Northern Publishers’ Fair at Central Library

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

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Northern Publishers' Fair

26 April 2025

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Northern Publishers' Fair
Northern Publishers' Fair
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Various independent publishing houses will be setting out their stalls at Manchester Central Library for the latest, now bi-annual, Northern Publishers’ Fair, organised by Manchester’s own Fly On The Wall Press.

Organiser Isabelle Kenyon, managing director of Fly On The Wall Press – Small Press Of The Year North 2024, a social enterprise company and a not-for-profit publisher of anthologies, collections and chapbooks – says the fair’s aim is to celebrate and showcase “a cracking array” of independent publishing houses based in the North of England. She says that for too long, the publishing industry has been London-centric, so in 2019, she set up the Northern Publishers’ Fair at Manchester Central Library.

Spring’s event features 15 publishers in attendance – including Confingo, Flapjack Press, Harper North, Nightjar Press,  Northodox Press, Saraband, Stairwell Books from York, UCLAN Publishing from Preston, and Sinoist Books featuring as international guest – bringing new and exciting authors to a Manchester audience.

Publishers will be on hand to talk with visitors, whether writers looking for publishing tips or avid readers wanting a bookish chat. You’ll be able to network informally with like-minded literature enthusiasts, meet authors during book signings and peruse (and buy!) books. Previous events have seen hundreds of happy visitors walk away with tote bags bulging with new reads.

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Where to go near Northern Publishers’ Fair at Central Library

St Peters Square Manchester
City Centre
St Peter’s Square

St Peter’s Square is a public space in Manchester – home to the city’s iconic library, town hall, Pankhurst statue, art gallery and famous Midland Hotel.

Manchester Art Gallery. Photo by Andrew Brooks
City Centre
Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery

The Charles Barry-designed, Grade I-listed Manchester Art Gallery is one of the city’s leading galleries and is back open for visitors once more.

Manchester
Restaurant
Ban Di Bul

Ban Di Bul is a longstanding Korean restaurant in the very centre of Manchester.

Chinatown
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The Alan

This high-end city-centre restaurant has an excellent afternoon tea option that more than matches up to the superb main menu.

Salut Wines
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Salut Wines

Salut wines pride themselves in offering “wider horizons beyond the safe choices.” With 42 wines by the glass and a regularly changing selection of bottles in their Enomatic wine preservation machines (or  “wine jukebox,” as they’re colloquially known), this is one of be best bars in Manchester for exploring new vintages.

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Friska

Latest branch of Friska, the independent healthy fast food chain.

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Don Giovanni

Traditional Italian restaurant, serving everything from pizza to steak. All this in a large modern venue with floor-to-ceiling windows.

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Summery bakes, seasonal salads and fresh light meals at Manchester Art Gallery’s in-house café, courtesy of highly-regarded Head Chef Matthew Taylor.

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Re-opening in 2024, Manchester Town Hall is a monument to Victorian Manchester’s ambition, and one of the city’s most-loved landmarks.

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Albert Square

A public square in the heart of Manchester which plays hosts to festivals and major events. Home to the Albert Memorial and statues of Bishop James Fraser, John Bright, Oliver Heywood and William Ewart Gladstone.

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