Bedford Clanger - May 2025

May 2025

Music is not what we do.

It’s what we are.

Featuring: Santtu-Matias Rouvali Víkingur Ólafsson Bruce Liu Steven Osborne Adam Hickox

Book now for our 2025/26 season at Bedford Corn Exchange philharmonia.co.uk/bedford 0800 652 6717

CONTENTS

BOOK OF BEDFORD | 4

THEATRE | 8

HOMETOWN TOURIST | 14

See Bedford through the eyes of its youngest inhabitants

The best of this month’s theatre

Take a stroll off the beaten track...

ANTIQUES FAIR | 5

LIVE MUSIC | 10

GREAT BEDFORDIAN | 15

A father & daughter duo introduce Bedford Antiques Fair

Bring the noise

Co-owner of Herd, Matthew Wolton

WHAT’S ON | 6

FOOD & DRINK | 13

Diaries at the ready

Herd

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

As Spring arrives, take a trip off the beaten track and become a Hometown Tourist (page 14) at the mini golf course in Russell Park and on the Longholme boating lake. And what better way to find your way around than with the Book of Bedford - a child’s eye view of our wonderful town (page 4).

MEET THE TEAM

The Bedford Clanger / May 2025

Our Great Bedfordian (page 15) is Matthew Wolton, co-owner of Herd on St Cuthbert’s Street, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. You can also read our food review on page 13.

Have a great month and see you in June!

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

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

Editor: Erica Roffe / clanger@bedfordindependent.co.uk Commercial Director: Julia Course / julia@bedfordindependent.co.uk Design: Ben Graham / ben@twenty-sixstudios.co.uk Food & Drink: Paul Hutchinson Theatre: Paula Walker Website: bedfordindependent.co.uk The Bedford Clanger is published by Progress Publishing

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THE BOOK OF BEDFORD

The Book of Bedford - a place of rivers and greenery and architecture A new illustrated guide book of Bedford has been created by pupils from four of the town’s primary schools, to give adults the chance to see Bedford through the eyes of its youngest inhabitants.

The Book of Bedford has been created by 265 children from Brickhill, Kings Oak, Priory and Putnoe primary schools, with the help of the team at Bedford Creative Arts (BCA) and artists Andy Fieldn and Beckie Darlington.

Illustrated by Katie Allen, it is part-fiction, part-real guidebook and provides a heartfelt and often hilarious insight into what children think is special, scary, unique and valuable about Bedford.

By exploring what children find significant about their town, this large-scale socially-engaged project offers a fresh perspective on the familiar and the predictable.

It invites adults to see the sights that children deem important and to navigate through real and imagined streets in their footsteps.

Andy and Beckie

Over 250 children spent weeks writing, drawing, and crafting and then a team of 15 children acted as book editors to sort through the material and make selections for this original book. The finished book is available as a free download from BCA’s website.

“Bedford is a place that is teeming with joy. A place of rivers and greenery and architecture.

The book was launched at a VIP event attended by Councillors, the MP, local creatives and teachers at Bedford Central Library in March with the children reading their favourite extracts and interviewing attendees about their views.

Elaine Midgley, Director of BCA said: “This project is a way of expanding what we as adults think we know about a place and to notice the very different values and meanings that adults and children ascribe to the things they encounter in the world around them.

“It invites us to question; who decides what is or isn’t worth seeing? Who tells the stories that define the identity of our towns and cities, and how can we begin to empower young people to tell new stories, and challenge those with power to listen to them?

“It’s also pretty hilarious and very inspiring and we hope will make people proud to live in Bedford, whatever age you are”.

The Book of Bedford project has been made possible through generous funding from Bedford Educational Association, The Harpur Trust, Gale Family Charity Trust and Arts Council England.

The book will be available for sale from The Eagle Bookshop from the end of April.

All Image credits: Katie Allen / Illustrator of The Book of Bedford

A very historical and educational place full of exciting things.”

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What do you call a pony with a cough? A little horse.

BEDFORD ANTIQUES FAIR

Father and daughter launch new Bedford Antiques Fair A new antiques fair is being launched this month by Rodney Weeks and his daughter Nicola.

The Bedford Antiques Fair is at King’s House on Ampthill Road on Friday, 9 and Saturday, 10 May, with 45 dealers selling their wares.

Rodney has over 25 years’ experience in the antiques world and ran many events with is late wife, Sandra. Nicola, an actor, performer and the former owner of the award-winning George James bridal boutique, told the Bedford Clanger, “Sadly I lost my mother in 2019 and this made me re-evaluate my work/ life balance and I decided to return to performing alongside promoting events with my father.”

Sellers at the event will have a range of antique and vintage items, from glassware to ceramics, jewellery to collectables. It is hoped that it will become a twice-yearly event, with the next fair lined up for October.

Bedford Antiques Fair, 9 - 10 May @ 10am - 4pm King’s House, 245 Ampthill Road, MK42 9AZ emcapevents.com

Rodeny & Nicola / Image: Bedford Antiques Fair

HALF TERM ACTIVITIES

UKRAINIAN FOLK ART AND HERITAGE The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum Bedford

12 April 2025 – 19 April 2026

AT THE HIGGINS BEDFORD

PRINT IT Tuesday 27 to Friday 30 May Join artists Katie Allen, Lisa Tilley, Paige Denham and Anne-Marie Abbate to discover the wonderful world of printmaking and create your own artworks.

Workshops last for an hour and are suitable for children from 5-12 years.

Scan the QR code or see our website for further details.

www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk Castle Lane, Bedford, MK40 3XD T 01234 718618 E thehiggins@bedford.gov.uk www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk

The Bedford Clanger / May 2025

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WHAT’S ON May Day Morris Dancing Explore Bedford’s rich tapestry of history with new guided walks added for 2025 Bedford Association of Tour Guides have added some new walks to their popular roster, so this year there’s even more to discover. Each walk is led by a qualified guide and offers residents and visitors alike the opportunity to explore the rich tapestry of the history of Bedford and to meet some of the people who have helped shape our town.

This year, a Tour of St Paul’s, the church at the heart of Bedford, has been added. In addition, Plaques & Plinths is a new walk that will reveal the stories behind the town’s Blue Plaques and statues. Bedford’s South Bank Show which focuses on the medieval past and the more recent lost industry, buildings, public houses of Bedford’s south bank, plus its importance to the development of the town.

This 1 May you can catch Red Cuthbert Morris as they dance to mark May Day, a European festival of ancient origins, marking the beginning of summer, around halfway between the Northern Hemisphere’s Spring equinox and June solstice.

Red Cuthbert will be marking the occasion in the best way they know, by dancing in Bedford Town Centre and then at a pub.

They’ll be at the Silver Faces at 8pm and then at The Three Cups on Newnham Street at 9pm. You can also catch them in Black Tom on Thursday, 22 May at the Kent Arms on Salisbury Street at 8pm followed by the Burnaby Arms on Stanley Street at 9pm. redcuthbert.uk

John Bunyan Boat cruises are back

The walks take place each Sunday morning and the first and last Wednesday morning of the month and there are ten walks to choose from. £4.00 per adult/£2.00 for children over the age of eight. Booking is via The Higgins website or the Box Office on 01234 718044 bedfordtourguides.org

‘Fake or Forgery - an expert eye’

22 May @ 7pm Bunyan Meeting Church | Tickets: £10 / Friends of the Bunyan: £5

Image: John Bunyan Boat

Take to the water this summer on one of the John Bunyan Boat’s speciality cruises on the River Great Ouse. From the sounds of Detroit with the Motown and Soul Music Cruise on 1 May to afternoon tea at the Kingfisher Bedford with a return cruise to Sovereign’s Quay on 14 May, there’s lots to choose from.

For full details of all the cruises this month, head to the John Bunyan Boat website here: bmkwaterway.org/johnbunyanboat

Cream teas in the Panacea Museum gardens

Saturday, 17 and Sunday, 18 May @ 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm / Tickets: £7

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.”

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What did one hat say to the other? You wait here, I’ll go on a head.

Enjoy a pot of tea, a scone, cream and jam, all served on vintage and antique china in the beautiful and peaceful surroundings of the Panacea Museum gardens.

Harpur Square, take a stroll along the river and enjoy a lazy Sunday in beautiful Bedford.

Pre-booking recommended. Reserve your spot and pay on the day by card or cash.

St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square | Free with retiring collection

Lunchtime music recitals

11 Newnham Rd, Bedford MK40 3NX panaceamuseum.org/events

The lunchtime music recitals at St Paul’s church are completely free to attend and are an oasis of calm in the heart of the town centre.

Exhibition: INTERIM

Tuesday, 6 May 1pm - piano recital by Leo Little piano recital

Monday, 19 - Sunday, 25 May Basement @ Bunyan / Free entry

Saturday, 10 May @ noon - organ recital by Perrin Ford Tuesday, 13 May @ 1pm - flute recital by Jen Townsend Tuesday, 20 May @ 1pm - recital by mezzo soprano, Annabel Astridge and Martin Jones (piano) Tuesday, 27 May @ 1pm - violin recital by Teryl Zau

Saturday Workshops

Saturday, 10 May @ 10am Rothsay Education Centre, 6 Rothsay Gardens, Bedford

Images: Left - Cameron Scrimgeour / Right - Giacomo Verdura

Choose from seven exciting one-day Saturday workshops (did we mention they’re on a Saturday?), from the history of Bletchley Park to the impact of AI on education. There’s gardening, Roman history, self publishing and more. The perfect way to find out more about the Rothsay Education Centre.

INTERIM brings together recent works of painter Giacomo Verdura, and photographer Cameron Scrimgeour in an exhibition which reflects the artists’ close working proximity, and how this permeates into their respective work. These intermediary pieces from both artists look back on this year so far, and hint at new directions being shaped for the future.

Private View takes place on Monday, 19 May @ 6-8pm and all are welcome.

Bedford Flea, Affordable Art and Local Produce market Sunday, 11 May @ 10am - 3pm Harpur Square

Image: Bedford Flea

It might have changed location, but Bedford Flea is still a great reason to forego a Sunday lie-in. Grab a coffee, mooch around

The Bedford Clanger / May 2025

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THEATRE paced romp through the masterpieces of Jane Austen with The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged.

At the Place Theatre this month…

theplacebedford.org.uk / Bradgate Rd, Bedford MK40 3DE

Theatre: You’re So F**cking Croydon

Thursday, 15 May @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £16

Theatre: Once

Thursday, 1 & Friday, 2 May @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £16

On the streets of Dublin, an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant are drawn together by their shared love of music.

Over the course of one fateful week, an unexpected friendship and collaboration quickly evolves into a powerful but complicated love story, underscored by emotionally charged music. In this highly acclaimed 2022 production of the West End and Broadway smash-hit musical, the cast are the band, the band are the cast. All the music is live and played as part of the story.

Theatre: Three Acres and a Cow

Saturday, 3 May @ 7pm / Tickets: from £11 A history of land rights and protest in folk song and story, the show connects the Norman Conquest and Peasants’ Revolt with current issues like the housing crisis, reparations, climate breakdown and food sovereignty via the Enclosures, English Civil War and Industrial Revolution, drawing a compelling narrative through the radical people’s history of England.

You’re SO F**king Croydon! is an audacious autobiographical piece exploring the female working class experience and noughties club culture, whilst seamlessly blending music, dance, comedy, spoken word and subverting mainstream solo show tropes. You’re SO F**king Croydon!’ is a multifaceted experience that resonates deeply with both traditional and nontraditional theatre audiences. At its essence, it’s the story of a woman triumphing over adversities. It’s a stomp through pop culture, identity and destiny, blending comedy with profound exploration and personal narrative with societal perceptions.

Community Theatre: Shakespeare in Love Tuesday, 20 May @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £14

Based on the Academy Award-winning movie, this enchanting, hilarious, romantic stage play reimagines William Shakespeare’s creative process – and explores his inspiration – as he writes Romeo and Juliet. Against a bustling background of mistaken identity, ruthless scheming and backstage theatrics, Will’s love for Viola quickly blossoms, inspiring him to write his greatest romantic masterpiece.

At The Quarry Theatre this month…

quarrytheatre.org.uk / 26 St Peter’s Street, Bedford MK40 2NN

Community Theatre: Abigail’s Party

Wednesday, 7 - Saturday, 10 May @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £12

Theatre: That Knave, Raleigh

Saturday, 3 May @ 7.30pm | Tickets from £14.50 Step into the suburban world of 1977, where the gin flows as freely as the tension in Mike Leigh’s iconic dark comedy, Abigail’s Party. A sharply observed satire of middle-class pretensions and the cracks beneath the surface, Abigail’s Party is as deliciously excruciating as it is laugh-out-loud funny.

Theatre: The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Abridged)

Wednesday, 14 May @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £16 One newbie and two self-professed Janeites, through almost all means imaginable, tackle the entire canon of Jane Austen’s works – in just 80 minutes. Come along for a fun, funny, and fast8

Why do we tell actors to ‘break a leg’? Because every play has a cast.

Following their five-star show, I, Elizabeth, the award-winning Dyad Productions return to the Elizabethan era, to the famous and fabulous Elizabethan explorer, sailor, dandy, and warrior, Sir Walter Raleigh. Elizabeth I’s favourite and James I’s knave.

This is a journey through the astonishing highs and lows of one of Britain’s most famous men from history. But there’s so much you don’t know...

Children’s Theatre: Michael Morpurgo’s Farm Boy

Sunday, 4 & Monday, 5 May @ 1pm & 3pm Sunday, 11am & 1pm Monday / Tickets: from £13

returns to the stage in this delightful, family-friendly show combining drama, storytelling, and original music - a moving account of the changing face of the English countryside and a beautifully crafted reminder that stories really can reach out across the generations.

National Theatre Live: The Importance of Being Earnest

Friday, 9 & Saturday, 10 May @ 7pm Saturday & 2pm Sunday / Tickets: £15.50 Three-time Olivier Award-winner Sharon D Clarke is joined

by Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who; Sex Education) in this joyful reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy.

While assuming the role of a dutiful guardian in the country, Jack lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy adopts a similar facade. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate.

Following successful UK tours and a critically acclaimed run in New York, Michael Morpurgo’s compelling sequel to ‘War Horse’

The Bedford Clanger / May 2025

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LIVE MUSIC

Live music: Mad Mods & Englishmen

Dance music: Jaguar Skills

Mad Mods have a reputation of packing every venue they play at, and then bringing the house down. Their repertoire includes hits from The Who, Small Faces, The Kinks, Rolling Stones, Spencer Davis, Yardbirds, The Jam and many more, and yes, they’ve even been known to smash the odd guitar up on stage!

Jaguar Skills’ journey through seemingly unmixable genres and tempos remains one of a kind, as he traverses the broad musical spectrum with dizzying aplomb. His sets have been experienced at festivals across the globe, whipping crowds into a frenzy at some of the biggest dance music events on the planet. Don’t miss the balacalvad hero of DJing wizardry at the Corn Exchange this month.

Saturday, 10 May The Cellar Bar @ 10.30pm / Free entry

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Saturday, 10 May Bedford Corn Exchange @ 10pm - 2am / Tickets: £15

What do you call an apology written in dots and dashes? A Re-Morse code.

Live music: Pom Poko

Live music: Crash Test Dummies

Oslo’s finest, Pom Poko are back to Esquires, following their near sold-out show during Independent Venue Week 2022.

The band visit Bedford as part of an intimate UK tour and off the back of their Bella Union released third album ‘Champion’ in late 2024.

With one of the most recognizable voices in Canadian music history, alternative rock band Crash Test Dummies are a three-time Grammy nominated and JUNO award-winning group, who soared to the top of the worldwide charts in the early 1990’s with hits “Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm” and “Superman’s Song”. Their cover of “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead” was a highlight of the soundtrack to the blockbuster film, “Dumb and Dumber”. They come to Esquires as part of the venue’s 35th anniversary celebrations.

Sunday, 11 May Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £16

Thursday, 15 May Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm | Tickets: £35

FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR WINDOW COVERINGS

JOURNEYS An exhibition presented

by The Artists Group 31st May to 15th June 2025 The Arc, 7 Howard Street, Bedford MK40 3HS Journeys is an artists group exhibition showcasing a contemporary collective of artists’ practices in a variety of media

DAVID EAREY

SAM ROSS

EMMA CONSTANTINE

FAYE DUNMALL

BOOK YOUR FREE HOME DESIGN CONSULTATION

Contact Ben, your local expert: 01234 731 146 bedford@shuttercraft.co.uk shuttercraft.co.uk

Bedford Clanger / May 2025 dford Print The V1.indd 1

Private view 30th May 7 - 9pm.

Free entry. Open to all.

03/10/2024 13:34:22

www.theartistsgroup.co.uk www.thearcbedford.co.uk

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Dance music: Phil Hartnoll (Orbital)

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.

Friday, 16 May Bedford Esquires @ 8pm / Tickets: £20

Dance music: Bank Holiday Sunday - Soul Factory Sunday Afternoon Chillout Sunday, 25 May The Cellar Bar @ 3pm / Free entry

True rave royalty is in Bedford this month in the form of Phil Hartnoll - one half of Orbital. He helped soundtrack an entire generation with tracks like Chime, Halycon and Belfast, and he and his brother Paul can lay claim to kicking down the doors for an entire electronic music scene. Don’t miss your chance to catch one of the most influential figures in electronic music live behind the decks.

Live Music: World On Fire

Saturday, 17 May The Cellar Bar until 1am / Free entry World On Fire are back at The Cellar Bar, playing all your favourite rock covers with a few of their own thrown in too.

Imagine if the classic ‘power rock’ female led acts of the 80s were around today, give them modern synths, production and style and you have World On Fire.

Jazz: Sounds of Adderley

Saturday, 17 May The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £15 Young heavyweights of the UK jazz scene, alto saxophonist Tom Smith and trumpeter Tom Syson, have joined forces to create ‘Sounds of Adderley’, a new quintet dedicated to the explosive music of Nat and Cannonball Adderley. Featuring music throughout the Adderleys careers including ‘Work Song’ and ‘Jive Samba’, this ensemble is sure to knock your socks off!

Bedford Symphony Orchestra

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.

Live music: Kairos Creature Club Tuesday, 27 May 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.

Live music: The Lovely Eggs

Friday, 30 May 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.

Swing music: Andrew Bourn’s Crooner Revolution Friday, 23 May The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm | Tickets: £25

Saturday, 24 May Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm / Tickets: prices vary

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 is fun, full of energy and will have you singing from your seats!

Featuring a fabulous band of top big band musicians!

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What do cows say when they hear a bad joke? I’m not amoosed.

HERD Have you Herd – they’re still the best burgers in Bedford When people ask for recommendations on social media for the best burgers in Bedford, the responses are almost always 100% for Herd – and there’s a valid reason for that.

This summer menu offering is also likely to attract burger fans from far and wide.

But you could fill a bun with all the flavours in the world, and it still wouldn’t hit right – because what Herd really understands is that the difference between a good burger and a great one is the patty.

Situated on St Cuthbert’s Street, what started ten years ago as a small burger joint to give locals something they might have had to travel to London for has now grown into a venue with a reputation that not only covers what have been the best burgers in Bedford since day one but also a must-have hangout for all things on trend and, dare I say it, cool.

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Founded and run by Matt and Jess, the place has had a few changes over the years, but one thing remains true to the mission they opened their doors with: quality ingredients, exceptional food, and nothing but the best vibes.

The music playing as we enjoyed our feast was testament to that, and if you’ve attended any of their weekend events, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Some of the world’s best DJs have come to spin the decks in their underground club room, helping to put Bedford on both the musical and culinary map.

Matt tells me they source their meat locally from Langford’s on Library Walk, which is a good start already. But then he says they make sure it’s made up from a selection of beef cuts, mixed to percentages that I suspect have been worked out through trial and error. And that’s what Matt and Jess want: burgers they would be happy to eat themselves – and if you know the pair even a little, you know they would never settle for second best.

Burgers to one side for a moment, we must also pay homage to the other dishes that enhance the burger experience. Loaded fries full of flavour, creamy coleslaw, and chicken pieces, to name a few. They’re big, they’re brash, and they’re brilliant. A meal in themselves perhaps, or perfect for two to share? Either way, it’s proof that at Herd, it’s not just about eating – it’s about the experience. Great burgers, great sides, great music, and great vibes. Bedford’s burger crown is certainly in safe hands.

But I’m here to talk about the food – this, after all, is what this section of the Clanger is for.

While the Herd burger, their own house offering, reigns supreme, Matt gave us a little insight into what they’re planning with a forthcoming menu change. With the big flavours of the other menu choices, namely the Bacon and Kimchi Smash and the Bad Boi, this burger – which was a special earlier this year – is coming back as a permanent menu item for the summer.

The Green Chilli Cheeseburger could be mistaken for being a little less powerful based on its name, but don’t let the fact it’s simple fool you – the flavour, the juiciness, the everything, was tongue-tingling and delicious.

Much of Herd’s success is down to knowing what makes a good burger. Yes, sometimes the flavours are bold, and they have a ‘go hard or go home’ attitude to ingredients, but they also understand balance, and sometimes there can be beauty in simplicity.

The Bedford Clanger / May 2025

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Herd Bedford can be found at 25 St Cuthbert’s Street, Bedford MK40 3JG. Bookings can be made via 01234 300193 or at herdbedford.com

Opening hours:

Monday – Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 5pm – 9pm Friday: 5pm – 9pm (Bar until 1am) Saturday: 12pm – 9pm (Bar until 1am) Sunday: 12pm – 4pm 13

HOMETOWN TOURIST

Landmark mini golf - 12-hole tour around the Borough

Image: Bedford Borough Council

Now that Spring has sprung, it’s the perfect time to get friends and family together to enjoy Bedford’s great outdoors - and what better way than a round of mini golf alongside the beautiful River Great Ouse?

Landmark Mini Golf opened in Russell Park in August 2024 and is gearing up for its first full season this summer. Each of the 12 holes on the course features a unique Bedford landmark and a handy QR code for anyone that wants to brush up on their history and find out more. From the John Bunyan statue to Stevington windmill, mini-golfers can take a tour of the Borough without leaving the course!

The course is open every day from 10am (please do check closing times at kioskinthepark.com) and you can combine it with hiring a boat on Longholme Lake.

You can purchase golf and boat hire in one voucher for the best rates on both activities, or you can purchase a voucher just for the golf itself, ahead of time, for a pre-purchase rate.

All pre-purchased vouchers are delivered via email and they can also be gifted.

Find out more about boat hire opening times at thelongholme.com For a round of play through all twelve holes, it is £7.60 (13 and over), £6 for those aged three to 12 and just £3 for anyone younger.

Prices include a team scorecard, a putter and a ball for each person playing.

COMPETITION Win a round of golf, boat hire and a meal at the Longholme for four people by entering our competition.

Simply find the competition Instagram post on our page, make sure you follow both the Bedford Independent, The Longholme and the Kiosk at the Park and like and share our post. You can share it as many times as you like.

A winner will be selected at random on Friday, 23 May. You can find the full terms and conditions on our website.

The Longholme Cafè

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What did the shark say when he ate the clownfish? This tastes a little funny.

GREAT BEDFORDIAN

This month’s Great Bedfordian is the co-owner of Herd, Matthew Wolton.

Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, Herd on St Cuthbert’s Street has been the go-to burger joint in Bedford since it opened.

Matt worked for Pizza Express until his mid-20s, followed by a few years as a DJ. “I started a removals company that is still going under Hader’s stewardship and then came Herd, celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, the story of how it came to be is probably another article in itself!”

I think we (me and my wife Jess) have made it to ten years because we have constantly evolved and adapted. Obviously a massive part of the journey has been our staff especially Frank and Annie who have been there since the beginning. The most important part of Herd is the Herd that comes in, many that have now become lifelong friends. It’s been the best adventure.

Matthew Wolton, Co-owner Herd

Image: Bedford Cheese Company / Facebook

Best boozer?

The Welly (Wellington Arms) or The Castle on Newnham Street.

Best gig you’ve seen in Bedford?

Hard to beat Nile Roger’s in the Park, but My Baby on a Tuesday at Esquires has to get a mention.

Ever read John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress?

Never.

Ever eaten a Bedfordshire Clanger?

Never eaten a clanger.

An off-the-beaten-track gem that everyone should know about?

Samras, The Spinney, they have everything. Whenever I pop in, Mrs S still gives me the warmest greeting, “Hello dear”.

Best Bedfordian?

Dave Denton our window cleaner. He’s 86 years old and still cycling and working every day. He’s the best advert for keeping moving.

Image: Matthew Wolton

Name:

Matthew Wolton

Occupation: Restaurateur.

Born here or blow in?

Born in Clifton, came to Bedford in my early 20s.

Best breakfast in Bedford?

Image: Cameron Scrimgeour

Three words that best sum up Bedford?

Cosmopolitan Diverse Beautiful

Bedford Cheese Company at The Barn in Cardington.

The Bedford Clanger / May 2025

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