Margate Bookie Festival partners with Dreamland amusement park for first time

The Margate Bookie Festival is partnering with Dreamland amusement park for the first time, with this year’s event featuring authors Deborah Levy, Adam Kay, Yomi Adegoke and Daisy Buchanan. 

The event will take place from 20th to 22nd October, featuring poetry and music, comedy and art, politics and fiction, and an extensive children’s programme. Now in its eighth year, it has started a new venue partnership with Dreamland with events taking place across The Ballroom, the Roller Room and Cinque Ports.

The partnership takes place alongside long-standing venue partners, the Turner Contemporary Gallery and The Margate School.  

Writers such as A C Grayling, Sathnam Sanghera and Andi Osho will appear alongside the likes of Levy, Kay, Adegoke and Buchanan.

Highlights include journalist and author Adegoke discussing her new book, The List (Flourth Estate) alongside The Split (Quercus) novelist Laura Kay to discuss "Alternative Romance and the cool rebirth of the modern rom-com".

Buchanan will chat with actor, writer, comedian and film-maker Andi Osho (Asking for a Friend, Tough Crowd, both HQ) for a live recording of the “You’re Booked podcast”.

There will be a chance to discover future literary stars with the Faber Academy and Vanguard Readings, including contributors to the 14 Anthology, as part of Margate Bookie’s commitment to supporting all types of writers. Additionally there will be live podcasts with guests such as authors Lucy Vine, Olivia Petter and Zahra Barri.

The Bookie is supported by local booksellers Moon Lane Books, Book Bodega and Seadog Books from Ramsgate and Westgate’s Books That Expand The Mind.

Organisers said: “This October we are looking forward to welcoming leading authors and new visitors to the delights of Margate, to promote local creative talent and to help build an inclusive hub for readers and writers across Thanet.”

Director and founder Andreas Loizou said: "I’m overjoyed that Bookie has put Margate on the UK’s literary map. Over the last few years we’ve had big name authors alongside local writers, seen literary legends side by side with up-and-coming stars, and brought people together to celebrate words and books in the seaside town we love. With new partnerships and an expanded programme, Bookie 2023 will be bigger and better than ever."