September 2026
ASPIRE: NURTURING YOUR POTENTIAL CHILDREN’S ART COMPETITION EXHIBITION
Featuring more than 100 pieces of artwork from primary and secondary schools, and colleges, across the borough Open 20 June – 4 October 2026 Free entry at The Higgins Bedford, Castle Lane, Bedford MK40 3XD www.harpurtrust.org.uk/art-competition
RUNNING FESTIVAL | 4 Run, Bedford, Run!
Introduction Welcome to the September edition of the Bedford Clanger with a clear manifesto of Run, Read, Rave Repeat.
WRITE BY THE RIVER | 5 Literary Festival
Run - take part in this month’s Bedford Running Festival (or the Festival of Walking if that’s a bit too energetic for you). Read - find out everything about the Write By The River literary festival (page 5) and read our Indie Spotlight on Eagle Bookshop (pages 10 & 11).
WHAT’S ON | 6 Diaries at the ready
Rave - Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Bedford’s GoodTimes with their birthday party at Esquires this month (page 18).
THEATRE | 9, 12 & 13
You’ll also find the best of the month’s art, culture, live music, theatre, comedy and more. Enjoy!
Curtain up...
Team Clanger
INDIE SPOTLIGHT | 10 Eagle Bookshop
LIVE MUSIC | 14 Bring the noise
FOOD & DRINK | 16 Rice Street Fusions
BEDFORD PRIDE | 17
The Founders of Progress Publishing
Show your colours
Erica Roffe, Julia Course & Paul Hutchinson
HOMETOWN TOURIST | 28 Bringing the GoodTimes to Bedford for 30 years
GREAT BEDFORDIAN | 29 Best selling author – Ruth Hogan
MEET THE TEAM Editor
Commercial Director
Design
clanger@bedfordindependent.co.uk
julia@bedfordindependent.co.uk
ben@twenty-sixstudios.co.uk
Erica Roffe
Theatre
Paula Walker
Julia Course
Photography
Cameron Scrimgeour
Ben Graham
Food & Drink
Paul Hutchinson
Website
bedfordindependent.co.uk
Complaints & Corrections: clanger@bedfordindependent.co.uk | The Bedford Clanger is published by Progress Publishing The Bedford Clanger / September 2026
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All Images: ATW
Run, Bedford, Run... The ATW Bedford Running Festival is back in Russell Park on Saturday, 5 and Sunday, 6 September and is open to everyone from serious runners to families and spectators looking for a fun weekend out. Entry to the festival village is completely free and there is loads to see and do. For runners, the festival features a range of distances across flat, fast, mixed-terrain courses along closed roads and riverside cycle paths. On Saturday, choose from the Bedford 5K (3pm) - perfect for speedsters
- or the Twilight 10K (5.30pm). You can also sign up for both races back-to-back to achieve the Saturday Double. For runners of all ages, sign up to the Mini Miles family fun run at 4.30pm. At 9.30am on Sunday, its the simultaneous Bedford Half Marathon and 20-Mile Race, described as the perfect Autumn marathon prep. If you’re really keen, you can take on the Weekend Challenge by completing one of the Saturday events and a long-distance race on Sunday.
For non-runners or friends, family and spectators, the Festival Village is the place to be. There’s live music, a yoga and wellness tent, mini funfair, facepainting and glitter tattoos plus street food and bars. Something for everyone, whether you’re putting on your running shoes or not. More information on their website: bedfordrunfest.co.uk
Free, drop in, art & craft activities for children aged 2-5 years at The Higgins Bedford on: 4 September, 2 October, 6 November, 4 December, 8 January, 5 February, 5 March Pop in anytime between 10:30am-12pm or 1-2:30pm. Scan QR code for more details. The Higgins Art Gallery and Museum Castle Lane, Bedford, MK40 3XD
A BREWERY IN BEDFORD CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF WELLS & Co
1 JULY 2026 – 18 APRIL 2027 THE HIGGINS BEDFORD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WELLS & Co
THE HIGGINS ART GALLERY & MUSEUM, BEDFORD CASTLE LANE, BEDFORD, MK40 3XD T 01234 718618 E THEHIGGINS@BEDFORD.GOV.UK WWW.THEHIGGINSBEDFORD.ORG.UK
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What’s the best time on a clock? 6:30, hands down.
Book lovers assemble Friday, 18 - Sunday, 20 September A new literary festival - Write By the River - is set to transform Bedford into a hub of storytelling, big ideas, and creative inspiration this month. The festival features fiction, non-fiction, poetry, crime, memoir, and children’s literature, with events designed for book lovers of all ages. The weekend kicks off on Friday from noon at the Bedford Swan Hotel with a free Local and Indie Author Showcase, the perfect opportunity to meet Bedfordshire’s own home-grown talent and chat directly with local writers about their work.
Bestselling voices and page-turners
Page to Park: Thrills, chills and Frankenstein
Across Saturday and Sunday, the main programme brings together an eclectic mix of ticketed and free events featuring everything from chart-topping favourites to thrilling new debuts:
In a fun homage to Bedford’s future theme park, the festival introduces its Page to Park strand. Legendary theme park designer John Wardley, the mastermind behind Alton Towers’ iconic Nemesis rollercoaster, will be on hand to discuss his wild memoir, Creating My Own Nemesis. In addition, Professor Andrew Smith traces Frankenstein’s fascinating evolution from classic Gothic novel to stage, screen, and adrenaline-pumping theme park ride.
Literary Heavyweights: Sunday Times bestseller Georgina Moore (The Garnett Girls) visits to discuss her captivating second novel, River of Stars. She’s joined by global bestselling author and proud Bedfordian Ruth Hogan* (The Keeper of Lost Things), Women’s Prize-long-listed novelist Luan Goldie, and Amman Brar, whose debut Mr Sidhu’s Post Office earned a spot on the BBC’s “12 Books to Read in 2026.” Deep Dives and Big Conversations: Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn pairs up with debut novelist Amy Abdelnoor for a poignant conversation on literature and Palestine. Meanwhile, intelligence historian Professor Rory Cormac (Fakers) teams up with novelists Stephen May and M. J. Robotham for a gripping panel decoding espionage and disinformation. History and Travel: Delve into the past with historian Lubaaba Al-Azami as she discusses her British in India Book Prize–shortlisted Travellers in the Golden Realm, or follow travel writer Peter Fiennes (En Route) as he retraces the steps of France’s legendary authors. Young Readers and Standout Debuts: Younger bookworms can catch beloved author Lissa Evans discussing her latest children’s book. Plus, an array of vibrant new voices take the stage—including Fauzia Musa (The Strangling Fig), Natalie Gregory (Mother Ghost Mango Seed), Ilona Bannister (the real-time train thriller Five), and Maureen Paton, who re imagines C.S. Lewis as a post-war sleuth in The Mystery at Rake Hall. The Bedford Clanger / September 2026
Get creative: Interactive workshops For those looking to hone their own writing skills, the festival offers three hands-on masterclasses: Character Creation Workshop: Led by Murray Fisher (Underlings: The Spark Engine), perfect inspiration for young, aspiring authors. A Sensation of Wrongness: An uncanny exploration of weird fiction guided by Dr. Timothy Jarvis (The Wanderer). The Power of Place: A free session with Bedford-based cosy crime author Richard Beynon (James Clatterbridge Mysteries) on how to breathe life into real-world settings and transform them into compelling fiction. All the action takes place at The Bedford Swan Hotel, the Bunyan Museum, the Mercure Hotel, The Higgins Museum, and Polhill Campus of the University of Bedfordshire. You can see the full schedule and book tickets at the festival website: writebytheriver.org/events. *find out Ruth Hogan’s favourite places in Bedford on page 19… 4
Our pick of What’s On this September Exhibition: Threads
Saturday, 19 September The Arc, Howard Street / Free entry Bedford-based artist (and drummer) Chris Thatcher has a new solo exhibition at The Arc this month. The collection of paintings and ink drawings are all for sale, alongside selected prints.
Discover the influence of stories and poetry on artists in this new exhibition drawn from the internationally renowned Cecil Higgins Art Gallery Collection. Greek myths and Shakespearean stories, Arthurian legends and poetry will all be explored in the works of artists such as Thomas Gainsborough, Paula Rego, Henry Moore, Ceri Richards and Henri Matisse. A full colour catalogue by curators Professor Christiana Payne, Dr Mary O’Neill and Victoria Partridge will be available to buy in the shop.
Family fun: Crafternoon
Sunday, 27 September The Higgins Bedford, Castle Lane @ 2pm - 4pm / Free entry
Cat-ch it before it ends… Last day to see Noel Carrington exhibition Wednesday, 2 September The Higgins Bedford, Castle Lane / Free entry
Image: The Higgins Bedford
The Higgins Crafternoons are free activity sessions for families to have a go at ‘making’ and getting creative together. All resources are provided. Suitable for under 12s.
Craft and Handmade Fair / £1 pop-up preloved clothing sale
Saturday, 12 & Saturday, 19 September Emmaus Village Carlton, School Lane MK43 7LQ @ 10am - 3pm
Image: Orlando’s Evening Out by Kathleen Hale
Curated by writer and publisher Joe Pearson, don’t miss your last chance to see this wonderful exhibition that tells the story of publishing’s unsung hero Noel Carrington (1895–1989). Through beloved children’s books, forgotten gems and original artwork this exhibition will take Noel Carrington out of the footnotes and into the spotlight.
On Saturday, 12 September, head to Emmaus Village Carlton to browse handmade products from local crafters, artists and makers. The following weekend, hunt for a bargain among the preloved clothing, all just £1.
Open Day and Garden Party
Friday, 11 September Rothsay Education Centre, Rothsay Gardens @ 11am - 2pm / Free entry
New exhibition: Rhyme and Reason From Friday, 25 September The Higgins Bedford, Castle Lane / Free entry
Image: Unsplash
Image: Frontispiece for Venus and Tannhauser, 1895 Aubrey Beardsley © The Trustees of the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery
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The REC’s annual open day is the perfect excuse to explore the Centre, chat with tutors and dip into free taster sessions. Stay for sausages from the BBQ, Pimms and fundraising stalls. recbedford.co.uk . Becoming a vegetarian is a big missed steak.
Nature Together Art Trail
Sunday, 13 September Kempston Mill, Mill Lane, Kempston MK42 7BD @ 11am - 4pm / Free
Bedford Skeptics: The Common Cold: 30,000 Years of the Sniffles with Dr. David Miles Thursday, 17 September The North End Club, 60 Roff Avenue, Bedford, MK41 7TW @ 7.30pm / donations appreciated
Image: Bedford Creative Arts
To celebrate the conclusion of BCA’s ‘Nature Together in Kempston’ summer programme, celebrate with a special Art Trail along the River Great Ouse in Kempston. There will be workshops with Anne-Marie Abbate, a wellbeing walk with Rachel Hegarty, a scavenger hunt for children, storytelling and talks, food and drink vendors and lots of other fun activities. Free, but booking recommended: bedfordcreativearts.org.uk/ events/nature-together-art-trail
The Bedford Clanger / September 2026
Image: Mojpe/Pixabay
The first cold virus was detected in a milk tooth shed over 30,000 years ago, and ever since, the common cold has been a bane. David Miles is an infectious disease immunologist who spent 10 years researching immunity to infections and the vaccinations that protect against them in various parts of Africa. His second book, Sneeze: The History and Science of the Common Cold, was published in March this year. variolator.com/about
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Film: The People’s Emergency Briefing
Wellbeing Walk
Image: The Place Theatre
Image: Not Everything Sucks CIC
This screening forms part of a growing UK-wide programme of events designed to help ensure that both the public and decisionmakers are clearly and honestly informed about the climate and nature crisis – and what it may mean for communities across the country. The screening will be followed by a discussion to explore what these issues mean here, in Bedford and how we can respond together. theplacebedford.org.uk
Things feel better outside, so join the Wellbeing Walk for a casual evening stroll in a welcoming space, where you can chat, meet new people, or just enjoy the peace and quiet - no pressure either way.
Wednesday, 9 September The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm Tickets: Free but please book via the Place Website
Poetry: Read Poets Society
Sunday, 6 September The Eagle Bookshop @ 7pm / Tickets: Free Join Swan Theatre Company at The Eagle Bookshop for their first poetry evening of the season. This month’s theme is A Sense of Place. theplacebedford.org.uk
The Bedfordshire Festival of Autumn Walks Saturday, 5 - Sunday, 13 September / Free
Monday, 14 September 6.15pm Meet outside the Bedford Swan Hotel @ 6.15pm | Free / donations to Not Everything Sucks CIC welcome
Local history: Discover your family’s past family history beginners course
Tuesday, 8 September BFHS Research Centre, CVS, 43 Bromham Road @ 7pm - 9pm (weekly for six weeks) £30 per person (includes a one-year membership to the Bedfordshire Family History Society Ever wondered about your roots? The Bedfordshire Family History Society is running a friendly six-week beginners course to help you trace your ancestry using records, online genealogy tools, and proven research techniques. The step-by-step sessions cover building a family tree, navigating census and civil registration data, locating birth, marriage, and death records, exploring parish archives, and effectively organising your research. For more information email chairman@bfhs.org.uk
Art & culture: Bedford Art Society Meeting Friday, 11 September Putnoe Heights Church, Bedford MK41 8EB @ 7.30pm
Image: North Beds Ramblers
This annual celebration of the great outdoors features walks of all distances, and for all levels of fitness. From a two-day 40-mile walk along the Greensand Ridge to a ‘walk and sail’ with the John Bunyan Boat and a Bat Walk - weather permitting. Explore the town centre with Bedford Tour Guides, Foster Hill Road Cemetery or discover beautiful Bedfordshire in more depth. bedswalkfest.co.uk/walks 8
Image: Jamie Poole
This month’s event features a demonstration by printmaker and paper collage wildlife artist Jamie Poole. bedsartsociety.co.uk
I tried to make a belt out of watches. It was a waist of time.
Take a look at the drama this September Theatre: Lady Windermere’s Fan
Poetry & Spoken Word: Hard Knocks
Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan, in an adaptation that brings Wilde’s razor-sharp dialogue and delicious social satire to life with inventive staging and playful character doubling. When Lady Windermere begins to suspect her husband’s loyalty, a mysterious woman’s arrival threatens to upend her world. A whirlwind of gossip, temptation, and mistaken intentions follows—leading to a revelation that challenges every assumption. theplacebedford.org.uk
Following the release of his new book, The Door-to-Door Poet, as well as a hit programme on BBC Radio 4, Rowan McCabe returns to the stage with Hard Knocks, a show of spoken word and comedy about community and connection. Expect stories of mistaken identity, odes to rebellious snails, and ruminations on time-travelling public officials, all delivered with Rowan’s trademark warmth and wit. theplacebedford.org.uk
Sunday, 6 September The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £18
The Bedford Clanger / September 2026
Thursday, 10 September The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £14
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Indie Spotlight #06
Eagle Bookshop Peter Budek 16-20 St. Peter’s Street, Bedford MK40 2NN OPENING HOURS: Monday - Saturday 10am - 5.30pm Sunday 11am - 4pm
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This month’s Bedford Indies Spotlight is on the Eagle Bookshop, a second-hand bookshop on St Peter’s Street. Owned by Peter Budek, the shop originally opened on Castle Road in the 90s and is a treasure trove of books of all kinds, hosting poetry readings, talks and events. What inspired you to open a business in Bedford? I was brought up in Bedford and in my teens my favourite haunts were Peacocks Auctions (then in Newnham Street) and Richard Wildman’s second-hand bookshop on Mill Street. In 1991, I was living near Oxford when a second-hand bookshop opened. I was ridiculously excited, but also inspired and perhaps a little envious. Just imagine being able to play with books all day and call it work! Back in Bedford I wandered down Castle Road, and there was a little shop for sale, with a flat above it. Why not? I thought. Why not? And The Eagle Bookshop was born.
The Bedford Clanger / September 2026
What’s the best thing about being part of the Bedford indies community? When we opened, there was a vibrant, independent trading community in Castle Road which was immediately welcoming and supportive. The town centre then was full of chain stores – people regret their passing now, but at the time they said it made Bedford just a clone of any other town centre. Of course, the best scenario is a balance of the two, but it is the independents that give a town its uniqueness and character.
Which other Bedford indies do you always recommend to customers? We are so blessed in this town, but being just round the corner from St Cuthbert’s Street it’s a pleasure to point our peckish customers to the likes of Roosters, Vanilla Tree, Say Doughnuts or, for something to take home, that most memorable and delicious of all sausages, the Bedford Banger from Lingers.
What’s your favourite book that’s passed through your hands? How do I choose? Perhaps, a unique and beautiful set of the works of Charles Dickens (the Nonesuch Dickens, for those interested) which included, in a matching dummy volume, the original, engraved metal plate of what I think is the most iconic book illustration ever - ‘Oliver Asking For More’. And the most valuable? A pamphlet that took me two days of book hunting in Salisbury to track down - Wilbur Wright’s Some Aeronautical Experiments. Printed in 1900 and pre-dating the brothers’ first powered flight, it’s worth many times its weight in gold – if only the same were true of The Encyclopaedia Britannica I was offered yesterday. The best business advice you’ve been given? Rare books, like antiques, involve a lot of deals within the trade, and the best advice I had when selling was not to be greedy always leave enough for the other dealer to have their profit. Photography: Cameron Scrimgeour
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After the short interval...
The drama continues Theatre: Twelfth Night
Dinner by Moira Buffini
The Pantaloons once again present their own brand of Shakespearean mayhem. Separated at sea, twins Viola and Sebastian wash up on the island of Illyria, both fearing the other lost forever. Plied pranksters, puritanical pillocks and perhaps even true love await them as they forge their own paths through this new world of fools, jewels, duels and dual identities. theplacebedford.org.uk
An evening of fine dining descends into chaos in Moira Buffini’s razor-sharp satire Dinner.
Saturday, 12 & Sunday, 13 September The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £18
Tuesday, 15 - Saturday, 19 September Sharnbrook Mill Theatre @ 7.30pm nightly / Tickets from £18
Wickedly funny, unsettling, and deliciously provocative, Dinner invites you to a night where manners are abandoned and survival is on the menu. The characters are brilliantly brought to life by cast members Tracey Chatterley, David Mander, Tim Wyatt, Marie de Greeve, Annette Codrington, Chris Uff and Tom Carter. sharnbrookmilltheatre.co.uk
Theatre: Hasbian
Thursday, 17 September The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £20
Theatre: Three Men in a Boat Tuesday, 15 September The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £18
A fresh adaptation of the classic comic tale. Join Walsall’s very own Jerome K. Jerome as he recounts his quixotic journey along the River Thames with his friends Harris and George (not forgetting Montmorency the dog). As funny now as it was all those years ago. Jonathan Goodwin portrays Jerome K Jerome in a show scripted by himself. theplacebedford.org.uk 12
Hasbian takes audiences on a queer coming-of-age journey, from childhood to cringey adolescence – from identifying as a teenage lesbian, to realising boys are also appealing. The show is fun, upbeat, and packed with 90s and 00s pop culture and a throwback soundtrack featuring S Club, B*Witched and Destiny’s Child. theplacebedford.org.uk
Comedy: British Comedian of the Year - Bedford Heat Thursday, 17 September The Quarry Theatre @ 8pm / Tickets: £15
Castle Comedy and the Quarry Theatre host the British Comedian of the Year: Bedford Heat. This competition has the biggest comedy prize in the UK, a whopping £10,001. The quality will be sky-high. Paul Revill will host the show. quarrytheatre.org.uk I love whiteboards. They’re re-markable.
Comedy: Simon Evans is Staring at the Sun Friday, 18 September The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £20
With growing evidence that we are living in a Computer Simulation, BBC Radio 4 stalwart and veteran of a quarter century of highly acclaimed stand-up comedy Simon Evans is revisiting the blue remembered hills of his youth. The analogue world of hitch-hiking, pub bets and hedge porn. Of being able to get properly lost. quarrytheatre.org.uk
Theatre: The (Almost) Complete History of Britain
Saturday, 19 September The Place Theatre @ 2.30pm & 7.30pm / Tickets: from £16
Community Theatre: 2:22 A Ghost Story Tuesday, 22 - Saturday, 26 September The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £12
2:22 A Ghost Story is an adrenaline-filled, supernatural thriller by Danny Robins. Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and her new partner Ben. Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer, so they’re going to stay up… until 2:22… and then they’ll know. theplacebedford.org.uk
Theatre: Mistero Buffo
Tuesday, 29 September The Quarry theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £15
Missed this one in April? Never fear – it’s back, with mud, blood and stiff upperlips in under two hours. Have you ever wanted to see the life of Henry VIII told as a romantic comedy or the tale of the Spanish Armada reimagined as a light operetta? Probably not. But that won’t stop The Pantaloons retelling great moments from the country’s past in a variety of surprising genres! Featuring live music, audience interaction and wild historical inaccuracy. theplacebedford.org.uk
Banned as blasphemous for many years, but perhaps even more relevant now, Mistero Buffo takes an unflinching but humorous aim at those who manipulate truth and belief for power and control. This is an extraordinary, virtuosic romp through a hundred characters and locations in the person of one man. Our 21st-century travelling storyteller, yet another employee of the gig economy, rushes from his last job of the day to deliver a subversive, gleeful rallying cry for the disillusioned and disenfranchised… quarrytheatre.org.uk
The Bedford Clanger / September 2026
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Bring the noise Dance music: Remedy ft Aidy West
Saturday, 19 September Dom Polski, Ashburnham Road @ 8pm Tickets: £15 Remedy returns to Dom Polski, and this month they are welcoming Aidy West, one of the most respected underground DJs and a pivotal tastemaker in the UK dance scene. He is known for playing eclectic sets blending deep house, disco, boogie, jazz-funk and leftfield obscurities. If you are yearning for a place to dance and make new friends, this is a night for you.
Classical music: Stephen Meakins - Piano concert
Saturday, 12th September St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Road @7.30pm / Tickets: £14 One of the UK’s busiest young pianists and a keen collaborator, Stephen Meakins is in great demand as a chamber musician and has performed in major concert venues as both soloist and accompanist. Catch him at this intimate venue in Bedford. ticketsource.com/casa-bedford/
Live music: B.C.U.C
Wednesday, 9 September Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £20
Ticket price includes a vegan buffet as well as a cloakroom. To get your tickets, sign up for their invite list at remedycollective.net/.
Fresh from supporting The Damned at Wembley in April, expect a jolt of high‑octane rock’n’roll as The Courettes bring their explosive garage‑beat energy back to Bedford. The Danish–Brazilian duo have built a fierce reputation channelling the raw spirit of 60s girl‑group pop, fuzz‑drenched garage rock, and a wall‑of‑sound intensity that feels tailor‑made for every venue. bedfordesquires.co.uk
Live music: Mark Chadwick (The Levellers) Saturday, 12 September Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm / £22.50
Live music: Man of the World : The Music of Peter Green Saturday, 5 September The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £18
Celebrating the life and music of Peter Green, founder of the original Fleetwood Mac, guitarist Remi Harris will be joined by vocalist Dave Small, bassist Tom Moore and Shane Dixon on drums to perform music from throughout Peter Green’s career. Including such classics as Man Of The World, Black Magic Woman, Need Your Love So Bad, Albatross and The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown). theplacebedford.org.uk
BCUC, or Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness, hail from South Africa and are known for their high-energy blend of indigenous funk, hip-hop, punk rock and ancestral spiritual music. This is going to be one of those “I was there” shows - make sure you grab yourself a ticket. bedfordesquires.co.uk
Live music: The Courettes
The Levellers’ frontman and chief songwriter, Mark Chadwick, is back at Bedford Esquires this month for a special, intimate show. Still going strong, the Levellers are perennial festival favourites. Be warned – Mark will have you up dancing! bedfordesquires.co.uk
Live music: Little Barrie
Friday, 18 September Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm / £20
Friday, 11 September Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm / £17.50
Live music: Fynnius Fogg
Saturday, 12 September The Quarry Theatre @7.30pm / Tickets: £20 Fynnius Fogg formed in 1972 and their debut single, “Roller Skating Baby,” reached no 17 in the UK charts. Since reforming, the Bedford band has helped raise over £1m for charitable causes. Enjoy an evening of nostalgic, authentic hits from the 60s and 70s, plus stories from the band’s time . 14
Cast in the grand tradition of great British rock bands, and fuelled by a love of American blues, funk and soul, Little Barrie consists of Barrie Cadogan, Lewis Wharton and Tony Coote. This will be a legendary show. bedfordesquires.co.uk My ceiling isn’t the best, but it’s up there.
Tribute act: The Magic of the Beatles Friday, 25 September Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £30
Playing to ecstatic sell-out audiences all over the world – The Magic of the Beatles is all you need for an unforgettable night of million-selling memories. Expect hits including: She Loves You, A Hard Day’s Night, Help!, I Feel Fine, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Hey Jude, Here Comes the Sun, Get Back and more. bedfordcornexchange.co.uk/
The Bedford Clanger / September 2026
Coming up… Classical music: Beethoven’s Fifth with Delyana Lazarova Thursday, 1 October Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm / Tickets: prices vary
This concert is dedicated to the memory of Bedfordian Michael Blackledge who died earlier this year. Thanks to Michael’s vision, the Philharmonia Orchestra made Bedford its first permanent residency outside London in 1995. His inspiration has enriched the borough’s cultural life for decades, enabled thousands of children to experience a symphony orchestra for the first time, and contributed significantly to a deep and enduring cultural community. bedfordcornexchange.co.uk
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Rice Street Fusions St Cuthbert’s Street is easily one of Bedford’s most vibrant spots right now, so being shown to a window seat at Rice Street Fusions to watch the world go by was the perfect start to our evening. The staff greeted us with huge smiles, and that genuine warmth you always hope for when eating locally, and Bedford always seems to deliver. We have been having some really hot weather lately. A cold drink was exactly what I needed when we sat down. The drinks menu is varied, but I went straight for the Rice Thai Special mocktail. It is a brilliant mix of honey syrup, crisp apple and lychee juice finished with a splash of lemonade and a longan garnish. It was incredibly refreshing and went down a treat. Rice Thai has been a much-loved Bedford staple for well over a decade. Their newer Fusion offering is a fantastic way to try more than just their classic Thai dishes. The new offering brings together Southeast Asian street food and tapas and the menu features dishes the owners and staff fell in love with whilst travelling across Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. So we decided to dive right in and order a proper feast. Our table was soon covered with Grilled Chicken Satay, Nasi Kuning, Roti Cannai, Beef Rendang, Tamarind Duck, Dim Sum and Martabak Daging. To say it was delicious is an understatement. Every single bite was fresh and packed with flavour. Each dish complemented the others perfectly. We ate until we were full to the brim and still had plenty to box up and take home. And then came the best part of the night. If you sign up for free as a Rice Dining Club Member, you get a digital card. Present it at the end of your meal, and you get given two dice. / Transparency: The reviewer received a meal as part of the review process.
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Roll a double six, and you win your entire bill for up to 12 people. It is such a fun way to end a meal. It genuinely felt like the whole restaurant stopped and crossed their fingers for us as the dice rolled. Rice Street Fusions is open Monday to Saturday from 5pm to 11pm and Sundays from 1pm to 9.30pm. You can find them at 39/41 St Cuthbert’s Street, Bedford, MK40 3JG. Go book a table at ricestreetfusions.co.uk or call them on 01234 272053. Clones are people two.
Harpur Square. Revellers can keep the Pride celebrations rolling right across town, with The Bear and The Standard hosting events.
Get on the Pride Trail Local organisation Not Everything Sucks CIC is calling on Bedford businesses to dress up their storefronts for the Pride Window Competition.
Image: Pixabay
Bedford Pride A festival of community, creativity & celebration Saturday, 5 September @ 1pm-8pm Get ready to crank up the colour and turn up the energy as we prepare to celebrate Bedford’s LGBTQ+ community at Pride this month. Organised by Rainbow Bedfordshire and sponsored by The Harpur Trust and The University of Bedfordshire, this year’s event brings a packed lineup of entertainment, connection, and grassroots activism to the town centre. “Bedford Pride 2026 will be a time for the LGBTQ+ community to be visible, show our resilience, reflect on our past, and celebrate together,” said Mack & Pat, the founders of Rainbow Bedfordshire.
If you want to get in on the action, here’s a run-down of what’s on, where and when… The Harpur Suite will be home to stalls featuring local artists and community organisations, while on stage there will be live music, comedy, poetry and speeches - all with BSL interpretation. From 6pm, the creative collective, Nebula, will take over, bringing performance art, film and a live set from the band Boxship. Throughout the afternoon, Bedford Central Library will host creative workshops, so head over there to make a zine, create your own placard or play a board game. Activities run from 1pm - 5pm. In Harpur Square, The Barley Mow pub is sponsoring the outdoor stage, hosted all day by Drag Queen Bitney Dallas, who will be announcing performances throughout the day. But the party doesn’t stop in
Participating shop windows will be decorated and on display until Sunday, 6 September, and there will be a grand prize for the best-dressed window, as agreed by the independent judges.
Join the celebration Whether you’re stopping by for the music, getting creative in a workshop, or following the window trail with friends, there’s a place for everyone at this year’s events. Come down, bring your friends and family, and help bring the celebration to the streets of Bedford. For real-time updates, performance schedules, and behind-the-scenes previews, make sure to follow the organisers on social media @bedford.pride @rainbowbedfordshire @nebula.beds @barleymowbeds
48th Bedford Beer & Cider Festival A Celebration of Heritage, Community and Great Beer
7–10 October 2026 Bedford Corn Exchange
Opening times Wed 4 - 11, Thu/Fri 12 - 11, Sat 12 - 10. We have an exceptional range of real ale, alongside the ales you’ll find traditional ciders, perries, continental beers, mead, wine and Willow Tree gin. Food available every day and entertainment on Wednesday and Saturday. More Information and tickets at www.northbeds.camra.org.uk
Write By The River Bedford Literary Festival 18 - 20 September
Author talks | Book signings | Panel discussions Writing workshops | Q&As | Indie author showcase
Scan for tickets & info
writebytheriver.org The Bedford Clanger / September 2026
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Image: Dave Bergin
Bringing the GoodTimes to Bedford for 30 years GoodTimes is celebrating 30 years of bringing dance music to the discerning music lovers of Bedford with a special anniversary event at Esquires this month. What began as a passion for house music and creating unforgettable nights, GoodTimes has grown into a project celebrating the town’s musical heritage, reconnecting generations and bringing people together through music. GoodTimes was founded in 1996 by Dave Bergin, with its roots in the early90s house music scene. Dave met fellow DJ Mark Russell while studying in Bedford, and through their shared passion for promoting and creating events, they helped shape Bedford’s student club scene. The events went on to attract over 2,000 people to Enigma in Bedford every Saturday at their peak, and they put on nearly 400 weekly club nights, special events, festivals, and touring shows.
Reunited Dave and Mark brought the old gang together again for the GoodTimes reunion at Esquires in 2024, and visitors to the Community Stage at this year’s River Festival were treated to a feel-good set that drew music fans from across the site.
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As a special treat, they’re inviting everyone to do it all again on Saturday, 19 September to celebrate the 30th anniversary. Describing the secret ingredient of GoodTimes parties, Dave said it’s the atmosphere. “It’s so hard to explain,” he said. “It’s pure happiness. As soon as people arrive, they just head straight to the middle of the dance floor, and we’re turning up the dial on emotional joy to 11.” And while the anniversary night will certainly reunite lots of the original GoodTimes fans, Dave says that a new generation of 18- and 19-year-olds have begun coming along too, looking forward to dancing all night to classic dance tracks and anthems, including Dave’s go-to floor filler, Children by Robert Miles. “It always rocked the house and still does,” he said. Alongside Dave, DJs on the night include Slipmatt, JFK (Passion), Roy the Roach and MC Winston. And as a special treat, Mark Russell (Momacoca) is coming out of retirement for one last event, so a good time is definitely guaranteed.
On the night, GoodTimes will be raising money for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a suicide prevention charity that is at the heart of everything GoodTimes stands for. GoodTimes 30th anniversary, Saturday, 19 September @ 7.30pm - 1.30am Tickets are available from Esquires and Skiddle. bedfordesquires.co.uk
Did you hear about the silk worm race? It ended in a tie.
Great Bedfordian Best-selling novelist, Ruth Hogan Novelist Ruth Hogan was born and educated in Bedford, where she still lives with the latest in a long line of rescue dogs. After graduating from Goldsmiths with a degree in English and Drama, a career in local government and an encounter with cancer, she wrote her first novel, The Keeper of Lost Things, which became a Sunday Times Bestseller and has been published all over the world. Since then, she has written a further six novels and her books have sold over two million copies. Her latest title, The Stray Dogs, has just been published and Ruth will be at the Write By The River literary festival to talk about her career. Occupation? Author
Born here or blow in? Bedford born and bred.
Best boozer?
Start the evening in The Wellington Arms – a classic backstreet boozer with great atmosphere and an impressive range of craft beers. But then move on to Noble Rot with its quirky Baroque interior, vintage nightclub vibe and inimitable host – the wonderful Charlie!
Best coffee or cuppa?
An oat milk latte from The Pavilion in Bedford Park. Great coffee and a beautiful view.
Image: @theauthorslounge
Best takeaway?
I thought about lying for this one to make myself sound a bit more cosmopolitan - and I do like pizza, Indian, Thai and Chinese. But my favourite will always be just chips! So honestly it has to be my local chippy – Deniz Fish Bar on Park Road West.
Three words that best sum up Bedford? Full of potential
Best gig you’ve seen in Bedford?
It’s never too late for a fresh start - whether you’re on two legs or four...
Ever read John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress?
When burnt-out city vet Leona Lennox moves to the market town of Fiddlers Green determined to set up a dog rescue centre, recently divorced Desmond Leaks takes an instant shine to her and makes a rash promise to get his college band back together for some fundraising gigs.
James (Orchestral Tour) in Bedford Park in July 2024. I’ve been to so many of the brilliant Summer Sessions in Bedford Park, but this one literally took my breath away. It was astounding.
Yes, a long time ago at school. The only thing I can remember about it was The Slough of Despond. I’m reminded of it every time I come across the Betjeman poem Slough.
Ever eaten a Bedfordshire Clanger?
Not as far as I know. Unless it was served as a school dinner in the 60s and 70s!
An off-the-beaten-track gem that everyone should know about? Foster Hill Road Cemetery. It’s such a rich part of Bedford’s heritage and a beautiful place to walk in all seasons. It’s full of history and a haven for wildlife.
Best Bedfordian?
An impossible question! There are far too many amazing Bedfordians to choose from. But looking forward to the future rather than back to our history (and because I’m a huge test cricket fan), I’m giving a shout-out to Bedford-born Emilio Gay, who this summer took his place as opening batsman for the England Test Cricket Team.
After a disastrous first gig without their charismatic frontman Darcus McGuire, who doesn’t want to be found, and objections by the neighbours, the future of the rescue centre looks ever more uncertain. But the residents of Fiddlers Green are not to be underestimated, particularly when the fates of their fourlegged friends are at stake. And meanwhile, the elusive Darcus McGuire might just be ready to make a comeback... (My publishers are working in partnership with Battersea Dogs and for each online pre-order and purchase of the paperback edition until 26th September £1 per book will go Battersea Dogs) Image: Ruth Hogan
Image: Pavilion in the Park
The Bedford Clanger / September 2026
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