Hilarious and heart-warming, don’t miss the chance to spend an evening with one of the UK’s most loved personalities. 

What makes a good cocktail? What on earth is a cinquain? And why have we put the two together? If you join us for a night of boisterous beverages and punchy poetry, you might just find out.

During the Literature Festival we’d absolutely love it if you’d tell us what you love most about libraries and reading.

Luke Wright returns with an all new show with deliciously funny poems set against a backdrop of pandemic politics, ageing parents, and the poet’s quest for JOY! 

Luke Wright offers a second, late night show, where he will serve up banger after banger in a more intimate venue. This is rock’n’roll poetry at its visceral, inventive best.

Chaired by Ra Page, this panel brings together authors Courttia Newland and Bidisha with the historians who informed their stories. Together they will share the folk tales and true-events from British protest past which have inspired the origin tales for their modern day superheroes.

From mind-reading teenagers against deportation to the gig-economy worker’s warrior learn how this Northern radical press created a new breed of political superheroes. And create your own…

Multi-award-winning author Clare Mackintosh will be talking about her new book – The Last Party – and her new TV series being filmed in Wales.

Join local creative writing tutor Charlie Lea for a series of wellbeing and confidence boosting writing workshops.

Writer and poet Reshma Ruia comes to Storyhouse this autumn as part of Chester Literature Festival. Her new novel, Still Lives is out now.

An evening with Tony Walsh is a rip-roaring rock and roller-coaster ride from a profoundly inspiring artist at the very top of his game. Forget what you imagined a poetry night could be and expect belly-laughs, tears and everything in between.

Discover something new as you’re partnered with your perfect book.

Come and experience ‘Madchester’ giants Happy Mondays, Mark Berry – forever known to the world as Bez, discussing his extraordinary adult life.

From the bestselling author of A Place Called Winter comes Mother’s Boy, a superb historical novel of Cornwall, class, desire and two world wars.

The poetry pub crawl is back! Join us on a rowdy, fun and joyful journey round the pubs of Chester starting in Storyhouse, hearing poems and songs in each venue.

Join music PR legend Barbara Charone, music journalist and broadcaster Jude Rogers and DJ and film producer Bob Stanley as they discuss new books that focus on amazing stories from the industry over the last 50 years.

Dubbed the iPhone poet, Dean Atta and Dylan Thomas prize winner Kayo Chingonyi come together to discuss their individual works alongside More Fiya: A New Collection of Black British Poetry, edited by Chingonyi.

Join bestselling authors Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan as they discuss their new novel MAD HONEY – a moving and powerful exploration of the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become ourselves.

Intimate, engaging, quirky and darkly magical, appealing to audiences of all ages, but especially lovers of folklore, fantasy and fairytale. 

Brian Groom, author of Northerners: A History, From the Ice Age to the Present Day, will outline 180 million years of history showing how the north’s people have shaped Britain and the world in unexpected ways.