Hay Festival Winter Weekend 2022 to be hosted at newly renovated castle

Hay Festival Winter Weekend will take place this November at the newly renovated Hay Castle.

The Powys castle was bought by Hay Castle Trust in 2011 and has been undergoing major renovations since.

It was formerly owned by the late Richard Booth, a former bookseller credited as "the King of Hay" for being one of the people who turned Hay-on-Wye into the literary destination it is today.

Andrew White, director of the National Lottery Heritage fund in Wales, said of the castle’s renovation and reopening: “Hay Castle has a rich 900-year history, during which time it has been burnt down; rebuilt and attacked by Owain Glyndŵr. Now, thanks to National Lottery players these extensive renovations have taken place and now the future of Hay Castle has been secured for generations and potentially centuries to come.”

A line-up of speakers and authors to be in attendance from 24th to 27th November will be released on 27th September.

Hay Festival international director Cristina Fuentes La Roche said: “We’re back at the change of season for Hay Festival Winter Weekend 2022, a Festival of joy and optimism to enthral curious minds of all ages. With a new home in the centre of Hay-on-Wye at the stunningly renovated Hay Castle, we’re putting together an ambitious programme to imagine the world anew and fill the closing days of 2022 with conversation, laughter and friends.”

Novelist Jeanette Winterson said: “It’s the time of year we need some internal sunshine and that’s what this is. It’s a place where there’s light and there’s warmth and a lot of fun.”