Margate ✷ 4 Oct to 12 Oct 2025
Margate Bookie 2025
The friendly litfest by the sea will be back!
A ten-day festival in Marvellous Margate
Big name authors at Turner Contemporary. A full weekend of creative writing workshops. Poetry slam,, three days of children’s events,, book launches, school visits, literary walks, podcasts, ice cream, fish and chips and the loveliest skies in Europe. And possibly donkeys as well.
WRITE-UP WEEKEND
SATURDAY
28/09
Kick-start your writing with inspiring creative workshops.
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SUNDAY
29/09
Creative Life Writing SOLD OUT | Saturday 28/09, 11.00am - 12.00pm, Marine Studios
Exploring Voice | Saturday 28/09, 12.30pm - 13.30pm, Marine Studios
Adding Comedy to your writing | Saturday 28/09, 2.00pm - 3.00pm, Marine Studios
Gimme Danger - Injecting jeopardy into your story | Saturday 28/09, 3.30pm - 4.30pm, Marine Studios
Sensing the Sea LAST TICKETS! | Sunday 29/09, 11.00am - 13.30pm, Marine Studios
Edit Like a Pro LAST TICKETS! | Sunday 29/09, 2.00pm - 3.00pm, Marine Studios
Keep on Keeping On | Sunday 29/09, 3.30pm - 4.30pm, Marine Studios
MARGATE WEEK
MONDAY
30/09
Enjoy author talks, panel discussions and walks in The Margate School and the Old Town
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FRIDAY
04/10
Billie's Tea Party and Book Club | Monday 30/09, 3.00pm - 6.00pm, Wildes Café
Noughties Nostalgia & Atypical Love Stories | Monday 30/09, 7.30pm - 9.30pm, The Margate School
Local Writers Showcase SOLD OUT | Tuesday 1/10, 7.30pm - 9.30pm, The Margate School
Margate - A hidden history of authors, artists and lovers SOLD OUT | Wednesday 2/10, 7.30pm - 9.30pm, The Margate School
The Nature of Belonging | Thursday 3/10, 7.30pm - 9.30pm, The Margate School
Bookbinding Workshop | Friday 4/10, 2.00pm to 3.30pm, Turner
Bee's Bookshare | Friday 4/10, 4:00pm - 6.00pm, The Margate School
SCHOOLS DAY
FRIDAY
04/10
A day out at Turner Contemporary for pupils.
Nick Hornby's Ministry of Stories presents Jessica Randall | Friday 4/10, 12.30pm to 1.45pm, Turner
Moira Buffini | Friday 4/10, 2pm - 3.30pm, Turner
POETRY SLAM!
FRIDAY
04/10
Live at Dreamland! Headlined by Raymond Antrobus!
Poetry Slam with Raymond Antrobus | Friday 4/10, 6.00pm - late, Dreamland
THE BOOKIE BIG WEEKEND
FRIDAY
04/10
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SUNDAY
06/10
Meet Famous Names at the Turner.
Harry Baker LAST TICKETS - BE QUICK | Saturday 5/10, 11.00am - 12.00pm, Turner
Lisa Jewell LAST TICKETS - BE QUICK | Saturday 5/10, 12.30pm - 13.30pm, Turner
Two Tone with Pauline Black and Daniel Rachel | Saturday 5/10, 2.00pm - 3.00pm, Turner
Crime and Consequence | Saturday 5/10, 3.30pm - 4.30pm, Turner
14 Anthology Launch | Sunday 6/10, 11.00am - 12.00pm, Turner
Helen Lederer with Daisy Buchanan | Sunday 6/10, 12.30pm - 13.30pm, Turner
Jeremy Deller LAST TICKETS - BE QUICK | Sunday 6/10, 2.00pm - 3.00pm, Turner
Robin Ince | Sunday 6/10, 3.30pm - 4.30pm, Turner
Farewell Walk | Sunday 6/10, 5.00pm, Turner
THE CHILDREN’S BOOKIE
SATURDAY
05/10
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SUNDAY
06/09
ALL SOLD OUT
Dragon World SOLD OUT | Saturday 5/10, 10.15am - 11.15am, Turner
World Weavers SOLD OUT | Saturday 5/10, 11.30am - 12.30pm, Turner
Kodi and the Mystery of Komodo Islands SOLD OUT | Saturday 5/10, 1.30pm - 2.30pm, Turner
Wandering Lamb SOLD OUT | Saturday 5/10, 3.00pm - 4.00pm, Turner
The Dinosaur who Pooped a Superhero SOLD OUT | Sunday 6/10, 11.00am - 12.00pm, Turner
Kids Can Cook SOLD OUT | Sunday 6/10, 12.30pm - 13.30pm, Turner
Is it a Seed? SOLD OUT | Sunday 6/10, 2.00pm - 3.00pm, Turner
William the Caterpillar SOLD OUT | Sunday 6/10, 3.30pm - 4.30pm, Turner
2023 was a classic Bookie.
Take a look at our recap!
"It was really fun! Thanks for everything xx" - Lou Sanders "I had such a fantastic weekend, it felt like a total triumph! Thank you so much for making an extraordinary concept into reality." - Daisy Buchanan
"It was really fun! Thanks for everything xx" - Lou Sanders "I had such a fantastic weekend, it felt like a total triumph! Thank you so much for making an extraordinary concept into reality." - Daisy Buchanan
"I had a lot of fun, so I'm glad everyone else did too!" - Yomi Adegoke "Thanks so much for such a wonderful weekend - I so enjoyed being a part of it." - Laura Kay
"I had a lot of fun, so I'm glad everyone else did too!" - Yomi Adegoke "Thanks so much for such a wonderful weekend - I so enjoyed being a part of it." - Laura Kay
“It’s a lovely festival, I would love to come back. :)” - Andy Osho "Thanks again for a lovely event - I was so hungover on Sunday I wasn't fit for much but the full English at the hotel was a godsend!" - Miki Berenyi
“It’s a lovely festival, I would love to come back. :)” - Andy Osho "Thanks again for a lovely event - I was so hungover on Sunday I wasn't fit for much but the full English at the hotel was a godsend!" - Miki Berenyi
Front picture credits: Laurie Noble