bedford Esquires / Tickets: £5 - £18
Sonic adventurers who influenced the likes of Radiohead and Interpol, in the nineties The Boo Radleys released a succession of albums on Creation Records that encompassed Shoegaze (Everythings Alright Forever), Britpop (the Number 1 album Wake Up), feverish experimentalism (C’mon Kids) and absolutely everything in-between (‘Giant Steps’ – voted both Select Magazines & NME readers Album of the Year).
‘One of those rare treasures you find yourself putting on to shake off a bad day when normally only Pet Sounds or Revolver or even Bandwagonesque will do’ – NME.
The Howlers + Carpark
Thursday, 16 February
Bedford Esquires / Tickets: £15
London desert-rockers The Howlers have never strayed from their open and honest approach to musicianship, quickly identifying themselves as one of the UK’s must-see acts. Their debut album, What You’ve Got To Lose To Win It All, received much deserved praise and achieved various top 10 positions across Europe and the UK, solidifying their place as one of the UK’s most unique independent bands, in a class of their own.
China Crisis
Saturday, 21 February
Bedford Esquires / Tickets: £28.50
English pop/rock band, China Crisis, formed in 1979 in Merseyside with a core of vocalist/keyboardist Gary Daly and guitarist Eddie Lundon. China Crisis were originally assimilated in the batch of new wave Liverpool acts of the late 1970s and early 1980s, led by OMD and also including The Teardrop Explodes, A Flock of Seagulls, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood. China Crisis had huge success in the United Kingdom with a string of hit singles, including African & White, Christian, Working with Fire and Steel, Black Man Ray, King in Catholic Style and Wishful Thinking.
Congratulations
Saturday, 28 February
Bedford Esquires / Tickets: £12 or £20.99 including CD)
Brighton art-rock quartet, Congratulations are a hall of mirrors party troop. They are devils and tarts in equal measure. They lock their horns and then spin round and round and round until a dizzy cacophony erupts. Sugarcane hooks vs. slaughterhouse screams and they’re here to move you. Their debut album, Join Hands releases just weeks before this show and has been described as a “high-powered, fast-paced assault of unbridled, intensely groovy indie dance rock.”
Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra presents: Wintry Classics
Saturday, 28 February
St Paul’s Church @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £20 - under 18s free
Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra’s Wintry Classics features Glinka’s Ruslan and Ludmila Overture, Violin Concerto in D minor by Sibelius and Brahms’ Symphony No. 1. The conductor is Bjorn Bantock and violin soloist Jakub Jakowicz. bedfordsymphony.com
What do you call a wine hangover? The grape depression.
GREAT BEDFORDIAN
In keeping with this month’s pub theme, our February Great Bedfordian is Ronnie Toms, the landlord of the Devonshire Arms (aka The Devvy), on Dudley Street.
As a trained actor, Ronnie has appeared on TV and in films but says his first love is theatre. A Bedfordian since 1998, Ronnie and his wife Rebecca have two children, Joe and Phoebe, who he describes as “two of the best human beings I know”.
“I grew up in a working men’s club as I was brought up by my grandfather, who was the club chairman for 25 years, so I guess pubs are in my blood,” said Ronnie. “I’m a season ticket holder at The Bedford Blues, and you’ll often see and hear me cheering on the team at Goldington Road, and I’m also a big Arsenal fan. COYG!”
Born here or blow in? Blown in from St.Albans via Hitchin, (although Bedford has been my home longer).
Best breakfast in Bedford? It has to be The Wendover Cafe on Wendover Drive – it’s saved my bacon many times.
Best boozer? Haha! Of course, I’ve got to say The Devvy, but other notable establishments are The Welly, The Flowerpot and The Castle, although I don’t get to frequent them as much as I’d like.
Best coffee or cuppa? Rebecca and I try to go for a walk around the river at least once a week, and we always stop off at The Longholm for a good coffee.
Best takeaway? Blimey, it depends on what you fancy. Chinese: Shanghai Kitchen on Tavistock Street; Thai: Siam Heaven on The Broadway; pizza: La Rotunda on Wendover Drive; kebab: Kempston Kebab; Indian: Radhuni on the Embankment. That’s your weekend sorted…
Best gig you’ve seen in Bedford? I’ve been to many great gigs at the brilliant Esquires, but Tom Jones at Bedford Park steals it for me. Legend!
Ever read John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress? No, I’m an avid reader, but never got around to it.
Ever eaten a Bedfordshire Clanger? Sadly not. Are they still available?
An off-the-beaten-track gem that everyone should know about? This one’s easy for me as I’ve spent a lot of time here. The Place Theatre on Bradgate Road is a great community hub, and you’ll see some great live theatre. Get along, you won’t be sorry.
Best Bedfordian? Again, easy for me, it’s my wife Rebecca, a born and bred Bedfordian. She’s simply the glue that holds it all together.
Three words that best sum up Bedford? England’s best secret.
The Devvy / Image: Google Maps / Image Capture: July 2024
Sir Tom Jones / Image: Cuffe & Taylor
Image: Ronnie Toms
