The first Leiston Book Festival took place on 7 September 2024 and was a great success. In 2025 we continue the theme established last year as six renowned writers explore ideas about our changing landscape and environment in their latest books. People who came to the Festival in 2024 told us they found the programme thought-provoking, which is just what we set out to do. The line-up for 2025 is designed to meet that goal. Click here to sign up for news and we will be in touch as soon as tickets go on sale on 2 May.
Alde & Blyth Community Radio interview with festival founder Robert Ashton
You may be wondering why, at a time when many book festivals are losing their sponsorship, a new one has emerged here in Leiston. My name is Robert Ashton, and I lived in Leiston in my teens, married a local girl and 18 months ago, we returned to the town to retire. I’m an author, and my latest book has been long-listed for a Wainwright Prize, which is perhaps the most prestigious prize for nature writing.
It was being asked to speak at other literary festivals that gave me the idea of launching one here. We focused Leiston Book Festival on writers whose books explore our changing landscape and environment. That’s both very topical, and clearly different from other literary festivals in Suffolk. (I wanted to add something new, not compete with what already exists.)
Here’s an interview that Alde & Blyth Community Radio broadcast last weekend, in which I say a little more about why I think Leiston Book Festival is so important.
You can listen to it here...
Explore change with inspiring non-fiction authors
Books can change lives, and we want to give you the opportunity to meet, hear and quiz authors here in Leiston. We have announced our festival line-up for 2025 and if you join our mailing list, we’ll let you know the moment we start selling tickets. Our venue, Leiston’s historic film theatre, has plenty of seats and is fully accessible. We look forward to welcoming you.
Discover Leiston’s rich industrial heritage
There’s a lot more to see and do in Leiston, so why not make your visit to the festival a weekend with a difference? The town grew through the 19th century as the Richard Garrett steam engine factory grew. The Long Shop, built in 1852 was the first purpose built production line in the world, enabling the company to achieve a fivefold increase in its output. The beach at nearby Sizewell is said by many to be the best along this stretch of coast, and there are plenty of walks in and around the town.
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