Featured Events in West Thorney in 2025 (October Updated)

Join us for an evening with Tracy Chevalier, the globally bestselling author of Girl With a Pearl Earring, as we celebrate the paperback publication of her latest novel The Glassmaker. Venice, 1486. Across the lagoon lies Murano. Time flows differently here – like the glass the island’s maestros spend their lives learning to control. Women are not meant to work with glass, but Orsola Rosso flouts convention to save her family from ruin. She works in secret, knowing her creations must be perfect to be accepted by men. But perfection may take a lifetime. Skipping like a stone through the centuries, we follow Orsola as she hones her craft through war and plague, tragedy and triumph, love and loss. Her creations will adorn the necks of empresses and courtesans from Paris to Vienna – but will she ever earn the respect of those closest to her? Tracy Chevalier is a master of her own craft, and The Glassmaker is vivid, inventive, spellbinding: a virtuoso portrait of a woman, a family and a city that are as everlasting as their glass. We look forward to welcoming her to Oswestry during Independent Bookshop Week. Event Format: Author talk 'in conversation' followed by audience Q&A and book signing Tickets: £15 (Admits One & includes a signed paperback copy of The Glassmaker) Venue: The Holroyd Community Theatre is accessed off the Gledrid junction of the A5 north of Oswestry and is sign posted off Station Road (left turn before railway crossing). On-site parking is available. The Theatre foyer has a bar where pre-event refreshments can be purchased. Please let us know if you have an accessibility/mobility requirements. R efunds: It is our general policy not to refund event tickets unless an event has sold out. In the case of sold out events where we have a waiting list for tickets, we will attempt to sell on your tickets at face value, if notified 7 days prior to the event. If sold, you will receive a refund for the ticket value (excluding Eventbrite fees). Alternatively, you can request to transfer your tickets to another event, making up any difference in ticket price. Please contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. P lease contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. Information Source: Booka Bookshop | eventbrite

Join us for an evening with award winning journalist and TV presenter Steph McGovern as she talks about her debut thriller Deadline , based on her behind the scenes experiences as a broadcaster. Your child has been kidnapped. You're live on television. Going live in 10, 9, 8… Today is a huge day for TV reporter Rose’s career. A live interview with one of the most powerful men in the country, on one of the nation’s biggest TV shows. 7, 6, 5… But when she hears an unfamiliar voice in her ear, she knows something is very wrong. 4,3,2… Her earpiece has been hacked. She’s live on air in the middle of the interview. They tell her they have kidnapped her family. 1… And in order to protect them, Rose must do exactly what the hijacker says.…they are in control now. We're delighted to be hosting this event with Steph to celebrate the publication of her debut crime novel and look forward to welcoming her to Oswestry. Don't miss this opportunity to see and meet her! Event Format: Author talk 'in conversation' followed by audience Q&A and book signing Tickets: £12 without book (Admits One, ticket redeemable against a signed copy of Deadline) or £20 with book (Admits One, includes a signed copy of Deadline) Venue: The Holroyd Community Theatre is accessed off the Gledrid junction of the A5 north of Oswestry and is sign posted off Station Road (left turn before railway crossing). On-site parking is available. The Theatre foyer has a bar where pre-event refreshments can be purchased. Please let us know if you have an accessibility/mobility requirements. R efunds: It is our general policy not to refund event tickets unless an event has sold out. In the case of sold out events where we have a waiting list for tickets, we will attempt to sell on your tickets at face value, if notified 7 days prior to the event. If sold, you will receive a refund for the ticket value (excluding Eventbrite fees). Alternatively, you can request to transfer your tickets to another event, making up any difference in ticket price. Please contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. P lease contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. Information Source: Booka Bookshop | eventbrite

Join us for an evening with bestselling novelist Sebastian Faulks as he talks about his new memoir Fires Which Burned Brightly ‘The only dividend of the years’ vanishing, as far as I can see, is that it makes aspects of the past appear more interesting or humorous than they felt at the time.’ In Fires Which Burned Brightly, Faulks, a reluctant memoirist, offers readers a series of detailed snapshots from a life in progress. They include a post-war rural childhood – ‘cold mutton and wet washing on a rack over the range’ – the booze-sodden heyday of Fleet Street and a career as one of the country’s most acclaimed novelists. There are not one, but two daring escapes from boarding school; the delirium of a jetlagged American book tour; the writing of Birdsong in his brother’s house in 1992; and memorable trips across the channel to France. Politics, psychiatry and frustrated ventures into the world of entertainment are analysed with patience and rueful humour. The book is driven by a desire ‘to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.’ It ends with a tribute to Faulks’s parents and a sense of how his own generation was shaped by the disruptive power of war and its aftermath. Sharply perceptive and alive with a generous wit, Fires Which Burned Brightly is a work of subtle yet profound intelligence and warmth. We're delighted to be hosting this event with Sebastian Faulks, one of the nation's finest novelists, and look forward to welcoming him to Oswestry to celebrate the publication of Fires Which Burned Brightly. Event Format: Author talk 'in conversation' followed by audience Q&A and book signing Tickets: £12 without book (admits one, £10 redeemable against a signed copy of Fires Which Burned Brightly) or £22 with book (admits one, includes signed copy of Fires Which Burned Brightly Venue: The Holroyd Community Theatre is accessed off the Gledrid junction of the A5 north of Oswestry and is sign posted off Station Road (left turn before railway crossing). On-site parking is available. The Theatre foyer has a bar where pre-event refreshments can be purchased. Please let us know if you have an accessibility/mobility requirements. R efunds: It is our general policy not to refund event tickets unless an event has sold out. In the case of sold out events where we have a waiting list for tickets, we will attempt to sell on your tickets at face value, if notified 7 days prior to the event. If sold, you will receive a refund for the ticket value (excluding Eventbrite fees). Alternatively, you can request to transfer your tickets to another event, making up any difference in ticket price. Please contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. P lease contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. Information Source: Booka Bookshop | eventbrite

Join multi award winning actor and bestselling author Richard Armitage as he talks 'in conversation' with Clare Mackintosh about his new novel The Cut. Richard's debut crime novel Geneva, published in 2023, was as instant bestseller. Now he returns with another unmissable, twisty psychological thriller. A tragic accident? Or a terrible murder? Which story will make The Cut? You saw her die Thirty years ago, one of Ben Knott's schoolfriends was murdered. Another went to prison. The story ended. The village of Barton Mallett tried to move on. Now her killer is back As the murderer's sentence ends, the village is chosen as the unlikely location for a feature film by a Hollywood producer, with Ben's son Nathan cast in the leading role. Can you keep hiding the truth? As the film takes shape, Ben begins to recognise the storyline - from his own past. As his son becomes immersed in a tale of bullying and retribution, things turn dangerous, and an uncomfortable truth begins to emerge. Ben must choose between the safety of his children and reopening the wounds of the past. How much is he willing to risk to protect his family - and himself? We thrilled to welcome Richard Armitage back to Oswestry for this event with fellow bestselling crime author Clare Mackintosh. If you're looking for your next thrilling read this is an event not to be missed! Event Format: Richard Armitage 'in conversation' with Clare Mackintosh followed by audience Q&A and book signing / photo opportunity Tickets: £18 (Admits One & includes a signed copy of The Cut) or £28 (Admits Two, with One signed copy of The Cut) Venue: The Holroyd Community Theatre is accessed off the Gledrid junction of the A5 north of Oswestry and is sign posted off Station Road (left turn before railway crossing). On-site parking is available. The Theatre foyer has a bar where pre-event refreshments can be purchased. Please let us know if you have an accessibility/mobility requirements. R efunds: It is our general policy not to refund event tickets unless an event has sold out. In the case of sold out events where we have a waiting list for tickets, we will attempt to sell on your tickets at face value, if notified 7 days prior to the event. If sold, you will receive a refund for the ticket value (excluding Eventbrite fees). Alternatively, you can request to transfer your tickets to another event, making up any difference in ticket price. Please contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. P lease contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. Information Source: Booka Bookshop | eventbrite

Join us for an afternoon with broadcaster, journalist, and menopause-awareness activist Mariella Frostrup, and Belles Berry, chef, founder of The Great Taste Company and daughter of Dame Mary Berry, as they talk about their new book Menolicious , featuring over 100 quick, easy, and supremely delicious recipes to help ease key symptoms of the menopause. At any one time, up to 16 million women in the UK will be in their menopausal decade*, and navigating the challenges and changes this brings. United by lived experience and a shared belief in the power of food to lift spirits, help midriffs, and give the energy needed to embrace the changes of perimenopause and menopause, Mariella and Belles have cooked up Menolicious: Eat Your Way to a Better Menopause, sharing flavour-filled, reinvigorating recipes to answer the dietary demands of this new stage of life. Filled with accessible dishes designed to optimise your health at midlife, Menolicious is an essential new addition to your menopause survival toolkit. Every easy and nutritious recipe has been carefully developed alongside a nutritionist, to help balance hormones, boost energy levels, curb sugar cravings, improve weight management, promote better focus and mood, and help you to embrace this new chapter with confidence. Expect protein-packed breakfasts, fibre-fuelled lunches, one-pot dinners, replenishing smoothies and juices, breads, snacks, and sweet treats. The majority of the recipes take 30 minutes or less from chopping board to table, making healthy eating convenient and achievable, even when life gets busy. The recipes will appeal to the wider family and friends too, Mariella and Belles devised each one so they can also be enjoyed with others. Alongside recipes are nutritionist-approved insights into the positive effects of specific ingredients for common symptoms of menopause, and nutritional information including the amount of protein, fibre, and carbohydrates in each portion. You’ll also find guidance on steps to follow for better midlife health, how our dietary requirements change during this time, and advice on the optimum foods to include in your diet to help you thrive through midlife. It’s the cookbook Mariella and Belles wished they’d had! We're delighted to be hosting this event with Mariella and Belles to celebrate the publication of Menolicious and look forward to welcoming them to Oswestry! Event Format: Mariella Frostrup and Belles Berry 'in conversation' followed by audience Q&A and book signing / meet and greet Tickets: £12 without book (admits one, redeemable against a signed copy of Menolicious) or £24 (admits one, includes signed copy of Menolicious) Venue: The Holroyd Community Theatre is accessed off the Gledrid junction of the A5 north of Oswestry and is sign posted off Station Road (left turn before railway crossing). On-site parking is available. The Theatre foyer has a bar where pre-event refreshments can be purchased. Please let us know if you have an accessibility/mobility requirements. R efunds: It is our general policy not to refund event tickets unless an event has sold out. In the case of sold out events where we have a waiting list for tickets, we will attempt to sell on your tickets at face value, if notified 7 days prior to the event. If sold, you will receive a refund for the ticket value (excluding Eventbrite fees). Alternatively, you can request to transfer your tickets to another event, making up any difference in ticket price. Please contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. P lease contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. Information Source: Booka Bookshop | eventbrite

Join TV presenter, bestselling author, nature advocate and charity campaigner Julia Bradbury as she uncovers the ultimate health and wellness hacks to help you take charge of your health for good. Following her own battle with cancer, TV presenter Julia Bradbury embarked on a rigorous journey to reclaim her health. Through countless tests and examinations - both physical and emotional - she sought to answer one pivotal question: Can you go from a cancer diagnosis to being healthier and fitter than ever before? In her new book Hack Yourself Healthy , Julia offers a comprehensive guide, based on global research, interviews with world-renowned experts and personal experiments, to provide you with your ultimate health blueprint. Drawing from the worlds of nutrition, sleep science, hormonal health, integrative medicine, and the rejuvenating power of nature, she cuts through the noise to reveal which health hacks are proven to work, how you can replicate them at home and even, in some cases, how nature can mimic science. With practical tips and accessible, science-backed strategies, you'll discover how to optimise every aspect of your health and wellbeing. Hack Yourself Healthy shows that true happiness isn't just about living longer - it's about living better! We're delighted to be hosting this event with Julia to celebrate the publication of Hack Yourself Heathy and look forward to welcoming her to Oswestry. Don't miss this opportunity to see and meet her! Event Format: Author talk 'in conversation' followed by audience Q&A and book signing /meet and greet Tickets: £20 (Admits One, includes a signed copy of Hack Yourself Heathy) or £32 (Admits Two, includes one signed copy of Hack Yourself Healthy) Venue: The Holroyd Community Theatre is accessed off the Gledrid junction of the A5 north of Oswestry and is sign posted off Station Road (left turn before railway crossing). On-site parking is available. The Theatre foyer has a bar where pre-event refreshments can be purchased. Please let us know if you have an accessibility/mobility requirements. R efunds: It is our general policy not to refund event tickets unless an event has sold out. In the case of sold out events where we have a waiting list for tickets, we will attempt to sell on your tickets at face value, if notified 7 days prior to the event. If sold, you will receive a refund for the ticket value (excluding Eventbrite fees). Alternatively, you can request to transfer your tickets to another event, making up any difference in ticket price. Please contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. P lease contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. Information Source: Booka Bookshop | eventbrite

Join us for an afternoon with much-loved broadcaster, TV presenter and author Clare Balding as she shares stories from her career and introduces her debut novel Pastures New. From growing up in a racing yard to commentating on the King’s Coronation procession and fronting the Olympics and Wimbledon, Clare Balding’s life has been extraordinary. Now, she has written her debut novel based on a character who relocates from London to a struggling farm in Monmouthshire. Discover more about Pastures New as well the secrets from behind the scenes of Clare's 30 years in broadcasting… Pastures New Sometimes home is where you least expect it… Alex has perfected the art of dodging responsibility during her almost 40 years — until an unexpected letter turns her life upside down. She’s inherited a crumbling sheep farm in deepest, wettest Wales. This was not her life plan. Not at all. Now, her closest companion is a grumpy Welsh terrier, she’s speed-reading An Idiot’s Guide to Farming, and her arrival has set the village gossip mill spinning. With the farm near collapse and its community now relying on her, Alex sets out to uncover the truth behind her mysterious inheritance. Then she can finally get back to the carefree life she thought she wanted. But as secrets surface, Alex finds her heart pulling her in a direction she never saw coming. Will she pack her bags – or has she landed exactly where she’s meant to be? We're delighted to be hosting this afternoon event with Clare and look forward to welcoming her to Oswestry to celebrate the publication of Pastures New. Event Format: Author talk 'in conversation' followed by audience Q&A and book signing Tickets: £12 without book (admits one, £10 redeemable against a signed copy of Pastures New) or £22 with book (admits one, includes signed copy of Pastures New) Venue: The Holroyd Community Theatre is accessed off the Gledrid junction of the A5 north of Oswestry and is sign posted off Station Road (left turn before railway crossing). On-site parking is available. The Theatre foyer has a bar where pre-event refreshments can be purchased. Please let us know if you have an accessibility/mobility requirements. R efunds: It is our general policy not to refund event tickets unless an event has sold out. In the case of sold out events where we have a waiting list for tickets, we will attempt to sell on your tickets at face value, if notified 7 days prior to the event. If sold, you will receive a refund for the ticket value (excluding Eventbrite fees). Alternatively, you can request to transfer your tickets to another event, making up any difference in ticket price. Please contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. P lease contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. Information Source: Booka Bookshop | eventbrite

Join us for an evening with Lyse Doucet, the BBC's Chief International Correspondent, as she talks about her new book The Finest Hotel in Kabul, a peoples history of Afghanistan. When the Inter-Continental Hotel opened in Kabul in 1969, it reflected the hopes of the country: a glistening white edifice that embodied Afghanistan's dreams of becoming an affluent, modern power. Five decades later, and the Inter-Continental is a dilapidated, shrapnel-damaged shell. It has endured civil wars, terrorist attacks, the US occupation, and the rise, fall and rise of the Taliban. But its decaying grandeur still hints at ordinary Afghans' hopes of stability and prosperity. Lyse Doucet, the BBC's Chief International Correspondent, has been staying at the Inter-Continental since 1988. She has spent decades meeting its staff and guests, and listening to their stories. And now, she uses their experiences to offer an evocative history of modern Afghanistan. It is the story of Hazrat, the octogenarian receptionist who for five decades has been witnessing diplomats and journalists, mujahideen and US soldiers, passing through the hotel's doors. It is the story of Abida, the first female chef to work in the Inter-Continental's famous kitchen after the fall of the Taliban in 2001. And it is the story of Sadeq, the 24-year-old front-desk worker who personifies the ambitions of a new generation of Afghans. The result is a remarkably vivid account of how ordinary Afghans have experienced half a century of disorder. It captures the soul of Afghanistan from within the walls of the Kabul Inter-Continental. We look forward to welcoming Lyse Doucet to Oswestry to celebrate the publication of The Finest Hotel in Kabul. It promises to be a fascinating event. Event Format: Author talk 'in conversation' followed by audience Q&A and book signing / meet and greet Tickets: £12 without book (admits one, £10 redeemable against a signed copy of The Finest Hotel in Kabul) or £24 (admits one, includes signed copy of The Finest Hotel in Kabul) Venue: The Holroyd Community Theatre is accessed off the Gledrid junction of the A5 north of Oswestry and is sign posted off Station Road (left turn before railway crossing). On-site parking is available. The Theatre foyer has a bar where pre-event refreshments can be purchased. Please let us know if you have an accessibility/mobility requirements. R efunds: It is our general policy not to refund event tickets unless an event has sold out. In the case of sold out events where we have a waiting list for tickets, we will attempt to sell on your tickets at face value, if notified 7 days prior to the event. If sold, you will receive a refund for the ticket value (excluding Eventbrite fees). Alternatively, you can request to transfer your tickets to another event, making up any difference in ticket price. Please contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. P lease contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. Information Source: Booka Bookshop | eventbrite

Join us for an evening with England's most capped rugby player of all time, Leicester Tigers' legendary scrum half Ben Youngs, as he talks about his career and life in rugby. In his unique, touching and honest memoir, rugby union legend Ben Youngs bares it all for the first time. Ben Youngs has had a dream career. He was born into rugby royalty and has achieved incredible success with both his family club, Leicester Tigers, and the English men's national team, for whom he is the most capped player of all time. His is an on-field legacy that any rugby player would envy. But there’s more to his story than meets the eye. In this deeply intimate memoir, the English rugby legend reveals how his remarkable record on the pitch masks what was, at times, a turbulent life off it. There have been highs: the 2019 World Cup final; a record-equaling eighteen-match unbeaten streak under Eddie Jones; finding friendship, brotherhood and a home at Leicester Tigers. But there have also been lows: losing two family members to terminal illnesses within a year; withdrawing from the Lions tour in 2017; falling out of love with rugby. In Beyond the Line , the five-time Premiership champion and member of the 2013 winning Lions test tour shares his full story with the public. With remarkable candour, wit and warmth, he writes of how his relationship with rugby proved pivotal to his healing process and vividly recounts the raucous nights and spontaneous adventures that only those within the inner circle typically get to witness. Inspirational and open, his story reveals not just the pressures of competition, but also the camaraderie and wild experiences that come with a life in rugby. We're thrilled to be hosting this event with rugby legend Ben Youngs to celebrate the publication of Beyond the Line. Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to see and meet him! Event Format: Ben Youngs 'in conversation' live on stage followed by audience Q&A and book signing / photo opportunity Tickets: £23 (Admits One and includes a signed copy of Beyond the Line) Venue: The Holroyd Community Theatre is accessed off the Gledrid junction of the A5 north of Oswestry and is sign posted off Station Road (left turn before railway crossing). On-site parking is available. The Theatre foyer has a bar where pre-event refreshments can be purchased. Please let us know if you have an accessibility/mobility requirements. R efunds: It is our general policy not to refund event tickets unless an event has sold out. In the case of sold out events where we have a waiting list for tickets, we will attempt to sell on your tickets at face value, if notified 7 days prior to the event. If sold, you will receive a refund for the ticket value (excluding Eventbrite fees). Alternatively, you can request to transfer your tickets to another event, making up any difference in ticket price. Please contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. P lease contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. Information Source: Booka Bookshop | eventbrite

Join us for an evening with bestselling food writer Dianna Henry as she talks about her new book Around the Table, featuring essays on places, people and food, handpicked from over two decades of her much-loved cookbooks. For Diana Henry's many fans, her evocative writing about places, people and food brings just as much pleasure as her delicious recipes. From the bustling Turkish groceries of the Edgware Road to the kitchen table of a cottage in rural France, a trattoria tucked away in the suburbs of Rome to the chilly Vermont countryside famed for its maple syrup, Diana Henry has followed her tastebuds around the world. In this collection, Diana's writing brings ingredients to life on the page. Tuck into salty and sweet, buttery and inky purple and black olives. Blood-red threads of saffron that turn whole platters of food into gold, bleeding yolk-yellow streaks over creamy chicken and milky white yogurt. Mouth-puckeringly citrusy, easy to peel and almost seedless Valencia oranges. The simple pleasure of a warming slice of toast. This vivid and nourishing collection of essays on the joys of good food is an utter delight for the senses. Foodies - this is the event for you! Event Format: Author talk 'in conversation' followed by audience Q&A and book signing /meet and greet Tickets: £12 without book (admits one, redeemable against a signed copy of Around the Table) or £22 (admits one, includes signed copy of Around the Table) Venue: The Holroyd Community Theatre is accessed off the Gledrid junction of the A5 north of Oswestry and is sign posted off Station Road (left turn before railway crossing). On-site parking is available. The Theatre foyer has a bar where pre-event refreshments can be purchased. Please let us know if you have an accessibility/mobility requirements. R efunds: It is our general policy not to refund event tickets unless an event has sold out. In the case of sold out events where we have a waiting list for tickets, we will attempt to sell on your tickets at face value, if notified 7 days prior to the event. If sold, you will receive a refund for the ticket value (excluding Eventbrite fees). Alternatively, you can request to transfer your tickets to another event, making up any difference in ticket price. Please contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. P lease contact us if you are unable to attend an event: hello@bookabookshop.co.uk for further advice. Information Source: Booka Bookshop | eventbrite