Morning, MK 👋
A big welcome to the 187 of you who’ve joined Loop MK since last Thursday. It’s hard to believe we’re only four weeks in, so thanks to everyone for being here.
There’s a lot going on around Milton Keynes this week.
One local pub is getting a £270,000 makeover, there’s a new Afghan restaurant on the way, and the weekend brings everything from famous faces and thousands of lights to apples, independent makers and live music.
Let’s get into it. 👇
In today’s Loop:
🏟️ A £270k makeover for an MK pub
🍽️ Afghan food is coming to CMK
🎬 Collectormania takes over centre:mk
🍎 An MK orchard turns 50
🏮 Land of Lights returns
🧺 Markets, music + plenty more to do
IN THE LOOP
One MK pub is getting a £270k makeover
If The Burnt Oak is your local, you might have noticed the doors are shut. The Shenley Brook End pub closed on Monday for a £270,000 transformation into what its owners are calling a new ‘Grandstand’ sports pub.
Think huge screens, upgraded sound, tiered seating and more TVs outside in the beer garden. There’ll also be a new food offering, events and coverage of everything from football and rugby to F1 and darts.
But there’s a nice local touch too. The pub is looking for photos and memorabilia celebrating Milton Keynes sports teams and sportspeople, which will be displayed on the walls when it reopens.
So if you've got a bit of MK sporting history gathering dust somewhere, this might be its moment.
The new-look Burnt Oak is due to reopen on 4 November.
Afghan food is coming to Lloyds Court
Another new restaurant is on its way to CMK.
Karwan, an Afghan restaurant, is preparing to open at Lloyds Court.
The name might already be familiar if you spend any time down the M1. Karwan also has an established restaurant in Luton, serving Afghan dishes including grilled meats, kabuli palaw and traditional breads.
There’s no confirmed MK opening date yet, so this is firmly in the one to watch category for now.
But Lloyds Court has quietly built up quite the collection of independent food spots in recent years, and Karwan will be another interesting addition.
We’ll let you know when the doors open.
QUICK LOOP
🌕 MK is heading back to the moon
Next week's City of Codes & Light festival is going lunar. Middleton Hall will host a free interactive Moon Colonies experience on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a science dome, lunar materials, space installations and a challenge to design a future Moon colony. It’s running alongside next week’s wider MK Innovates STEM Festival.
🏠 A Bletchley community space is back
The Sycamores on Drayton Road has had a makeover and officially reopens this weekend. The plan is for the refurbished building to become a new community hub for local groups, activities and events – and residents are being asked for ideas about what they'd like to see there. There's a free opening day on Saturday from 10am–2pm too.
🎸 An MK band drops its debut album
A big day for Milton Keynes trio CUSP, who release their debut album English Country tomorrow. The local indie band have already supported the likes of DMA'S, The Snuts and Lottery Winners - and even earned a rather enthusiastic endorsement from Noel Gallagher. English Country lands on Friday.
👞 Could MK help break a world record?
Midsummer Place and local MAPA School of Dancing are looking for people to join a nationwide attempt to break the record for the most people performing the same tap routine at the same time. The National Tapathon takes place in November, with complete beginners as well as dancers invited to take part. Registration is already open. Possibly the only time we'll tell you to dust off your tap shoes.
WHAT’S ON
🎤 Have a go at open mic night
THU 15 OCT · 8:30PM · THE WHITE HORSE · FREE
Musicians, singers, comedians, poets and spoken-word performers can take the mic at The White Horse in Stony Stratford on Thursday night. It’s open to newcomers as well as regular performers, or you can simply grab a drink and watch everyone else do the brave bit.
💇 Four women, a hair salon and a mysterious phone box
THU 15 to SAT 17 OCT · STANTONBURY THEATRE · FROM £17
Grown-up Girls Guide is a new musical comedy about friendship, secrets and second chances, packed with songs from Diana Ross, Carole King, The Carpenters and more. There are evening performances Thursday to Saturday, plus a Saturday matinee.
🧺 Browse Newport Pagnell Street Market
FRI 16 OCT · 8:30AM-1:30PM · MARKET HILL
Newport Pagnell’s monthly Street Market returns on Friday morning. It takes place on the third Friday of every month, so this is another useful one to stick in the diary if you like keeping things local.
🎬 Meet some very familiar faces at Collectormania
FRI 16 to SUN 18 OCT · MIDDLETON HALL, CENTRE:MK · FREE
Collectormania is back with three days of celebrity guests, cosplay, memorabilia, autographs and photos. This year’s line-up includes Brian Blessed, Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Sophia Myles, Clare Grogan and plenty of Doctor Who alumni. Entry itself is free. Autographs and professional photos cost extra.
🎤 Nerina Pallot comes to The Stables
FRI 16 OCT · 8PM · THE STABLES · £25
Singer-songwriter Nerina Pallot brings her Fire Escape Symphonies tour to Wavendon on Friday night, with Mary Spender supporting. It’s part of a 35-date UK and Ireland tour marking 25 years of Pallot’s music.
🎧 Stay out until 4am with Delta Heavy
FRI 16 OCT · 9PM-4AM · UNIT NINE · FROM £14
One for the considerably later end of Friday night. Drum & bass duo Delta Heavy headline Unit Nine in Old Wolverton, with Circadian and Titan also on the bill. Last entry is 10:15pm, despite the party carrying on until four.
🎶 Learn to sing gospel
SAT 17 OCT · 11AM-4PM · THE COCK HOTEL, STONY STRATFORD · FREE
Award-winning singer and choir director Wayne Ellington is running a free gospel workshop in Stony Stratford. There are only 100 places, with the session covering gospel singing and performance.
🍎 Celebrate 50 years of apples
SAT 17 OCT · 12-4PM · WOUGHTON COMMUNITY ORCHARD · FREE
Woughton Community Orchard and the neighbouring cider orchards turn 50 this year, and they’re marking it with a Golden Jubilee Apple Day. Expect nature crafts, face painting, Punch & Judy, magic, bubble performances, food and live music from Dunton Folk and MK Brass. No booking needed.
👻 Halloween starts early at The Hub
SAT 17 OCT · FROM 2PM · THE RESIDENCE · FROM £10 · 18+
The Cookout is bringing a full Halloween takeover to The Residence. It starts with a Halloween Drag Brunch from 2–6pm, before switching into an Afrobeats vs. Dancehall party from 7pm until 1:45am. Quite a commitment if you do both.
🪔 Celebrate Navratri and Diwali
SAT 17 OCT · 3-5PM · MKHA COMMUNITY CENTRE, BROUGHTON · FREE
MKHA is hosting a free afternoon celebrating Navratri and Diwali at its Mandir in Broughton. The organisers are promising an afternoon of colour, celebration and community, and everyone is welcome.
🎶 Hear a world premiere in Stony Stratford
SAT 17 OCT · 4PM · ST MARY & ST GILES, STONY STRATFORD · £18
Milton Keynes chamber choir Polymnia is celebrating its 20th anniversary with Joy of Song. Alongside music from Britten, Elgar, Bill Withers and Simon & Garfunkel, the programme includes the world premiere of Richard Barnard’s A glimpse of a larger world, commissioned specially for the anniversary.
🏮 Land of Lights switches back on
SAT 17 & SUN 18 OCT · 6-8:15PM · GULLIVER’S RESORT
The darker evenings have one fairly spectacular upside. Land of Lights begins its new season this weekend, filling Gulliver’s with huge illuminated lanterns, glowing trails and plenty of photo stops. Doors open at 6pm, with last entry at 6:45pm.
🏃 Try a running club without joining one
SUN 18 OCT · 9AM · STADIUM MK · FREE
Redway Runners is throwing its doors open on Sunday morning. There’s a 60 or 90-minute social run, an easier three-mile option, a gentle 2.5-mile run and a relaxed ramble for anyone who’d rather walk. You don’t need to be a member and pace isn’t important. There’s also a post-run cuppa, which helps.
🏃 Junior parkrun hits 500
SUN 18 OCT · 9AM · EMERSON VALLEY · FREE
Milton Keynes junior parkrun reaches a pretty impressive milestone on Sunday with its 500th event. The free 2km course is for children aged 4–14, with youngsters able to run, jog or walk it. They’re hoping for a particularly big turnout to mark number 500, so if you’ve been meaning to give junior parkrun a try, this feels like a good week to do it. Registration required.
🥖 Make a morning of Woburn
SUN 18 OCT · FROM 10AM · WOBURN
Two markets, one trip. Woburn Food Market fills The Pitchings from 10am–2pm, while the monthly Woburn Craft Fair runs at the Village Hall from 10am–4pm. The craft fair only accepts exhibitors selling things they’ve actually made themselves, and entry is free. Add Woburn’s cafés and pubs and Sunday starts planning itself.
🎺 Spend Sunday lunchtime with some live jazz
SUN 18 OCT · 11:30AM · THE STABLES · £16.50
Pianist Harry Baker and trumpeter Tom Syson launch their new collaborative EP at The Stables’ Sunday Sessions. They’ll be joined by Conor Chaplin on double bass and Dave Hamblett on drums for a mix of jazz, classical music, arrangements and original material.
🔮 Things get spooky in Newport Pagnell
SUN 18 OCT · 1-4PM · OUSEBANK HOUSE · FREE
The Something Magical Spooky Season Market takes over Ousebank House on Sunday afternoon. Expect independent traders selling Halloween-themed bits and home décor, plus card readers if you fancy finding out what your future supposedly has in store. No guarantees they’ll predict next week’s Loop MK.
🎻 Travel with Mozart
SUN 18 OCT · 7:30PM · THE STABLES · FROM £27.50
Alina Orchestra opens its new season with an entire evening of Mozart at The Stables. The programme includes the Turkish Violin Concerto, the Prague Symphony and the rather less frequently performed Symphony No.48.
🧪 See where a career in STEM could take you
TUE 20 to WED 21 OCT · MIDDLETON HALL, CENTRE:MK · FREE
MK Innovates returns for two days of science, technology, engineering and maths. Tuesday’s programme is particularly aimed at adults exploring STEM careers, including career changers and returners to work, while Wednesday switches its focus to children and teenagers aged 5–18. More than 35 organisations are expected on the Tuesday alone.
🎸 Rock out with a local cast
FROM WED 21 OCT · 7:30PM · STANTONBURY THEATRE · £23
Local theatre company Company MK opens its production of We Will Rock You on Wednesday. There are 24 Queen songs packed into the show, including Radio Ga Ga, Somebody to Love, Don’t Stop Me Now and, inevitably, Bohemian Rhapsody. It runs until Saturday.
🍕 Open mic, but with pizza
WED 21 OCT · PIZZA FROM 6PM · THE CRAUFURD ARMS · FREE ENTRY
The Craufurd Arms’ Wednesday open mic combines two things we’re generally in favour of: grassroots performers and pizza. Musicians, comedians and other performers can sign up on the night, with the open mic itself running later in the evening.
🧠 Fancy a pub quiz?
A few confirmed quiz nights around MK this week:
THU 15 OCT · 7PM - UNITY PLACE, CMK · £2
SUN 18 OCT · 7PM - MK SPORTS BAR, NEWPORT PAGNELL
MON 19 OCT · 7:30PM - OLD BEAMS, SHENLEY LODGE · £2
TUE 20 OCT · 8:30PM - FOX & HOUNDS, STONY STRATFORD
THAT’S YOUR LOOP
That’s your Loop for this week.
If you've spotted a new restaurant, shop, event or just something interesting happening around Milton Keynes, or if you’ve got an idea, reply to this email and tell me about it. A surprising amount of what ends up in here starts with someone doing exactly that.
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See you next Thursday,
Jake
Loop MK
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