After captivating audiences during its inaugural event last year, the Retford Book Festival is back and ready to inspire local readers and writers once again.
A total of 1,754 people attended the week‑long festival during its first year, with events held across several locations in Retford Town Centre. This year, 22 events are planned between Saturday 6th June and Sunday 14th June, taking place in schools and key venues including Grove Street Methodist Church, Idle Valley Nature Reserve, St Saviour’s Church and The Glass Lounge. Tickets range from £5 to £25.
So that the festival can continue to be a fixture in the literary calendar, a £900 Councillor Community Grant from a group of Bassetlaw District Councillors has again helped to fund venue hire and author costs.
Authors and playwrights from both the local area and across the UK will be showcasing their work, including Henry Normal, co-writer of the multi‑award‑winning Mrs Merton Show, the first series of The Royle Family, and co-founder of Baby Cow Productions with Steve Coogan, as well as crime novelist Stephen Booth, Poet Blake Morrison and many more.
Julia Kitchen, Retford Book Festival Committee Chair said: “We’re incredibly grateful to the Bassetlaw District Councillors whose Community Grant has helped support the return of the Retford Book Festival.
“Their contribution has enabled us to meet essential venue and author costs, ensuring we can once again bring this much‑loved event to the heart of our community. On behalf of the festival committee, I’d like to thank the councillors for recognising the value of arts, literature, and local cultural events, and for helping make this year’s festival possible.”
Cllr Susan Shaw, Ward Member for East Retford East spoke on behalf of the councillors who contributed to the grant and said: “We are delighted to support the return and continued growth of the Retford Book Festival.
“The festival has become much more than a celebration of reading and creativity, it is a cultural event that brings people together, strengthens community pride, and helps showcase Retford as a place where the arts can thrive. By supporting essential venue and author costs, we’re helping the organisers build on their vision for a bigger, more vibrant festival that benefits residents, local businesses, and visitors alike.”
The councillors who contributed to the Retford Book Festival are: Cllr Harriet Digby and Cllr Malachi Carroll, Ward Members for East Retford West; Cllr Susan Shaw and Cllr Dan Henderson, Ward Members for East Retford East; Cllr David Challinor, Ward Member for East Retford North; Cllr Darrell Pulk, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Ward Member for Sutton, and Cllr Paddy Ducey, Ward Member for Worksop South.
To find out more information about this year’s Retford Book Festival and how to book your tickets visit: https://wegottickets.com/event/693424
Each Bassetlaw District Councillor is allocated a small annual budget and has the discretion to award grants to support community activities within their ward. Councillor grants may support projects related to sport, culture and heritage, environmental sustainability, social welfare, and general community benefit.
Pictured: Julia Kitchen, Cllr Malachi Carroll, Cllr Susan Shaw, Cllr Harriet Digby and members of the Retford Book Festival Committee
Last Updated on Thursday, April 16, 2026