Morning 👋
October has arrived, and Milton Keynes seems to have got the memo.
There are pumpkins to pick, a city centre light festival, two local markets, MK hip-hop history to discover and Hannibal Lecter is in town.
We’ve also found a hometown music release, a free screening just outside MK and a rave where you can genuinely choose what you pay.
Plenty to get into. Let’s go 👇
In today’s Loop:
🍝 One last weekend at Nonna’s
🎃 Pumpkin season starts at The Patch
💡 MK lights up on Saturday night
🎭 Hannibal Lecter is in town
🥕 Two local markets worth a look
🎸 A local duo launches its new single
IN THE LOOP
One last weekend at Nonna’s
After almost 15 years in Woburn Sands, Nonna’s is closing its doors.
The Italian restaurant announced the news last month, bringing an end to a run that has included more than 700,000 bookings and 650 events.
Its final normal day of trading is today, Thursday 1 October, but there’s one last send-off planned.
On Saturday 3 October, Nonna’s will host an all-day closing party from midday, with DJs, drinks and a final chance for regulars to say goodbye.
Whatever your memories of the place, 15 years is a serious innings for an independent restaurant.
Milton Keynes, according to its artists
You might notice some unfamiliar artwork appearing around MK.
A new poster exhibition has brought together 11 local artists and designers to show their own interpretations of the city.
The work covers everything from MK’s architecture and wildlife to its communities, history and culture, with posters appearing at locations including centre:mk and Unity Place.
It has been commissioned by local creative agency Pooleyville as part of Milton Keynes’ bid to become UK City of Culture 2029.
And rather than another corporate vision of MK, this one is being told by people who actually create here.
QUICK LOOP
📱 An MK founder turns a health scare into an app
After suffering a near-fatal allergic reaction, Milton Keynes founder Ella set out to build something that could make eating out and travelling with allergies easier. Her app, Ellagens, can scan food labels, barcodes and even photos of meals for selected allergens, while its digital allergy card can translate information into 19 languages.
🚌 Wolverton bus stops are moving
From Monday, 5 October, the bus stops on Church Street will temporarily move to Stratford Road as work on the Agora regeneration continues. The temporary arrangement is expected to remain in place until the project finishes in late 2028.
⚽ Free Friday football launches in Stantonbury
MK Dons Community Trust has launched a new free weekly football session for 11 to 18-year-olds at Stantonbury Leisure Centre. It runs every Friday from 5pm–6:30pm, is open to boys and girls of all abilities, and forms part of the Premier League Kicks programme.
🐰 A giant hare has landed in Olney
The first phase of a new £375,000 play area at Johnson’s Field is now open, with a giant hare as its centrepiece. The sculpture is a nod to Olney poet William Cowper and his famous pet hares, while the new space also includes climbing equipment, a slide and seesaw. A second phase for older children is due next spring.
🚆 Avanti West Coast is heading into public ownership
Avanti West Coast, which runs services through Milton Keynes Central, will transfer into public ownership on 7 March 2027. The government says existing tickets and services will continue as normal through the transition, so there’s nothing passengers need to do for now.
WHAT’S ON
🎤 Have a go at open mic night
THU 1 OCT · 8:30PM · THE WHITE HORSE · FREE
Musicians, singers, comedians, poets and spoken-word performers can take the mic at The White Horse tonight.
It runs every Thursday and entry is free, whether you're performing or just there to watch.
🎤 Discover MK’s hip-hop history
UNTIL 10 OCT · MARKET HALL, WOLVERTON
Under the Grid tells the story of hip-hop culture in Milton Keynes through the people who helped create it, covering DJing and MCing, street art and breakdance.
There’s local artwork and memorabilia too, alongside a new film co-produced with The Open University.
It’s open today, Friday and Saturday, then again from Tuesday next week.
🎸 A hometown release in Newport Pagnell
FRI 2 OCT · 7:30PM · THE CANNON, NEWPORT PAGNELL · £10
Local duo Twice Over are heading back to Newport Pagnell on Friday to celebrate the release of their new single, Genie.
The pair played their first headline show at The Cannon under their former name, The Two, and return with Dreamwalks and Luke White supporting.
🌍 A free film and discussion in Eversholt
FRI 2 OCT · 7:30PM · EVERSHOLT VILLAGE HALL · FREE
A screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing is taking place just outside MK on Friday evening.
The 50-minute film brings together experts looking at climate and nature risks facing the UK, followed by an open discussion.
Entry is free and tea, coffee and biscuits are included, but spaces are limited so booking is required.
🔊 Pay what you like at Unit Nine
FRI 2 OCT · 9PM-4AM · UNIT NINE, WOLVERTON
Unit Nine is trying something different on Friday.
Its first Pay What You Like night lets you choose what you pay for a full night of drum & bass, with Sub Zero, Upgrade and Toxinate heading up the bill.
And yes, tickets are genuinely available from £0.
💡 MK lights up on Saturday night
SAT 3 OCT · 6PM-9:30PM · CENTRAL MILTON KEYNES · FREE
City of Codes & Light returns on Saturday for an evening combining art, science, technology and music.
Expect a huge light projection on the Church of Christ the Cornerstone, a community lantern parade, live music in Fred Roche Gardens and interactive activities.
This year’s theme looks towards space, Moon Colonies & Future Architecture.
🎃 Pumpkin season starts at The Patch
FROM SAT 3 OCT · MOUNT MILL FARM
The Patch MK opens its gates for autumn this weekend.
There are more than 100 varieties of pumpkins and squash, pumpkin picking straight from the field, witches, barrel train rides, marshmallow toasting, a bale maze, mini diggers, food and plenty of photo opportunities.
Later in October, The Patch After Dark adds live music, fire and LED performances, axe throwing and a haunted walk-through.
🛍️ Shop small at Midsummer Market
SAT 3 OCT · 9:30AM-7PM · MIDSUMMER PLACE
Midsummer Place’s monthly independent market returns on Saturday.
This month’s traders include local ceramics, gin and whisky producers, jewellery, candles, clothing, gifts and live watercolour portraits.
It’s becoming a useful regular date for discovering small local businesses, with the market returning on the first Saturday of each month.
🎭 Last chance to see Hannibal Lecter in MK
UNTIL SAT 3 OCT · MILTON KEYNES THEATRE
The Silence of the Lambs finishes its Milton Keynes run on Saturday.
John Partridge plays Hannibal Lecter opposite Mollie Gallagher as FBI trainee Clarice Starling in the first stage production of Thomas Harris’s thriller.
Tickets are still on sale for the remaining performances at the time of writing, including Saturday afternoon and evening.
🧹 Kiki’s Delivery Service at MK Gallery
SAT 3 OCT AND SUN 4 OCT · MK GALLERY · £8-10
Studio Ghibli favourite Kiki’s Delivery Service is showing at MK Gallery this weekend.
The coming-of-age film follows a young witch starting life on her own in a seaside town, accompanied by her black cat Jiji.
There’s a 10:30am screening on Saturday and 10:20am on Sunday, making this a good family option if the weather turns.
🥕 Sunday morning at Olney Farmers’ Market
SUN 4 OCT · 9AM-1PM · Market Place, Olney
Olney’s monthly Farmers’ Market returns on Sunday.
It takes over Market Place on the first Sunday of every month with a changing selection of locally sourced produce and independent traders.
A nice excuse for a Sunday morning wander around Olney too.
😂 Lenny Henry: Still At Large
SUN 4 OCT · 7:30PM · MILTON KEYNES THEATRE
Sir Lenny Henry comes to MK on Sunday with his new live show, Still At Large.
Part stand-up, part storytelling, the show looks back over more than five decades in comedy, television and theatre.
🌳 Learn your autumn trees
MON 5 OCT · 10:30AM · BANCROFT PARK · £5
The Parks Trust is running a beginner-friendly Autumn Tree ID walk at Bancroft Park on Monday morning.
You’ll learn how to identify trees once the leaves start disappearing, using clues such as bark, buds and berries.
It’s adults only and currently showing limited availability.
🐕 The Curious Incident arrives in MK
TUE 6 OCT TO SAT 10 OCT · MILTON KEYNES THEATRE
A new touring production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time arrives at Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday.
Based on Mark Haddon’s bestselling novel, the play follows 15-year-old Christopher as his investigation into the death of a neighbour’s dog takes him far beyond his familiar world.
📚 Join a local book club
TUE 6 OCT · 7:30PM · THE RESIDENCE BAR & KITCHEN · £10
Looking for an excuse to read a little more?
Bookscape Books hosts its monthly Milton Keynes book club at The Residence in The Hub on Tuesday evening.
It’s open to regular readers and people just getting back into books, with the £10 ticket including a copy of the month’s book.
🎸 Midweek emo at The Craufurd Arms
WED 7 OCT · 6:30PM · THE CRAUFURD ARMS · £20 ADVANCE
Chicago emo and pop-punk band Spitalfield are in Wolverton on Wednesday as part of their UK headline tour.
They’re joined by Jonah Matranga, Jon Walker, formerly of Panic! at the Disco, and Gambling With Dogs.
THAT’S YOUR LOOP
That's it for this week.
We're only on Issue #2, so if you've found a brilliant new independent, spotted something opening, heard about an event nobody seems to know about or have a local story we should investigate, hit reply and tell us.
And if you know someone who's always asking “what's happening in MK?”, forward this email to them and ask them to subscribe.
See you next Thursday,
Jake
Loop MK
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