ISLE OF WIGHT BOOK AWARDS 2025
Tuesday 7th October | ISLAND SAILING CLUB
This year’s IW Book Awards Presentation Lunch will be the first event of the IW Literary Festival and will be held at the Island Sailing Club in Cowes from midday on Tuesday 7th October, it will feature an opening speech by the Awards’ founder Hunter Davies and the three judges will be on hand to announce the winners and present the awards. Sponsored by David and Patsy Franks, The Isle Of Wight Festival, Creative Island, Medina Publishing and Monkton Arts, this year’s prizes are £200 for each of the category winners and an additional £500 for the overall winner of the Book Of The Year Award.
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WINE AND CHOCOLATE TASTING
Wednesday 8th October | NORTHWOOD HOUSE
Join Chocolatier Chantal Coady OBE and Wine Broadcaster Helena Nicklin for a special chocolate and wine tasting event.
Founder of the British chocolatier and cocoa grower Rococo Chocolates, Chantal was appointed OBE for services to chocolate making. Following her departure from Rococo Chocolates in 2019, Chantal founded ‘The Chocolate Detective’ to focus on ethical production and sourcing slavery-free chocolate.
Helena Nicklin is an award-winning wine and spirits writer, broadcaster, wine consultant, drinks influencer and judge for various international wine and spirits awards. She writes regularly for major news brands both in print and online as well as for lifestyle titles such as BA's High Life, Delicious Magazine and Luxury Lifestyle Magazine. Most recently, Helena created the ‘HelenaSips Wine Academy’.
Enjoy this hosted chocolate and wine tasting event as Chantal introduces a selection from ‘The Chocolate Detective’ alongside wines chose by Helena. There will be a special guest appearance from Joanne Harris OBE, author of best-selling novel ‘Chocolat’ and creator of a new limited edition fragrance ‘Vianne’s Confession’ to celebrate the launch of her new book ‘Vianne’
CATH KIDSTON Q&A
Thursday 9th October | Commodores House | 5.00pm - 6.00pm
Admission to this event is included as part of a ticket purchase for Cath Kidston MBE's talk ‘A Place To Call Home’, sponsored by Spence Willard and taking place at 11.00am, Friday 10th October, Northwood House
Join us at Commodores House, Cowes for a glass of Nyetimber English sparkling wine with Wine Broadcaster Helena Nicklin as she hosts a Q&A with Cath Kidston MBE.
Helena and Cath will discuss the inspiration behind Cath’s latest collection, ‘C Atherley’. Named after her grandmother, this natural bath and body care brand is a homage to her love of gardening and flowers and celebrates Cath's obsession with geraniums.
Guests will enjoy delicious Isle of Wight tomato canapes prepared by local bespoke caterers 'Eat Street'.
'C Atherley' products will be available to try and buy at a pop up store in Commodore’s House, including complimentary gifts with purchase, prize draw and a 10% donation from all sales to support the volunteer gardeners at Northwood House.
BOTTOMS UP!
WINE TASTING WITH HELEN MCGINN
Thursday 9th October 2025 | 6.00pm
The effervescent Helen McGinn will be with us for a special wine tasting event. She will be guiding us through wines of her choice enriching our palettes and minds with her knowledge and expertise. (Cheese included).
Sponsored by www.represent.co.uk
FIZZ QUIZ
ISLAND SAILING CLUB
Thursday 9th October 2025 | 7.30pm
Enjoy the hospitality and ambiance of the Island Sailing Club while pitting your literary and general knowledge against other Festival goers at the popular Fizz Quiz.
Prizes include a bottle of fizz and discounts at the Festival Bookshop.
Teams to a maximum of six.
Doors Open 6pm
WALKING THE EDGE WRITING THE ISLAND
Friday 10th October | 10.30am - 12.30pm
Led by Nicola J. Watson and Emily Bullock
Join us for a creative writing workshop that explores walking, memory, and identity along the south coast of the Isle of Wight. Drawing playfully on archival materials, we’ll invite participants to think about what it has meant, and means, to live on or visit the Island. Through writing exercises inspired by coastal walks, local wildlife and landscape, we’ll explore how place can shape our writing.
No prior writing experience needed, just bring curiosity, a notebook, and a willingness to explore (in mind or body).
WHY WE STILL LOVE JANE
Friday 10th October 2025 | 1.40pm - 2.40pm
Jane Austen is 250 years old this year and in her prime. Films, books, plays, TV series, all bear witness to the astonishing legacy of a novelist who lived quietly in a Hampshire rectory but who ended up conquering the world.
What is the secret to Austen’s enduring power? Why have millions of readers made her six novels immortal? What did Colin Firth really think about being cast as Mr Darcy and becoming a sex object?
Join three leading novelists and writers - Allison Pearson, Amanda Craig and Ysenda Maxtone Graham - as they discuss Jane’s magic power, her influence on their work and debate a thorny question: Which is the best Austen novel? Opinions may differ!
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WRITE ON WIGHT
FOR THE ISLAND AUTHOR COMMUNITY
Friday 10th October 2025 | From 4.20pm
FREE (Book a ticket to reserve a seat.)
In partnership with the Naked Figleaf Press and Medina Book Shop
Following its successful inaugural year, Write on Wight is taking over the Friday night of our festival—now expanded into a full evening celebrating the Island’s vibrant literary talent. Head to out Write on Wight page here for a full schedule of the evening's events.
PAUL ARMFIELD
SONGS FOR BIBLIOPHILES
Saturday 11th October 2025
Beloved Isle of Wight singer-songwriter and bookseller Paul Armfield performs an intimate solo set blending music and literature. Following a UK and European tour of bookshops and literary festivals, he returns home with Between The Covers – 9 Songs For Bibliophiles, a charming collection inspired by our love of books.
Expect warm baritone vocals, lyrical wit, and haunting melodies played on guitar and musical saw. Praised by The Times, Rock’n’Reel, and Folking.com, this is a unique evening for book lovers and music fans alike.
Head to Paul's website to find out what to expect.
RED WINE AND BLOODY MURDER
Sunday 12th October 2025 | 4.30pm
Join Graham Barlett, an ex-policeman who writes crime novels and advises other crime writers, award-winning crime writer Martin Edwards and Vaseem Khan, creator of the popular Malabar House series, for a lively debate chaired by Angela Buckley.
MUSIC AND LITERARY HEAVEN
Sunday 12th October 2025 | 6.30pm
Returning by popular demand after their sensational sell-out programme in the 2023 Festival, an original and entertaining event not to be missed. Joining the line-up as a special guest star will be actress, Rock Folies and Coronation Street star Rula Lenska adding a touch of Noel Coward and one or two surprises to the proceedings. She will also join poet Jeremy Robson in reading from his highly-praised collections.
Alongside them will be the remarkable jazz singer Norma Winstone MBE about whom the Times wrote,' there is no singer in the country to touch her,'. Recipient of many awards, Norma is famed for her thrilling ability to improvise vocally.
With Norma will be a group of the country's finest jazz musicians featuring, saxophonist Art Themen, pianist David Gordon and bassist Dave Green.
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Northwood House | Ward Avenue
Cowes | Isle of Wight | PO31 9AZ
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