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, Me Ol’ Bamboo, 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 2025 with the Diatonics again providing some specially curated music for the Ugly Bug Ball, along with ‘Mr. Marveloso’ Nick Walden as caller. All the usual Bunfight entertainments were in place including Bedlam Bingo and a Kraftwerk inspired show spot including ‘Das Hokey Cokey’, ‘Kopf, Schulter, Knie und Fuss’ and ‘Ich bin eine kliene Teekanne’. You had to be there, really – and why not be in 2026 when we’ll be doing it all over again on Sat 28th Nov 2026!

Bunfights, best described as ceilidhs-with-spots, are an important part of Berkshire Bedlam tradition. Click here to read Stuart Barry’s account of the first few such events, but nowadays the Bunfight is an annual event which is always great fun for everyone attending, young or old. 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.

More…

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 one!

What will 2026’s Bunfight bring? – don’t miss out! Sat 28^th November 2026, with the theme ‘Spooks and Spies’ – once more at the California Ratepayers Hall, with tickets now on sale! – £13 adults, £6.50 11-18 or student, under 11s free, – buy from www.ticketsource.co.uk/berkshire-bedlam, hope to see you there!