Literary events at previous fairs:
Children's Story Time with top story teller "Auntie" Jeanette
Traditional storytellers David England and Mark Bedford entertainment older than even the printed word!
Book signings by a wide variety of authors
Children's
Literary Quizzes
Creative
writing advice
Publishing advice
Chance to play Bookchase, a new literary board game...
Poetry at the fair...open mic' poetry sessions and guest poets
and Fine Scribes poetry competitions launched and results announced
On the spot prizes of wine and book vouchers
Book binding demonstrations
West Kent Book Fair
Old Big School hall, Tonbridge School, High Street, Tonbridge, TN9 1JP.
NEXT FAIR: SUNDAY May 2nd 2010
Entry: 50p Free after 1pm (Children Free) FREE Parking
Teas, coffees, cakes and biscuits
Come rain, come shine, just come along!
Other 2010 Dates: Sunday October 17th
Enquiries to MR. Books Bookshop 01732 363000
See details and directions below
For a detailed street map of how to find Tonbridge School
How to find Tonbridge School for the fair and lit fest:
From M25:
Follow the A21 South towards Hastings, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge; take the Weald/Sevenoaks/Hildenborough turn off onto the B245 and continue through Hildenborough and on to Tonbridge. You will see the entrance to Tonbridge School on the right before you arrive at the main traffic lights at the junction with Shipbourne Road and the High Street. Drive in here and park around the back of the School where you'll find plenty of parking; then walk through the archway and turn right for Old Big School, there will be signs out to guide you in once you are on the school grounds. Exhibiting sellers can park at the front by driving through the High Street entrance; drive in the main gate between the two boars heads.
From South:
Drive/walk all the way through Tonbridge High Street, (left out of the railway station if you are coming by train) over the town bridge, past the Castle on your left, straight over the traffic lights with the Ivy House pub on your right, Tonbridge School is less than 100 yards on your left; through the Boars Heads main gate or, if driving, continue to next traffic lights and turn left towards Hildenborough and Sevenoaks; soon after turning you'll see the main gate to the school on your left; drive in and follow road around the back of the school, where you'll find plenty of parking, then walk through the archway and turn right for Old Big School, there will be signs out to guide you in once you are on the school grounds.
More About the fair
The West Kent Book Fair and Literary Festival is held in the superb surroundings of Old Big School hall twice a year, usually in April and October.
There's ample free parking.
You cannot miss the school's impressive facade as you arrive at the North end of Tonbridge from the Sevenoaks/Hildenborough direction.
See directions and map above.
Please contact the organiser, Mark Richardson, on 01732 363000 for details
Tables and space for a book stack are £27 for exhibitors
The fair was formerly the Tonbridge Book Fair, which was originally held at the Hilden Manor Hotel until it burnt down in February 2005 (Nothing to do with us!)
We really have landed on our feet though because you could not hope for a better venue than this one.
The picture above shows the outside; and the inside, with its oak panelled walls (see picture on left,) create just the right atmosphere
the lighting is perfect
there's disabled access
flat loading for sellers
more than 20 booksellers
children's story time
poetry at the fair
and the literary festival flavour makes the public want to linger for longer at the event
You'll usually find about 25 booksellers selling a huge range of rare and out-of-print books as well as many bargain new and secondhand books.
The fair has grown from nothing to this in four years and is getting more and more popular with the book buyer from a wider and wider area
believe it or not someone actually came over from Canada especially to coincide with last April's fair. Now that's keen!
It's common for visitors to the fair to travel from all over the South East.
The Literary Event is growing in popularity
Initially it was just a few poems at the book fair; now it has grown into poetry readings, children's story time, traditional story tellers, book binding demonstrations, poetry competitions, book signings by local authors, children's literary quizzes, creative writing advice, publishing advice, historical talks and much more....
Other Fairs Mr. Books exhibiting at in 2010:
DORKING: (Dorking Halls, Reigate Road): March 28th; June 7th; September 26th; November 28th.
FARNHAM (The Maltings): March 21st; October 3rd; December 5th
Some pics from past Tonbridge fairs
