Local News

Bringing you news that matters to you from across the local area

28th Mar 2024

Milton Keynes restaurant Namji wins big at national awards ceremony

Namji Restaurant has swept the board at the eighth annual Asian Food & Restaurant Awards (AFRA) for the third year running. The Punjabi eatery – which has branches in Xscape in Central Milton Keynes and in Wolverton – took a hat trick of awards, including Best Restaurant in Buckinghamshire. Owner Naseem Khan also retained her title of the UK's Curry Queen: “To say I am thrilled is something of an understatement,” she smiled, “It is such a hotly contested award and I was over the moon to receive the title the first time around. When it was announced I had been awarded it again? I was staggered! “The past 12 months have been as challenging as they have been rewarding, and I take nothing for granted. Both the restaurant award and the Curry Queen title prove that we are doing right by our customers – and that is always at..

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27th Mar 2024

Children’s favourite’s head to Midsummer Place for Easter

This Easter holiday, prepare for a double dose of cartoon character cuteness at Midsummer Place as the centre welcomes kids’ favourites Bluey and Chase! On Friday 5 April, the lovable character Bluey will be visiting the centre for some fantastic  personal appearances at intervals starting at 11.30am. This FREE event is a chance to meet everyone’s favourite Blue Heeler in person, give Bluey a high five and there will be lots of opportunities to take photos. Then, on Thursday 11 April, PAW Patrol’s Chase is on the scene and ready to meet his paw-some fans. Children can catch up with the heroic pup at Midsummer Place at intervals between 11.30am and 4pm. This event is again free for all to attend and provides families with a fun, budget-friendly day out, where children can pose for photos with their favourite police canine. The time slots for both appearances are below and..

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27th Mar 2024

Milton Keynes Mayor runs half marathon in aid of local charity

On Sunday 17th March, Milton Keynes Mayor Mick Legg took part in a half marathon to raise money for Harry’s Rainbow. The Mayor proudly completed his 13.1 mile run in around 2 hours 30 minutes alongside charity CEO Odette Mould, after six months of training. Harry’s Rainbow have been supporting bereaved children in Milton Keynes since 2011 and aims to give bereaved children a brighter tomorrow by providing range of bereavement support services such as support groups, activities, trips, and short breaks, as well as key information and guidance through its social networking sites, website and podcast. 87 runners took part in the event for the charity, with the team raising £15,000 collectively. Mayor of Milton Keynes, Councillor Mick Legg, said: “I’m feeling very proud and blown away after running my first half marathon in support of our wonderful charity. It was great to see such a huge turnout with over 87 runners..

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27th Mar 2024

Get ready for the ultimate LEGO extravaganza

Milton Keynes Brick Festival is rolling into town on Monday 6th May, and it's gearing up to be a brick-tastic celebration for LEGO lovers of all ages! Immerse yourself in a world of creativity and fun as families, collectors, adult builders, and every LEGO-fanatic imaginable come together for a day of brick-filled bliss! Over 40 years ago Milton Keynes Shopping Centre, as Centre:MK was known back then, hosted the first ever LEGO themed event “LEGO World”. This was the first time the UK had ever seen an incredible collection of LEGO models, alongside fun-filled brick based activities which included a World Record breaking Tallest Tower at over 13m, with plenty of LEGO items available to buy and take home too. Over 4 decades later, the Milton Keynes Brick Festival is bringing all of that nostalgic fun back home to Centre:MK. This event will bring MILLIONS of LEGO bricks into the..

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26th Mar 2024

Free family activities at centre:mk this Easter

Visitors to centre:mk will be in for a real treat this Easter school holiday as the Easter Fair - complete with giant inflatable maze, appearances from the Easter Bunny, balloon modelling, face painting, Easter Egg Hunt, and Circus Club - all make their way to the heart of the Milton Keynes based shopping and leisure destination. The Easter Fair, which will be held in Middleton Hall – outside John Lewis from 29th March to 11th April, has many free areas for families to enjoy – with an 8ft high, huge inflatable maze! Further free activities for the children include arts & crafts, meeting the Easter Bunny, balloon modelling, and face painting*. There will also be ticketed rides to enjoy - including the teacups, an inflatable train, trampoline bungees and crazy mini-golf. (*please see below times). The very popular free Circus Club is also back for the holidays; hosted by performing..

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26th Mar 2024

MK Breakers make basketball history

Formed in 2022, the MK Breakers lifted the National Cup in only their second ever season making basketball history in the process, beating Division One table toppers Reading Rockets 95-85 in the showpiece event at Manchester’s National Basketball Performance Centre on the 21st January. The win means the Breakers are the first team ever from outside NBL Division One to win the NBL National Cup. For those unfamiliar with the basketball pyramid - it’s the equivalent of MK Dons winning The FA Cup. Almost 500 fans made the journey from Milton Keynes to Manchester to support Coach Billy Beddow’s side, and completely overshadowed their rival Reading fans - as their “sea of red” roared the team to their historic triumph. While every member of the team contributed, it was local Milton Keynes player,  Jordan Spencer who earned MVP accolades for his performance - 38 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists...

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21st Mar 2024

Off the Record charity shop chosen for ‘Record Store Day’ venue

Record Store Day is an annual event where independent record shops come together to celebrate people's love of music with limited releases. This year Record Store Day will be on Saturday 20th April and Off The Record, located in Midsummer Place, Milton Keynes has been selected to be part of this worldwide event. Off the Record is a specially curated shop by Willen Hospice, selling pre-loved and new vinyl records to raise funds for the charity. They will be celebrating the day by selling limited releases and live music in store. The centre will open at 6am if people want to arrive early and the shop will open from 8am. The shop will be managing the queue and admittance will be limited to ensure people have space to browse. Each customer will be allowed to buy one copy of each LP and a list of stock will be updated throughout..

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21st Mar 2024

MK’s biggest pooch party returns this May

Loved by canines and their families for over a decade, the Big Doggie Do is paws-itively the city’s favourite annual celebration of all-things dog. The free event organised by The Parks Trust, the charity caring for MK’s parks, returns to Willen Lake on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th May - midday ‘til 5pm on both days. This year’s two-day event promises to have more fun than you can throw (and fetch) a stick at, including: Doggie displays Showing classes Flyball Pet supplies Delicious treats (for pooches and people!) Local charities And new for 2024, a Talks Tent programme of tutorials & demonstrations Julie Dawes, Events & Community Engagement Manager at The Parks Trust says “We’re so thrilled to provide local dog owners with a chance to come together with their pets and have fun, whilst picking up tips about how to care for them responsibly”. Big Doggie Do is one..

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20th Mar 2024

Dipna Anand to launch Dipna Anand Kitchen & Bar at Unity Place, Milton Keynes

This Friday 22nd March, acclaimed chef Dipna Anand will launch her new restaurant, Dipna Anand Kitchen & Bar, situated inside the new multi-functional venue Unity Place, in Milton Keynes. Dipna’s involvement will see a new, 150-cover restaurant open under her stewardship, with its very own microbrewery from Toast Brewing. Dipna will be offering her authentic Punjabi and South Indian cuisine alongside a selection of traditional favourites using locally sourced seasonal ingredients for a flavour-rich, planet-friendly experience. Bright, modern and glass-fronted, the restaurant is a step in a new direction for Dipna, with the menu comprising of revisited classics on small plates; her well-loved and familiar curries alongside some new and unexpected menu items; and a grill that will serve tandoori lamb chops, salmon, chicken and paneer tikka, as well as lamb seekh kebab. The restaurant will also serve traditional thalis and biryanis, with plant-based dishes and the best cuts of..

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20th Mar 2024

Supporting Aspiring Choreographers and Dancers in Milton Keynes: Launch of the Helen Parlor Dance...

Milton Keynes has unveiled a thrilling opportunity for dancers and choreographers, with the commencement of applications for the Helen Parlor Dance Bursary. Established to commemorate the legacy of the esteemed dance advocate Helen Parlor, this bursary is designed to offer crucial support and resources to burgeoning talents within the local dance community. Open to residents and workers of Milton Keynes, the Helen Parlor Dance Bursary aims to prioritise individuals rooted in the city, though applications from those proposing to engage in dance-related activities within MK will also be considered. While funding rounds are anticipated to be open and un-themed, they may occasionally align with significant city celebrations, such as hosting world-class sporting events or commemorating milestones like MK's birthday. Applicants, regardless of age or background, may be dancers or choreographers. Submissions for the bursary will be evaluated based on criteria including residency and work in MK, demonstration of career progression..

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18th Mar 2024

Come on in… the doors are open at the Holiday Inn Milton Keynes Central

Looking for somewhere in central Milton Keynes where you can grab a quick coffee, enjoy a lazy lunch with friends, throw a birthday party or simply catch up with your mates? The time is right to check out the Holiday Inn Milton Keynes – Central, which is just a short walk from the railway station. While out-of-towners and event organisers have already discovered just what is on offer at the 173-bedroom hotel there are many more ‘locals’ missing out on the venue’s facilities. There is no need to check in to one of the hotel’s 173 bedrooms. This is a hotel with an open-door policy to casual visitors or those looking to plan an event from a christening, family party or funeral wake. The Open Lobby, serving Starbucks, is open all day and through to the evening for visitors who may just want a coffee, or a meal chosen from..

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18th Mar 2024

Get egg-cited for Easter with the return of Willen Lake’s free trail and start of the season

Hop down to Willen Lake during the school break for the launch of the new season and return of the free Easter trail. The popular free trail aimed at primary school children returns this spring, featuring colourful eggs with Easter-themed questions to answer. Look out for some egg-cellent jokes along the way, then return to the Watersports Centre for a treat! The trail will be available between 10am – 4pm every day during the Easter break from 29th March – 14th April. It follows a short route less than 2km on buggy, scooter and bike friendly paths. Also returning this April is the action-packed watersports programme. The first Activity Weeks of the year will take place over Easter, offering kids aged 8-15 a fun week of watersports whilst they work towards a qualification in either Sailing or Paddlesports. Beginner-friendly Discover sessions are also back, offering tasters in a variety of..

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13th Mar 2024

All in Unity Place celebration evening

Unity Place will be holding an All in Unity Place celebration evening tonight, Wednesday 13th March. The event is FREE for the public to attend and will include a whole evening of celebrations! Expect to see: Live painting from PopCult! - Exhibition artist Food and drink sampling from Dipna Anand Kitchen, Toast Brewing and our food market vendors. Cocktails in the market from Unity Sky Lounge. First Urban Food Market after hours in 2024. The first 100 visitors get a complimentary drink on arrival....plus some musical surprises during the night! The event will run from 5pm-8pm. Find out more about Unity Place here.

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06th Mar 2024

New cycling events for families arrive in MK’s parks

A brand-new series of family cycling events are set to uncover the sights and sounds of Milton Keynes’ many parks, the perfect way to swap screens for scenes of the great outdoors. Parks & Ride events are the newest addition to the hundreds of parkland events and activities hosted by The Parks Trust, the charity caring for Milton Keynes’ parks, woodlands and lakes. Pedalling at a steady pace along a mixture of leisure routes and Redways, Parks & Ride events are a guided tour on two wheels – about an hour, with no road riding or substantial hills. Debuting in Campbell Park on Sunday 24th March, the first ride will tour sculptures in the park, wildlife on the Grand Union Canal, the incredible Tree Cathedral, and all the fun facilities at Willen Lake. Through the rest of this year, Parks & Ride events will take place at Waterhall Park in..

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05th Mar 2024

Enjoy an egg-stra special time at Milton Keynes Museum this Easter

The hunt will soon be on at Milton Keynes Museum with the return of its annual Easter egg hunt, where successful searches lead to yummy chocolate rewards! The popular search is an egg-cellent way to celebrate the festive period, and this hunt ensures everyone wins something. And while you search for those egg tokens, you get a wonderful tour of the history hub. This traditional family friendly event - running March 29 - April 1 - is the perfect way to spend some free time, whether you are a fluffy chick, or an older bunny! “Let's be honest, no matter how old we are, we are never too old for a bit of fun, and our egg hunt is definitely that,” said Museum director Bill Griffiths, “Watching family members and friend groups united in the search is great, and everyone enjoys collecting their treats at the end!” As you 'scramble' around the..

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