Withington Book Festival at various venues

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor
Caroline England
Caroline England. Courtesy Withington Book Festival

Withington Book Festival at Withington Public Hall Institute, Manchester 5 October 2024 Entrance is free — Visit now

Imagine our excitement when we heard about plans for the first Withington Book Festival, to take place in autumn 2024, and now the programme has been announced.

Centred around a full day of free events and activities on Saturday 5 October, the packed programme includes a spread of author talks at Withington Public Hall Institute (10am-5pm) plus creative writing workshops and other practical classes led by writers and other creative professionals running concurrently at Withington Works, the upstairs workspace at the newly renovated Withington Baths (11am-2.45pm).

Withington Book Festival organiser Kirstie McCrum hopes the free event will invigorate the local community in South Manchester and create a comfortable space to boost literacy and encourage people to find out more about books.

Manchester-based writers speaking on the day include: queen of domestic suspense Caroline England (10am) talking about the craft of writing; Salt author Trevor Mark Thomas and Confingo author Anne Worthington (11am) discussing their approaches to story-telling; prose writer and self-confessed book obsessive Nicholas Royle (noon); crime writer Chris Frost (1pm) on gripping plots; audio dramatist and Dr Who writer Paul Magrs (2pm); poet and experimental writer Sarah-Clare Conlon reading and chatting to Kirstie McCrum (3pm), and poet, short story writer and novelist Reshma Ruia interviewed by Helen Beesley (4pm).

The wordy workshops you can take part in are: Creative Writing with Burton Road Events (11am); Urban Illustration with photographer-turned-sketcher Len Grant (noon); Self-Publishing with journalist Paul Wheeler (1pm), and Poetry Writing with Ailsa Holland (2pm).

In the run-up to Saturday’s day-long programme, Withington Book Festival kicks off on Wednesday 2 October with a show from the renowned and award-winning VerboseMCR (7.30pm, Fuel Cafe Bar, pay as you feel), featuring headliners Kate Feld, Quigley Brockbank, Trevor Mark Thomas, David Hay, Jemima Foxtrot and Melanie Neads.

The following evening from 7.30pm test your literary knowledge in a free book-themed quiz at Cafe Blah, with questions on classics, Manchester and a picture round.

On Friday 4 October, you have the opportunity to meet the festival team, sample one of the specially concocted book-themed cocktails and enjoy a book-themed playlist at Something More Productive.

The whole four-day festival will be rounded off at Withington Public Hall Institute with a special choir concert at 5pm on Saturday 5 October. Attendees can enjoy a series of songs – including some book-themed picks – from Choirs Manchester.

Withington Book Festival at Withington Public Hall Institute, Manchester 5 October 2024 Entrance is free Visit now

Where to go near Withington Book Festival at various venues

Manchester
Restaurant
Fuel Cafe

Withington is home to Fuel Cafe, who serve only vegetarian and vegan food, as well as hosting quiz nights and lively open mics. They are well known for their hangover busting, meat free, full breakfast menu, and the decor is pleasantly found-object-eclectic.

Manchester
Restaurant
Ice Shack

The first all-vegan desserts parlour in the North, also sold at high-profile venues such as the Deaf Institute, Greens, Croma and more.

City Centre
Restaurant
Monkey Trio

Manchester’s first ever Japanese sake bar, Monkey Trio, is unique in the city. Visit for an evening of quiet luxury.

A Taste of Honey
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
A Taste of Honey

A Taste Of Honey is a charming deli (and CBD store) based in West Didsbury on the popular Burton Road.

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Sett

Sett is an art café in West Didsbury, one of the areas many thriving independent businesses.

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Poet Mike Garry. Photo Paul Wolfgang Webster
Until
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Word Central at Central Library

Word Central is a long-standing live literature favourite at Central Library and features open mic performers and a special guest, brought to you by Manchester Libraries and Flapjack Press.

free entry
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Crime Central at Central Library

There’s murder and mayhem in the library! Manchester Libraries’ monthly event Crime Central welcomes new guests every month at Central Library, hosted by Rob Parker.

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Poets & Players at Burgess Foundation

Poets & Players is a must-go for lovers of words and music, presenting poets established and emerging, with the latest readers Zaffar Kunial, Hannah Copley, Rachel Davies and Hilary Robinson.

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Poetry at the Dusty Miller

Poetry at the Dusty Miller is a now regular night with invited readers, organised by Carcanet-published Carola Luther and Judith Willson in the Coiners’ Room in the Mytholmroyd pub.

free entry

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