Berkshire Bedlam - Bunfights

BB - Bunfights

Excuse me, Miss, what's a Bunfight ....?

Bunfights, best described as ceilidhs-with-spots, are an important part of Berkshire Bedlam tradition. If you're interested in how the Bunfights first came about, click here to read Stuart Barry's account of the first few such events.......

Nowadays the Bunfight is an annual event which is always great fun for everyone attending, young or old - and great to see such a wide range of ages in recent years. It is usually held on a Saturday in late November, traditionally at the California Ratepayers Hall, Finchampstead, (click here for map) with its main feature a ceilidh, always with an excellent band. Each year there is a different overall theme which people are welcome to dress in line with, but this is entirely optional. As well as various other entertainments, BB usually perform a couple of spots during the evening, the second of which is a showpiece non-Morris spot that has nothing to do with the evening's theme and everything to do with the most bizarre idea they have come up with since the last bizarre idea. The challenge is always to get down to the standard of previous years and amazingly they often succeed.

Lowlights over the years have included Flashdance, Schwarzkopf, YMCA, the famous Cockneys, Berkshire Bumfolosi, The Swans, The Men In Various Things including Black, Black and White, Tights, Coloured Ties, and Bags; The Can-Can, Flamencos, A Chorus Line, Bolshoi Bedlam, Keystone Cops, the All Star Cheerleaders, the Smurfs, Charleston Champions and Star Wars style, Austin Powers, A Hard Day's Bunfight, the Wellerman, and literally the lowest of all the spots : the legendary 'Stumpton', a spot still talked of in revered tones today, mainly due to the leapfrogs, or more accurately stumpfrogs. Covid led to the cancellation of the 2020 Bunfight and a much restricted evening in 2021, but in recent years the Bunfight is back to its weird and wonderful best, most recently in 2024 with the Diatonics again providing some specially curated music for a Magic themed evening, along with the always magic Nick Walden as caller. All the usual Bunfight entertainments were in place including Bedlam Bingo and a rendition of Me Ol' Bamboo that would probably have brought tears to Dick Van Dyke's eyes, for various reasons.

What will 2025's Bunfight bring? - don't miss out! Sat 29th November 2025, once more at the California Ratepayers Hall, with tickets on sale from www.ticketsource.co.uk/berkshire-bedlam.

Meanwhile to whet your appetite here's a list of past Bunfight themes, spots, and souvenir photos ....

2024 - Band - Diatonics Theme - Magic Main spot - Me Ol' Bamboo

see larger versions of all these 2024 pictures here!

2023 - Band - Diatonics Theme - Science Fiction Main spot - Star Wars Charleston

see larger versions of all these 2023 pictures here!

2022 - Band - Diatonics Theme - Bunfight - Here We Go Again! - celebrating Abba and all things Swedish! Main spot - The Wellerman

see larger versions of all these 2022 pictures here!

2021 - Bunfight party, no band Theme - Monty Python's Flying Bunfight!

see larger versions of all these 2021 pictures here!

2020 - No Bunfight! (but only a global pandemic could stop it...)

2019 - Band - Diatonics Theme - Bunfight on Broadway! Main spot - A Chorus Line

see larger versions of all these 2019 pictures here!

2018 - Band - Diatonics Theme - On the Piste - an Alpine Adventure! Main spot - Los Flamencos de Berkshire

see larger versions of all these 2018 pictures here!

2017 - Band - Diatonics Theme - A Hard Day's Bunfight! Main spot - Putting on the Ritz

see larger versions of all these 2017 pictures here!

2016 - Band - Panjandrum Theme - Living La Vida Bunfight Main spot - Men in Bags

see larger versions of all these 2016 pictures here!

2015 - Band - Steamchicken Theme - Bunfight on the High Seas Main spot - Austin Powers

see larger versions of all these 2015 pictures here!

2014 - Band - Steamchicken Theme - Comics Main spot - Men in Coloured Ties

see larger versions of all these 2014 pictures here!

2013 - Band - Tickled Pink Theme - Scotland Main spot - Black and White Dance

see larger versions of all these 2013 pictures here!

2012 - Band - Tickled Pink Theme - Down on the Farm Main spot - Men in Black - Gangnam Style

2011 - Band - Tickled Pink Theme - France Main spot - Charleston Champions

2010 - Band - Committee Band Theme - Space Main spot - Belgian Blue Boys a.k.a. The Smurfs

2009 - Band - Committee Band Theme - Circus Main spot - BB All Stars Cheerleaders

2008 - Band - Random Theme - Myths and Legends Main spot - Men in Tights

2007 - Band - Random Theme - Heroes and Villains Main spot - Keystone Kops

2006 - Band - Phungus Theme - Carry On At The Bunfight Main spot - Bolshoi Bedlam

2005 - Band - Phungus Theme - Bunfight at the OK Corral Main spot - The Can-Can

2004 - Band - Phungus Theme - Schooldays Main spot - Men in Black

2003 - Band - Phungus Theme - A Day at the Races Main spot - 'Flame' sword dance

Sadly no pictures survive of this epic evening, but rest assured it was good!

2002 - Band - Phungus Theme - The Underground Main spot - 633 Squadron