Bamberg & Rovigo
Both our twin towns have participated in the Bedford River Festival, providing a taste of their culture by way of food, drink and performances by Bamberg’s local dance group called Regnitztaler.
The people of Bedford can experience for themselves the beauty and cultural diversity twinning can offer, whether it is through sports, music, schools, festivals and organisations. We have reason to celebrate!
Websites
For more information about Bamberg and Rovigo, take a look at their respective websites, linked below.
Bamberg Website
Rovigo Website
Town Twinning
Bamberg
Bedford has been linked with Bamberg in Bavaria, Germany since the early 1970's and formerly twinned since 1977. The links between the two towns are strong in many areas and continue to strengthen with time.
Bamberg has one of Europe's biggest old town centres which, along with its architecture and history, has made it a World Heritage City. The 14th century Old Town Hall, built on an artificial island on the River Regnitz, is just one example of the many places of interest. The many brewery inns and beer kellers are a magnetic attraction for visitors.
Joint Events & Exchange Visits
Bedford/Bamberg Sportsfest is held every 4 years - the last was in 2005 in Bedford. This event brings together clubs to compete in sports ranging from athletics and football to shooting and chess. There were some fun events too such as welly throwing and tug of war! The whole event brought together friends and colleagues from the past and forged new friendships for the future.
Rovigo
Our links with Rovigo in Italy are relatively new compared to Bamberg. The friendship between Bedford and Rovigo developed during the European Shield Tournament in 1999-2000 where Rovigo Rugby Club and Bedford Blues played against each other. We were officially twinned in 2004.
Rovigo rests between two rivers, the Adige and the Po, and is a traditional Veneto town, one of the principal provincial towns in the region. Rovigo is the home of the 'Accademia dei Concordi', that has a gallery of over 200 works, including paintings by Giovanni Bellini and Palma il Vecchio e Piazzetta.
Work experience exchanges between the two towns provide invaluable opportunities for the students.
Business links through the chamber of commerce have been established that we expect will flourish in the future...
Latest News
03.05.08
What's On in May
Find all the latest events listed in our What's On Guide for May. Click here for more
26.04.08
National Join Your Library Day Come along to Bedford Library in Harpur Street and discover all that your library has to offer!
01.04.08
Spectacular Concerts
Tickets are now available for Bedford Proms in the Park & Soul Sunday. Click here for more information
01.04.08
What's On in April
Find out about all the latest events in Bedford this April with our What's On Guide.
Click here for more
26.03.08
College signs up with £50,000 of BedfordBID vouchers. Click here for more
20.03.08
Bedford Tourist Information Centre
Easter Opening Hours
Friday: 9.30am – 2.30pm
Saturday: 9.30am – 5pm
Easter Sunday & Easter Monday: Closed
18.03.08
Exhibition by the Artist & TV Personality Timmy Mallett at the Art Centre & Gallery. Click here for more information
18.03.08
Mid-Season Sales Now On
Click here to find out more
06.03.08
Coffee House in St Paul's Square have launched their new 'green' range. Click here for more information.
04.03.08
What's On in March
Find out what's happening in Bedford this March with our What's On Guide.
11.02.08
HarperCollins & WHSmith invite you to a signing with
Josephine Cox
author of Songbird on Saturday 23rd February. Click here for more details
04.02.08
What's On in February
Find out what's happening in Bedford this February with our What's On Guide. Click here for more
28.01.08
New Aqua Lilly Fragrance Range now available, at The Body Shop. Click here for more information.
26.01.08
New Range at Thorntons
Indulge your loved ones this Valentine's Day with a special gift from Thorntons. Click here for more
22.01.08
Fabulous New Ranges Now Available at Millman Jewellers. Click here...
14.01.08
Christmas Card Competition
Click here for a list of winners in our December Christmas Card competition.
07.01.08
January Sales
Find the best bargains and offers in Bedford Town Centre, with all the latest January Sales. Click here to find out more
21.12.07
Bedford in Pictures
We've added a selection of some of our favourite photos taken in Bedford Town Centre over the past twelve months. You can view them by clicking here
11.12.07
Car Park Notice
Lurke Street car park will remain open until 11pm on Monday to Saturday until further notice. The opening hours are 7am - 11pm Monday to Saturday and 9am - 6pm on Sundays.
10.12.07
Download Christmas Desktop Wallpaper
Give your desktop a festive theme with our new downloadable desktop wallpaper. Choose your size below:
[ 800 x 600 ]
[ 1024 x 768 ]
[ 1280 x 1024 ]
07.12.07
Victorian Fair
Come Around to Bedford today and enjoy all the fun of a real Victorian Fair. Visit the What’s On Guide for more details.
03.12.07
Free Portrait Sitting at Max Spielmann. Click here for more info
03.12.07
December Featured Business: Blacks
Blacks on Harpur Street is the BedfordBID featured business for December. Click here for more...
03.12.07
What's On Guide updates
Find new events for a busy month in December added to the What's On Guide. Click here for more
29.11.07
Santa's Grotto now open!
A reminder that Santa's grotto is now open in the Harpur Centre until Monday 24th December. Times & prices vary.
27.11.07
Business for Bedford latest Click here for more
27.11.07
New Menu's added
You can now download Christmas menus for Harpurs and Orchid Bay restaurants from the Christmas Menus page by clicking here.
26.11.07
Bedford Town Centre Gift Vouchers Now Available
The BedfordBID Town Centre Gift Vouchers are now on sale at the Tourist Information Centre in St. Paul's Square, Bedford. The vouchers are redeemable at over 100 stores in Bedford Town Centre. Click here for more information.
22.11.07
Town Twinning
Did you know that Bedford is twinned with both Bamberg in Germany & Rovigo in Italy? Click here for more...
22.11.07
Bedford lights up
Last night's Festival of Fire & Light marked the beginning of the festive season in Bedford Town Centre. More...
20.11.07
Around The World In 80 Days Balloon Race Winner
The BedfordBID bluecaps presented a brand new bike to Abi, age 8, whose balloon travelled over 250 miles in our Around The World Balloon Race this week. Read more...
20.11.07
The Christmas Ring
Only at Ernest Jones. Click here for more details
16.11.07
Art Centre & Gallery ‘Art & Craft Weekend’
A weekend of art & craft demonstrations. Something of interest for all the family. Check the What’s On Guide for more information.
16.11.07
New Store! The Christmas Box in Midland Road is now open offering a massive range of Christmas goods. Click here for more.
16.11.07
New Store! Calendar Club is now open in the Harpur Centre, offering Bedford's most extensive range of calendars available.
13.11.07
This is Christmas.
This is Bedford.
It's that time of year again and BedfordBID brings you all the latest news, events and promotions for Bedford town centre this Christmas.
07.11.07
Singer Sewing Centre
This month's featured business is Singer Sewing Centre, who are celebrating their 25th year of trading this November. Click here for more
05.11.07
New Downloadable Christmas Menus Added
You can now find Christmas Menus and booking forms for the Park Inn Hotel and Pilgrims Progress by clicking here.
02.11.07
Barry Hilton at the Druidston Gallery
Artist Barry Hilton will be visiting the Druidston Gallery on Saturday 17th November. Click here for more details
02.11.07
Split Enz gets a makeover Mill Street hairdressing salon Split Enz has recently been refurbished. Click here for more
01.11.07
4 is the Magic Number for the Kiln. The Kiln in Ram Yard is celebrating 4 years in business. Click here for more...
30.10.07
Poppy Store now open in Bedford until Nov 10th
30.10.07
Download Christmas Menus here
You can now download a selection of menus and booking forms for some of the Town's restaurants and bars from the website, giving you the opportunity to book your Christmas Party or Dinner early. Click here for more
27.10.07
20% OFF 1,000s of lines
AT BHS THIS WEEKEND
Get down to BHS this weekend for a massive 20% sale on 1,000s of lines, plus 10%* off TV, audio, electricals, sofas, beds, furniture and selected concessions.
*Selected Lines
Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th October Only
17.10.07
Be Safe, Be Smiling
Pick up your free cat-bell from the BedfordBID Bluecaps from today.
15.10.07
Download BE07 Newsletter
Find out what we've been doing recently in our latest newsletter.
11.10.07
Mace Convenience Store now open Bedford has recently welcomed the new Mace Convenience Store, which has opened its doors in the Howard Centre. Click here for more
11.10.07
A Night With Elvis at Dragon Oriental Restaurant
Thinking of where to go on the 12th October? Why not visit Dragon's Oriental Restaurant for a night with Elvis. Check the what's on guide for more details.
10.10.07
New Events added to the Bedford What's On Guide. Click here for more
09.10.07
BedfordBID
Annual Report & Accounts
2006/2007
BedfordBID's Annual Report is now online. Find out what we've been doing for the past twelve months. Click here...
04.10.07
Cafe Culture set to flourish.
Cafe Society can flourish now in Bedford - thanks to an agreement between BedfordBID and the Bedford Borough Council. Read More...
03.10.07
Bedford Beer & Cider Festival
Special 30th Anniversary begins today, until Saturday 6th October. More than 100 real ales from 30 different breweries, plus Live Entertainment, food, books and gifts. Opens at 4pm at the Bedford Corn Exchange and Howard Room. Closes at 11pm. View the What's On Guide for more info.
03.10.07
New Events added to the What's On Guide. Get out of the fast lane! Sit back and relax on a River Cruise, every weekend until the end of October.
01.10.07
BedfordBID is pleased to announce the winner of the Around The World In 80 Days Scratch-card competition. Click here for more...
01.10.07
Around The World In 80 Days... in pictures. Click here
01.10.07
Entertainment on Sat 29th September. Rob & Ferg and the Dohl Drummers performed in Bedford Town Centre. Click here for more
29.09.07
It's the final day of our Around The World In 80 Days Promotion.
Come Around to Bedford today for entertainment from the Dohl Drummers, Rob and Ferg and start of the BedfordBID Balloon Race. Today's Featured Businesses are The Bead Room and Guitar Empire.
27.09.07
Green Light For Town Centre West Development
The major redevelopment proposal for the regeneration of Bedfords town centre west, including the bus station, has been given the go ahead by Bedford Borough Councils planning committee. Read more...
15.09.07
Come and have a taste of the Caribbean with the BIDDENHAM STEEL BAND, who will be performing live in Bedford Town Centre throughout the day today as part of our Around The World In 80 Days Promotion.
03.09.07
The BedfordBID Bluecaps Quarterly Report is now available to download from the Bluecaps Page. Find out what we've been up to by clicking here.
28.08.07
News: Tackling Graffiti in Bedford Town Centre. Click here for more...
28.08.07
News: Bedford College students score 100% in A-Level passes. Click here for more...
Harry Potter Book Launch
BedfordBID was in attendance at Waterstones at midnight on Friday 20th July 2007 to witness the launch of the final Harry Potter book in the series. More...
New York. Paris. Milan. Bedford
BedfordBID gave away £200 in fashion vouchers in the 'New York. Paris. Milan. Bedford' promotion after hiding over 2,000 BedfordBID designer tags in fashion stores in Bedford Town Centre to help promote the fact that there are over 200 Top Brands & Designer labels available in Bedford. More...
Mother's Day
BedfordBID gave away £200's worth of pamper-hamper vouchers for mother's day and offered the chance to share their mother's day messages with their mum, and the world on this website. More...
Love Bedford
We asked the people of Bedford to share the love songs that mean the most to them and their partners this past Valentines Day.
We had hundreds of entries and all the messages and chosen love songs we received can be viewed by clicking here...
We also gave away a weekend for two in Prague, a romantic evening at Frescoes and a meal at Bedford's Indiya Restaurant.
Stars of Christmas
Nineteen of Bedfordshire's schools got together to produce an amazing album of favourite carols and festive songs in time for Christmas. Albums were available in Bedford Town Centre and proceeds went to North Bedfordshire Toy Library children's charity. More...
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