2025 marks Chorlton Book Festival’s 21st birthday!  Although now officially all grown-up, the festival still boasts its usual colourful mix of tall tales, weirdness, comedy, fun and cracking good writers – and added cake.

This year’s literary line-up features an evening with the poet, novelist, biographer, children’s author and all-round brilliant woman Jackie Kay (left, 11 Sept). We’re also especially delighted to welcome back friend of Chorlton Bookshop, the wonderful Robin Ince (15 Sept) He’ll be talking about his most recent book, Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal – and he has a new poetry collection for festival favourites Flapjack Press – Ice Cream for a Broken Tooth.

Marcia Hutchinson joins us with The Mercy Step (23 Sept),her acclaimed debut novel and an absolute favourite with us – we’re passing it all round the team and we’ve all loved this tale of a determined little girl (and book lover!) who faces down her family’s demons.

Another fantastic local author is Colette Snowden and we’re DELIGHTED to be partnering with Bluemoose Books to help launch her third novel, Celeste (24 Sept) as part of the Festival. If it’s even half as good as Captain Jesus, we’re in for a treat.

Stephen Murphy will discuss How the Beatles Rocked the World (18 Sept) an exploration of sixties pop culture from someone who was there. Adam Farrer talks us through various male failures in Broken Biscuits. We also return to a simpler time with Daniel Gray, who reminisces about our Sundays used to be in Sunday Best  (25 Sept).

The festival also features a spooky ghost-story session; a history walk through the forgotten bits of Chorlton with everyone’s favourite historian, Andrew Simpson; an exploration of The Northern Art Workers’ Guild with Barry Clark and a sneaky peek inside the fantastic urban artist Len Grant’s forthcoming Chorlton Sketchbook (we’re in it!). 

And last but not least, a Book. Themed. Cake. Competition. Let that sink in.  We can’t wait for the Great Bookish Bake Off!

It’s a cracking festival this year – we hope to see you there (we know we will be!). Well done to the Festival team!

Chorlton Book Festival runs from September 9 to 27 2025. Most events are in Chorlton Library and on a pay-what-you-can ticket. Places are limited, so booking is strongly advised. Book online via  chorltonbookfestival.co.uk – or ask in the library. 

Click here to book for Robin Ince.