THE BEDFORD CLANGER · have some great cultural venues on our doorstep. Both the Quarry Theatre on...

FEBRUARY 2018 THEBEDFORDCLANGER.COM

CLANGERBEDFORDTHE

Y O U R C U L T U R A L G U I D E T O T H E B E S T O F B E D F O R D

In this issue: Seventh Heaven Bespoke Cakes : Eagle Brewery : Independent Venue Week : plus theatre, live music & more...

2 The Bedford Clanger • February 2018

Team ClangerEditor: Erica Roffe @bedfordclanger [email protected]

Commercial Manager: Julia Crofts @clangerads [email protected]

Design: Emma Lemon twitter: @emmaloulemon instagram: @emmalemonlettering

Photography: Cat Lane @catlanephoto

Music: Lloyd Lugsden @lloydlug

Theatre: Paula Walker @pauliwauli2

Food & Drink: Stephen Bywater @authorbywater

Website: Alec East @ Narrative Industries

Letter fromthe EditorHappy New Year and welcome to our first issue of 2018. As usual, it’s packed full of the best of Bedford’s art, culture, food, music, theatre and shopping; your one-stop-shop of what’s on and what to see.

This year, we welcome a new designer on board. You will already have seen Emma Lemon’s work in the Clanger (she designed the Taste Bedford logo and created our indie retail guide) and we’re really looking forward to having her on the team. As a freelancer, Emma is always seeking new projects, so please do get in contact if you’d like to add your business to her portfolio.

THE

CLANGER

NEWS IN BRIEF

Friends like these New year, new DJs and new shows on In2beats FMLast month, In2Beats welcomed three new team members to the station: Amy Botes, Aims and Sassy B. We asked the girls what inspired them to give radio a go?

Amy Botes: I have a rich history as a professional actress which has taken me from the Royal Shakespeare Company, to the West End, to Broadway. I have also worked for the BBC Radio 4 drama company and was the runner up for the prestigious Carleton Hobbs award in 2004. I am also a successful Entrepreneur and I love bringing the two worlds of business and performance together. That’s why I was so determined to bring a weekly podcast to In2beats, sharing my knowledge and expertise in communication skills in business. Listen in on Mondays 10-11am to hear tips and empowering information.

Aimz: I love the studio atmosphere, I love music and I love talking, it’s really that simple!

Sassy B: DJing is something I have always liked the idea of but never thought I could do it! With encouragement I have had a go and really enjoy it! Aimz and I will be on-air Wednesdays 1-4pm.

Tune into In2Beats at 106.5fm

the puddin clubPuddings • Cakes • Breakfast • Cheeseboard Great Coffee • Prosecco • Wine • Beer • Cider Ice Cream • Milkshakes • Afternoon Tea (booking required)

Open late every Friday until 10.30pm

Private hire available on a Saturday nights

07773 943586Facebook: thepuddinclub120a Castle Road, Bedford, MK40 3RG

get your just desserts

Please do share the Clanger love with your friends and family and don’t forget you can find us on Instagram, twitter, Facebook andour website thebedfordclanger.com.

Happy Valentine’s and see you next month, Team Clanger

Bedford is fortunate to have some great cultural venues on our doorstep. Both the Quarry Theatre on St Peter’s Street and The Place on Bradgate Road, host a diverse range of productions

from drama to comedy, film to stand-up. Both theatres have recently launched ‘Friends’ schemes, so you can now help to support the work they do while receiving some brilliant benefits.

Annual membership of each scheme is £20 (or £35 per couple at the Place), with benefits including discounted tickets on selected shows, priority information and booking plus a discount on drinks in the bar*. For further information and to sign up, visit quarrytheatre.org.uk and theplacebedford.org.uk. Why not join both? One can never have too many friends! *terms & conditions apply. Please see

websites for more details.

Get in touch: [email protected]

insta: @emmalemonlettering

A BOARDS • WEDDING STATIONERY

MURALS • SIGNWRITING • BRANDING

BY EMMA LEMON

quarrytheatre.org.ukThe Quarry Theatre at St Luke’s is part of Bedford School, which is part of The Harpur Trust

Ticket price

£8.00

(£5.00 conc)

Age suitability

11+

Running time

90mins (15min

interval)

A bold re-imagining of Shakespeare’s iconic tale. Set in a fictional, post-apocalyptic war ravaged 1985, the darker themes of this classic text are brought to the fore as the masked balls of a bygone era are supplanted by the neon lights and savage hedonism of an industrial rave scene.

Performed by pupils of Bedford School, Bedford Girls’ School and Mark Rutherford School.

Box office 01234 362337

Romeo & JulietThursday 22 & Saturday 24 February, 7.30pm Matinee Friday 23 February, 1.30pm

The Bedford Clanger • February 2018 3

Seventh Heaven Bespoke Cake Company17 The Arcade, Bedford, MK40 1NS tel:01234 589013 seventhheavencakes.co.uk

As we’ve been reporting for the last few months, it’s been all change in the old Arcade. New shops have sprung up, other tenants have moved out and existing businesses have expanded.

One of the most spectacular shops has to be Seventh Heaven Bespoke Cake Company. Its jaw-dropping window display of lovinglyhand-made and beautifully decorated cakes is sure to stop any passer-by in their tracks, and the newly expanded ‘window into the workshop’ is mesmerising!

“Our previous premises just weren’t big enough to meet the demands of the current business,” said owner Sarah Viola. “We’ve expanded into the adjacent property to include a large kitchen and purpose built sugar craft school. As well as creating a landmark shop in Bedford we now have the biggest bespoke cake and sugar school in the region.”

All of the Seventh Heaven cakes are bespoke and the team can cater for weddings, celebrations or corporate events. Said Sarah, “Our new kitchen has givenus an amazing creative space which isnow viewable to people passingthrough the Arcade.”

The Seventh Heaven Sugar School is now open and running a number of classes, ranging from a half day cake levelling and piping workshop through to an eight week tiered wedding cake course.

The shop also stocks a wide range of sugar craft tools and supplies, perfect to meet the demands of all things cake.

Details about the shop and the school are available by contacting 01234 589013 or on their Facebook page @SeventhHeavenCakes or emailing [email protected]

UNIQUE BEDFORD photography: www.catlaneweddings.com

Hometown Tourist: Bedford Leads theWay in National Vote 100 Campaign

44 Mill Street, Bedford, MK40 3HD

www.epanoui.co.uk


www.epanoui.co.uk


The Circus of Illustration’s popular Drink and Draw evenings return for 2018 and everyone is welcome. Taking place at the Three Cups on Newnham Street on the last Tuesday of every month, the forthcoming themes are Room 101 (Tuesday 27th February) and Pixel Perfect (Tuesday 27th March)

circusofillustration.com

Bedford’s Bears & Tales is opening in its new home on St Cuthbert’s Street this month – and we can’t wait. With 60 covers, the space is significantly larger than their former premises on Lime Street, but owner Gareth Barber assures us that they will still be offering full table service and the best cocktails in town. With a refined menu and a Parisienne vibe, the décor will be a far cry from the industrial look of the Lime Street bar. Comfy cocktail chairs, bench seating and a lounge area by the front windows sound like the perfect place to sip one of Tom Faden’s creations. Pop in for pre-theatre drinks, post-dinner cocktails, or settle in for the night. Your new favourite cocktail is almost certainly on the menu.

Bears & Tales, St Cuthbert’s Street, Bedford MK40 3JG.

To book a table call: 07471 681318

2018 is an important year for women, marking 100 years since the suffrage movement won the right to vote. A high-profile national campaign focuses mainly on our cities, but Bedford is one of the towns leading the way with a year of events and activities to highlight our town’s key role in the movement.

Local group, Women of Bedford, are at the heart of the campaign, working with the Council, The Higgins, Panacea and John Bunyan museums, the Libraries and Archives Services, local schools and other community groups to bring all women together to celebrate this significant anniversary. They have spent the last year working with artists, historians and funding bodies to ensure Bedford’s part in an important historic achievement is finally recognised.

Their keynote event will be the unveiling of a statue of local suffragist, Amy Walmsley, on the Embankment. Group Chair, Rachael Rogan, is excited that Bedford is finally getting the recognition it deserves: “I have always been

fascinated with Bedford’s intriguing history - it seems to have been central to so many important events in our country’s past. Our part in the national celebrations will really put the town on the map!” The Women of Bedford group has been crowdfunding to contribute to the cost of the statue. While the Indiegogo campaign ended at the end of January, there are still plenty of ways you can be involved.

The group are calling for women to take part in their ‘protest march’ as part of the River Festival Community Parade in July. 100 women and girls will form a human float, dressed in costumes from the decades between 1918 and 2018, to highlight the anniversary. For more details, email [email protected]

You can follow the group’s activities by following them on social media - on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, by searching for Women of Bedford.

Circus of Illustration: Drinkin n Drawin

BEARS & TALES


www.epanoui.co.uk


www.epanoui.co.uk


The Eagle has rebrandedOn Friday 19th February, the newly rebranded visitor centre at Eagle Brewery in Queens Park was unveiled. The former home of Charles Wells is now owned by established brewer, Marstons who will continue to brew Eagle IPA and Bombardier alongside their other ales. The iconic Bedford eagle has been reimagined by Ampthill-based creative agency, Bonfire, and features on pump clips, bottle labels, brewery truck livery and proudly looks out over the brewery site in the heart of Queens Park.

Eagle Brewery Tours

Beer fans can now get up close and personal with their favourite local brew by taking part in the two hour Eagle Brewery Experience. 45 minute guided tours take place at 1pm and 3pm every Saturday and visitors will be able to sample a range of Marstons’ beers, visit the brewery store and receive a free bottle of beer and souvenir glass. The cost of the tour is £10 per person and weekday evening party bookings are also available for a minimum of 10 people. To book a tour and find out more about The Brewery Tap, shop and visitor centre call 01234 272766 or by email [email protected]

THE CLANGERLATEST NEWS

Opening for a new season from February half term to the end of October

www.bunyanmeeting.co.uk/museum www.panaceatrust.org

FOOD & DRINK

FASHION, DESIGN & SEWING SCHOOL


Clanger interview: Ed ByrneEd Byrne has been an acclaimed stand-up for 20 years with numerous successful tours under his belt. His television appearances are as diverse as Mock The Week, Father Ted, The One Show and All Star Mr & Mrs, plus he is the co-host of the highly acclaimed Dara & Ed’s Big Adventure and follow up Dara & Ed’s Road To Mandalay, both on BBC 2.

Ed’s new touring show Spoiler Alert, arrives in Bedford on Friday 16th February at the Corn Exchange. Ed compares and contrasts the old-school child-rearing days with 21st century methods and suggests that there are different ways to learn how to be a mum or dad. For the show Ed extends his analysis on the culture of entitlement to look at areas where we could perhaps do with being spoiled a little bit more. “Where I think we’re not acting spoiled enough is in the political arena.

We have a tendency to accept what’s happening and that’s where we should be acting more entitled: we are literally entitled to the government we want. We’re spoiled in all these little ways, but not spoiled enough.”

As well as stories about his two young sons, Ed weaves in routines about running out of petrol in the most awkward place imaginable, helping rescue an injured man in the Cairngorms, and the nation-dividing campaign and result of the EU referendum. His way of tackling Brexit is to draw an analogy with the time his son was determined to touch an electric fence with his dad trying to warn him of the dangers.

Having premiered Spoiler Alert at the Edinburgh Fringe and used the month of August to hone the show, it is fully ready to go. “Being on stage is enjoyable and this part of the writing process is enjoyable. The empty page though is a scary thing. On the first leg of the tour l’ll do about an hour and 15 minutes, plus I’ll have a support act. I keep a tour diary now of places where the curries are disappointing and where they are good and where audiences have been good before.” With such an extensive series of dates ahead, chances are Ed Byrne will be coming to a town near you soon. Go and spoil yourself.

(The full interview with Ed appears on the Bedford Clanger website thebedfordclanger.com)

Tickets for the show are £24 and available from bedfordcornexchange.co.uk


What’s on… February 2018

February Half-TermThis February Half-Term The Higgins Bedford’s holiday activities are taking inspiration from A Walk in the Woods. All of the workshops start at 11am, 12noon and 2pm. There is no need to book and all children must be accompanied by an adult.

On Tuesday 13th February Teaching Talons will be at the museum with some real woodland creatures. On Valentine’s Day, local artist Damon Poulton will be helping children create a woodland themed Valentine’s card. On Friday 16th February it will be time to create a stunning mosaic tile with Qemamu Mosaics. All of these activities cost £2.70 per participating child.

On Thursday 15th February join Jo Roberts from the Forest of Marston Vale for a free tree identification walk and craft activity (sponsored by Oxford Brookes University) Walks start at 11am, 12noon, 2 and 3pm.

Not only is there plenty to keep children entertained during the half-term, but they can also eat free at The Higgins Pantry. Children eat free from the kids menu, with one paying adult ordering a main course or light lunch per child.

Walking Netball has evolved from a growing demand for walking sports. It’s a slower version of the game and has been designed so that anyone can play it regardless of age or fitness level.

Walking Netball began in Bedford a year ago, and apart from the obvious health benefits of keeping active many friendships have blossomed. Said organiser, Alison Brightman: “Players tell me that they look forward to our sessions and we have quite a few mothers and daughters who play together. One of our players was going through very gruelling cancer treatment when she joined us. She said that when she was young and going through a particularly stressful time at home it was sport that took her mind off the problems. She decided to try again and see if sport had the same effect and it has - coming to Walking Netball has given her something positive to look forward to.” Sessions take place on Monday mornings and Thursday evenings at the John Bunyan Sports Centre and cost £4. For more information on the Just Turn Up page of the Bedford.gov.uk website or email Alison [email protected]

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES THIS FEBRUARY AT THE HIGGINS BEDFORD

Friday 2nd February 2.30pmFIGHTING PROUDStephen Bourne presents an engaging and informative talk about some of the gay men who are featured in his latest book, Fighting Proud – The Untold Story of the Gay Men Who Served in Two World Wars (I B Tauris, £17.99). Among those featured are the Battle of Britain hero Ian Gleed, bandleader Ken ‘Snakehips’ Johnson, PC Harry Daley and Noel Coward. The talk will be followed by a Q&A session. The Higgins Bedford is proud to be joining London, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Belfast as a hub venue for the National Festival of LGBT History in 2018. On Saturday 17th February the art gallery and museum will host a day of free talks. Visitors can drop in between 1.30 and 4pm to discover hidden histories and stories from LGBT communities in Bedfordshire and beyond.

OUTING THE PAST FESTIVAL: LGBT HISTORY MONTH

TAKE PART: WALKING NETBALL

Following Holocaust Memorial Day on 27th January, a month of events is taking place in Bedford including Anne Frank & Family, an exhibition of family photographs by Otto Frank, taken before World War Two. The exhibition will be free to enter and will run until 18th February, accompanied by a programme of free

events including first-hand accounts and personal stories from people affected by genocide in Rwanda, Srebrenica and World War Two. During February half-term The Higgins Young Peoples’ Panel (HYPP) will lead a series of drop-in activities for children and families on the theme of ‘the power of words’. For a full listing of all of the Holocaust Memorial Events in Bedford visit http://www.hmd.org.uk

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY


- 10am - 5.30pmTHE EAGLE GALLERYOpen: Monday101 Castle Road, Bedford, MK40 3QP tel: 01234 346995www.eaglegalleryartists.co.uk www.facebook.com/TheEagleGallery

- Saturday,

3rd February - 1st March

an exhibition by eagle gallery

ENVIRONMENTALpainting prints mixed media photography

jewellery ceramics textiles sculpture

ARTISTS

Thursday, February 15 2018 at 7:30pmNorth End Social Club, 60 Roff Avenue, Bedford MK41 7TWMankind has been able to utilise biology to manufacture a range of products; Dr John Betts will be discussing how these applications have developed in complexity as our understanding of biology has advanced. John currently works at Sartorius Stedim Biotech in Royston (formerly TAP Biosystems) as a product development scientist working on novel, small scale robotic solutions for use in biopharmaceutical research and development.

The Fashion Loop (amazing fashion, design and sewing school right here in Bedford) has added fashion-focused crochet & knitting classes with Cheryl Carter to their workshops. “From February we’ve programmed classes for children and adults,” said Fashion Loop founder, Jay Carrera. “They’re a lovely way to meet people with similar interests, as well as learn new skills, with plenty of room to explore your creativity.” Cheryl has been designing and creating her own accessories since the age of 15 “I love the tangible and portable aspect of crochet,” said Cheryl. “It’s great to be able to create modern and fresh designs from such a traditional skill.” For more info about workshop dates and to book: thefashionloop.co.uk

THE FASHION LOOP: NEW CROCHET & KNITTING CLASSES

SKEPTICS IN THE PUB: BEER, DRUGS AND GENETICALLY ENGINEERED TERMINATOR CELLS

St Cuthbert’s Hall is hosting a murder mystery with a difference on Saturday 24th February. Welcome to the Greek Island of ‘Fernando’ and the most chaotic wedding you have ever seen! Soon you will be shouting ‘S.O.S’ as ‘Mamma Murder’ has been committed! So ‘Chiquitita’s get the suspects to tell you the truth. Can you solve the crime? ‘Does Your Mother Know’? Once the murderer has been revealed ‘The Winner Takes It All’.

Get your 70’s glam-rock on and warm up your singing voices as this is a murder mystery with a difference, you’ll have a ‘Super Trouper’ evening singing along to all your favourite ‘Mamma Mia’ tunes!

Tickets are £22 per person and include 3 course meal: stcuthbertshall.co.uk

MURDER MYSTERY AT ST CUTHBERTS...

Tuesday 20th February 2018 , 12 noonGordon Cummings – The Fry Art GalleryHidden down a quiet path, in the shadow of the 15th century Saint Mary’s Church, is the Fry Art Gallery, Saffron Waldon, which holds an outstanding collection of works by North West Essex artists, and concentrates on the group who have come to be known as The Bardfield Artists. Tickets: Friends £3, Guests £8. No booking required.

FRIENDS OF THE HIGGINS’ LECTURE:

Theatre By Paula Walker


theplacebedford.org.uk/tickets

01234 354321

THAT’S ALL FOLK

LADY MAISERYWED 28TH MARCH / 8:00PMALL TICKETS £15 / ALL AGES

RHUM AND CLAY THEATRE COMPANY AND KIT REDSTONE

TESTOSTERONEFRI 2ND MARCH / 7:30PMALL TICKETS £15 / AGE 16+

HOUSE AND TOM GILL

GROWING PAINSSAT 17TH MARCH / 7:30PM

FULL £12 CON £10 / AGE 14+

MUSIC

TOURING

& PROF

TOURING

& PROF

The Place Clanger Feb2018.indd 1 12/01/2018 16:04

Quarry Theatre | Friday 16th (7.30pm) & Saturday 17th February (2pm)

Oddsocks & Pavilion Playhouse proudly present : The Wizard of OzTickets: £17.00 (£15.50 concessions, £11.00 under 16s)Running Time: 120 Minutes (including 15min interval) • Age suitability: 8yrs+The “irresistibly anarchic” Oddsocks Productions are bringing another classic adventure to life with a hearty dollop of their trademark comedy: new songs, familiar faces and laughs aplenty!

In a brand-new adaptation of L Frank Baum’s ‘The Wizard of Oz’, the Oddsocks troupe invite you to meet Dorothy as you’ve never seen her before. Join the Scarecrow, Lion and Tin Man, as they travel through the weird and wonderful land of Oz, encountering Wet Witches, Flying Monkeys, Poisonous Poppies and a multitude of Munchkins along the way! What could possibly go wrong?

Friday 2 February at 7.30pm

So Comedy presents: Ellie Taylor: This GuyTickets: £12.00 (£10.00 concessions) • Age Guidance: 16+Following a sell-out Edinburgh Festival season and autumn tour, the star of BBC’s Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week and The John Bishop Show, Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats, BBC2’s The Mash Report and BBC Radio 4’s The Now Show adds additional spring dates for this unmissable, new stand-up show, discussing whether or not she should breed.

The Quarry Theatre at St Luke’sTuesday 6 February at 7.30pm

Highly Sprung Physical Theatre Co presents: Fall OutTickets: £12.50 (£10.50 concessions) • Age Guidance: 14+ (some strong language) Highly Sprung’s high-energy physical theatre performance takes you inside a nightclub where three teenage friends embark on a journey of love, loss and self-discovery. You will be immersed in a frantic, energy-fuelled production of dance, music, aerial movement and storytelling.

We kick of 2018 with a bumper crop of theatre for your enjoyment at the Quarry Theatre and the Place. This February and March, The Place is delivering their Mindscapes season, exploring the experience and stigma of mental health through theatre, in partnership with Mind BLMK and local NHS mental health services, On 10 February – just in time for half term – the theatre will be holding another sensory familiarisation tour of the venue for children and young people with autism, anxiety or other needs. Places are free but must be booked in advance; see the website for details.

THE CLANGERTHEATRE

The Quarry Theatre at St Luke’s, 26 St Peters St, Bedford MK40 2NN Tickets and more information available at www.quarrytheatre.org.uk or on 01234 362337


Thursday 1 February at 7.30pm

Small Nose Productions presents: I Had A Black Dog…His Name Was DepressionTickets: £12 (Concessions £10) • Age

Guidance: 14+A very funny, sensitive and touching look at one man’s life with depression, based on the book by Matthew Johnstone. Boy meets girl and they fall in love. But the boy doesn’t come alone! There’s a third party in the form of a black dog who begins to take over their lives.

Wednesday 14 February at 2pm

Makin Projects presents: Jay Foreman’s Disgusting Songs For Revolting ChildrenTickets £10 (Concession £8.50 Family £30) • Age Guidance: 8+For half term, and in our continuing commitment to be Fantastic For Families, we bring you this interactive comedy show to delight the cheekiest of children.

Wednesday 7 - Friday 9 February at 7.30pm

Act One Theatre presents:Find MeTickets £10 (Concessions £8.50) • Age Guidance: 10+One of the first plays to tackle the stigma of mental health concerning young people, Olwyn Wymark’s classic ‘Find Me’ is adapted for the stage by local company, Act One. Verity is a young woman struggling with the voices and personalities in her head.

THE PLACE THEATRE

Saturday 10 February at 7.30pm

Hurn Davey Productions presents: Hancock and FriendsTickets £12 (Concessions £10) • Age Guidance: 12+On this, his second visit to The Place, James Hurn will be performing a brand new programme, as he single-handedly takes on the personalities and voices of Tony Hancock, Sid James, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams, celebrating 60 years of Hancock’s Half Hour.

To a d v e r t i s e c o n t a c t J u l i a :B e d f o r d C l a n g e r A d s @ g m a i l . c o m

t h e b e d f o r d c l a n g e r.c o m

@bedfordclangerTheBedfordClanger


Thursday 15 February at 2pm

Stone Soup Theatre presents: Pixie’s ScarfTickets £10 (Concession £8.50 Family £30) • Age Guidance: 3+Puppetry, music and energetic storytelling combine to tell the tale of what happens when a little boy finds a pixie’s scarf on the moors, and ultimately finds himself before the Queen of the Pixies, having to strike a very important deal. Magical fun and adventure for all.

Wednesday 28th February at 7.30pm

Viki Brown presents: HELP!Tickets £12 | Concessions £10 • Age Guidance: 14+A one-woman show about coping (and not coping) with depression and anxiety. Packed full of popular culture references, Help puts the experience of living with mental health difficulties into a language everyone can understand. Joyous, thought-provoking, playful and uplifting.

The Place Theatre, Bradgate Road, Bedford MK40 3DE

Tickets and further information available at www.theplacebedford.org.uk or on 01234 354321

How prayer can bring safety to any situation, making our prayers effective right across the globe

Saturday, 3 March at 11 a.m. First Church of Christ, Scientist 84 Kimbolton Road, Bedford

International speaker, Kari Mashos, C.S.B. is a practitioner and teacher of Christian Science healing and a member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship.

MUSIC


2017 saw some great live acts come to Bedford, writes Lloyd Lugsden. From legendary artists such as Geno Washington and Soul II Soul to hot new punk from Idles and Cabbage there have been plenty of highlights.

2018 is looking just as exciting with new and classic acts confirmed already, including The Skids and Shonen Knife. It’s always fun when the Pad Presents drop a new showon Social media and give the 9 to 5ers something tolook forward to.

This month sees Independent Venue week, which Esquires are proud to be a part of and the Clanger is proud to support. It’s vitally important for music lovers to help sustain their local music venue and more importantlyit’s really fun to watch a live band! There’s a bar, cool people and you don’t have to faff about getting downto London. Win win!

Choral evensong at St Paul’s

A hidden musical gem that exists right in the heart of Bedford

St Paul’s Church Bedford perform Choral Evensong at 5.30pm on the second and fourth Sunday of every month during term time. It is free, lasts about 50 minutes and is open to all. The choir performs a huge range of music to cathedral standard.

Choral Evensong itself is a traditional service (basically a liturgical concert of music) dating back hundreds of years and the choir – a hidden cathedral-level musical gem of Bedford – sings music written from c1500 to 2018; at Easter there are even more special services and they sing every Sunday morning too, but Choral Evensong is a particular musical gem which is well worth checking out. St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Square, Bedford MK40 1SQ tel: 01234 340163

Bands confirmed for IVW at Esquires include:Inheaven 2nd feb £9,Dead! 4th February, £8,Black Uhuru, featuring Mykal Rose, Mafia and Luxy, 4th feb, £15

Friday 9th February at 8pmBedford EsquiresTickets £10 in advance

Following the success of Gaz Brookfield’s last two sold out solo UK tours, he is bringing the full band out on the road this February.

Truly a super-group of musicians, Gaz Brookfield and The Company of Thieves comprises of drummer, Leks Wood, (Devil Sold His Soul), bassist, Tom Granville, (Flipron, Nick Parker and The False Alarms), guitarist, Chris Webb, (a superb solo act in his own right), mandolin player, Nick Parker, (Nick Parker and The False Alarms), and of course, Gaz’s old cohort, violinist, Ben Wain.

Tickets priced £10 advance are on sale from Seetickets and the local outlets of Bedford Esquires Bar, Slide Record Shop and Mario’s Hair Design.

Gaz Brookfield & The Companyof ThievesThe Philharmonia Orchestra returns to its second home in Bedford,

at the Corn Exchange, with four concerts brimming with world-class artists and roof-raising symphonies. The Philharmonia is a world-class symphony Orchestra that is proud to put great live music at the heart of Bedford’s cultural life. Whether a live symphony orchestra is completely new for you or it’s your 23rd Philharmonia season, there is music for everyone to enjoy.

On Tuesday 20 March, party music by Mozart rubs shoulders with Haydn’s humorous Symphony No. 47, and at the heart of the season on Saturday 7 April the orchestra performs Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony: a must-hear musical autobiography with emotion in every note. Seeing the Philharmonia Orchestra live in concert is a fun and informal experience. Tickets start from just £14, and there are discounts for families, schools, students, under-16s and other concessions. To book tickets or for more information, visit philharmonia.co.uk or call 020 7921 3907.

The Philharmonia Orchestra: Spend an evening with 80 of the most talented musicians in the UK.

The Clanger’s top tip for this year is The Hare and Hoofe - a horse-brass fixated combo, influenced by folk horror, manifesting their sound through garage rock. You’ll have to trust us on this one…


Come and join The Friends of

The Higgins Bedford

HThe Friends of

The HigginsBEDFORD

*subject to terms and conditions Image©EdwardBawden(1903-1989)detailfromFortnum&Mason's1956ChristmasCatalogue

RegisteredCharityNo802508

Reduced entry prices for charging exhibitions Private view invitations Exceptional annual programme of lectures Newsletter Discounts in The Higgins Bedford shop and in select local restaurants*

www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/join_in

Membership entitles you to:

Cold, winter air whirs through from the town centre, meeting echoes of pedestrians and traffic from the High street.

Bustling crowds form huddles around quirky shop fronts, marvelling over the unique offering of each shop.

Products here are meticulously sourced; customer service is always a priority and standing out from the crowd is where it begins and ends. Rich in culture, creativity and nostalgia, it can only be, Bedford’s infamous Arcade.

Attracting visitors from all over the world, the Arcade offers a unique shopping experience that encapsulates the diversity and uniqueness of Bedford and its people. But, despite many years of trade, what’s perhaps most special about the Arcade is its ability to adapt and renew whilst maintaining its history.

With a mixture of sentimental enterprises and contemporary, indie retailers, the Arcade boasts a large selection of independents, earning its status as the heart of Bedford town centre.

Debbie from Arcadia Sweet Shop adores her customer base, saying, “One day we could be serving someone as old as 90 who has lived in Bedford their entire life, and the next, we could be serving a young American who heard about the shop from a friend. It’s so diverse but that’s what we love about trading in the Arcade.”

Whilst over the walkway, Jo from Boutique Planet wouldn’t have her shop anywhere else, “We love how the beautiful Victorian Arcade is such an integral part of the town and its history. We couldn’t imagine trading anywhere else.”

And whilst we do have our long-standing residents whose familiar faces we’ve have come to depend on, if you’ve set foot in the Arcade over the last few months you’ll have noticed a few changes taking place…

We now have the fabulous Seventh Heaven Bespoke Cake Company, who have recently expanded their premises to include a large kitchen and a purpose-built sugar school. With a standard of aesthetics far too beautiful to simply stride past without admiration, it’s attracting a whole new audience to Bedford town centre.

But of course, we can’t forget the little boost of nostalgia we’ve had in the form of Slide Record Shop, sourcing and selling a plethora of new and second hand records of all genres and appealing to all age groups.

And, just a few steps down the walkway we now have a gorgeous new florist, the Magic Garden, complete with cacti du jour inside and a show-stopping outdoor display of beautiful blooms. So, next time you’re whizzing through town. don’t forget about our little hub of exciting, unique and welcoming retailers.

Indie retail and why we’ll always love Bedford’s Arcade

It’s hard to imagine Bedford without its much-loved Arcadia Sweet Shop. Nothing quite compares to the sweet, tantalising scent that hits you the moment you set foot in the door, or the abundance of jarred sweets stacked higher than you could ever reach.

All of your old favourites: Sherbet Lemons, Rhubarb and Custards, Army and Navy, Jelly Buttons - weighed by the quarter of course, and served to you in a paper bag. The shop runs on tradition and nostalgia, as owners Jan, Doug, and Debbie (Mum, Dad and Daughter) do everything they can to maintain its character and products, keeping their loyal customer base sweet (pun intended).

Most of you will recognise Debbie as the hands-on face of the shop. Pretty much every hour of her day is spent serving customers, packing and sending internet orders, replenishing stock, having a giggle with her Saturday girls, or keeping her finger on the pulse with products old and new, weird and wonderful...


Name: Deborah Jane Page AKA Debbie.

Occupation: Partner at Arcadia Sweet Shop.

Born here or blow in? Born in Bedford, conceived in NZ!

Best thing about Bedford? It absolutely has to be the people. Working in the shop we meet people from all

different cultures, walks of life, ages…we’re lucky to live in such

a diverse part of the country.

Best breakfast? I rarely get time to eat breakfast out, so it would have to be at

home, or usually something homemade that I eat at the shop before all the customers come.

The one place you’d recommend to visitors? Bedford Town Centre. Such a variety of fabulous, independent shops and restaurants.

Ever read John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress? Yes, when I was at school.

Bedford’s best boozer: I like to visit the Sportsman for a quick G&T after work with Dad, but also adore the gin

selection at The White Horse.

Best Bedfordian? Frank Branston.

Ever eaten a Bedfordshire Clanger?Yes, a vegetarian one.

Three words that sum up Bedford?Multicultural, friendly, home.

BEST OF BEDFORD: ARCADIA SWEET SHOP

Web www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk Email [email protected] phone 01234 718618

The Higgins Bedford, Castle Lane, Bedford MK40 3XD

Anne Frank & FamilyPhotographs by Otto Frank

© Anne Frank Fonds Basel Switzerland

24th January to 18th February 2018 - Free Entry

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