Geeks and gaming are the new reason to come into Bedford this summer.

With the forthcoming opening of the Geek Retreat franchise in the Harpur Centre and retro games at Rewind in The Arcade off the High Street, the town centre has much more to offer teens and twenties.

“Experiences have to be part of the new offer from the town centre,” said Harpur Centre Manager Samantha Laycock, who is also Chair of the Bedford Improvement District (BedfordBID) which promotes the town under the Love Bedford brand,

“We hope people will still come to shop in our showrooms and stores, but we know there needs to be more on offer, particularly for younger people.

“We have worked hard to support our cafe society, our “summer nights” eating and drinking environments and are always backing our 100s of independent businesses, but we need fun events and activities too.”

Teen to Twenties/Thirty-somethings favourites: 

Geek Retreat – coming soon the Harpur Centre

Rewind retro games – opening soon in The Arcade

Close Encounters -  a popular destination for latest board games, books and comics 

Warhammer – worldwide brand in Bedford for 25 years