Portsoy Book Festival

30/07/2026

Our AGM is on tonight in the Station Hotel

📚 PORTSOY BOOK FESTIVAL AGM 📚

The Portsoy Book Festival Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 30th at 7pm to be held at the Station Hotel in Portsoy. Everyone is invited to attend. Should you be unable to join us, please do not hesitate to reach out via message with any inquiries or suggestions you may have.

We eagerly anticipate your presence!

23/07/2026

📚 PORTSOY BOOK FESTIVAL AGM 📚

The Portsoy Book Festival Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 30th at 7pm to be held at the Station Hotel in Portsoy. Everyone is invited to attend. Should you be unable to join us, please do not hesitate to reach out via message with any inquiries or suggestions you may have.

We eagerly anticipate your presence!

21/06/2026

🛡️ AILEEN BURNETT SHIELD 🛡️

We are delighted to share these photos of children’s author Gaynor Andrews presenting the Aileen Burnett shield to pupil Ruari Thompson. Ruari was the winner of the Creative Writing Competition which was held at Portsoy Primary School in conjunction with the Portsoy Book Festival.

Ruari was presented with the shield at the P7 leavers’ assembly for his imaginative and fun story.

Extremely well done Ruari and to all the pupils who took part.

Aileen Burnett was one of our founding members of the Portsoy Book Festival. She worked tirelessly behind the scenes to establish and run the festival. To keep her memory and passion for reading alive, the festival established the Aileen Burnett shield to highlight young writing talent.

24/04/2026

📚 HAMLYNS OF SCOTLAND COMPETITION WINNER! 📚

The Hamlyns raffle prize for the Book Festival has been drawn. Hamlyns will be in touch with the winner regarding her prize.

We are very grateful to Hamlyns for their support of the festival.

23/04/2026

📚WORD HUNT WINNERS!📚

Eleri (who was on her holidays from Bournemouth) was the winner of our Word Hunt. Well done Eleri!

We also have a runners up prize which goes to Olivia Ness from Portsoy. Well done Olivia!

Thank you to everyone who took part!

19/04/2026

📚 THAT’S A WRAP FOR 2026! Thank you all from the Book Festival Committee. See you again in 2027 📚

18/04/2026

📚BOOK FESTIVAL - DAY 2 (EVENING)📚

Our final event for this year’s Portsoy Book Festival takes place this evening in the Salmon Bothy.

📚 Doors open at the Salmon Bothy at 6:30pm. Beinn Books will have their pop up shop available during this event also. By supporting their small business you are supporting the Festival too.

🚗 Please note there is limited parking around the Bothy as this is predominantly a residential area. However there is a small car park on Links Road beside the Bothy. Please be mindful not to block any local residents’ driveways etc if you are parking nearby.

🎤 Natalie Jayne Clark - this event starts at 7pm. Hear all about author Natalie’s debut crime novel “The Malt Whisky Murders”. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and get your books personally signed at the end of the event. PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS NOW SOLD OUT.

🥃 A wee dram or glass of prosecco (over 18s only) will be served on arrival alongside some delicious locally made shortbread!

🎁 There will also be our final raffle. If you have any raffles you would like to donate, we would be more than happy to accept these. The raffle will be drawn after the guest speaker has finished.

Have a great evening!

18/04/2026

The Church Centre is all set up for the free children’s storytelling and craft event with Gaynor Andrews! This is on from 11am until 12noon today. Please pop along!

Beinn Books are also here with an amazing array of different titles too!

18/04/2026

📚BOOK FESTIVAL - DAY 2 (MORNING & AFTERNOON)📚

It’s Day 2 of the 8th Portsoy Book Festival. Here is everything you need to know for the events this morning and this afternoon:

📚 Doors open at the Portsoy Church Centre at 10am. Beinn Books have their pop up shop available to everyone all day even if you don’t have a ticket for any of the events so feel free to have a browse! *Please note the only time the pop up shop it is not accessible to all is whilst the Shona Maclean event is on*. By giving Beinn Books your support you are also supporting the Festival .

🚗 Please note there are car parks situated around Portsoy - at the Co-op, the Square & An Caorann Medical Practice. Please be mindful not to block any local residents’ driveways etc if you are parking on the street.

🎨 There is a magical storytelling and craft session starting at 11am until 12noon for children with local author Gaynor Andrews. You do not need a ticket for this free event, please just pop in. It is being held in the Lesser Hall.

🥪 Fancy a spot of lunch or a fly cup? Our local eateries will be happy to see you before/after our afternoon event! Please give them your patronage as many of them have given their kind support to the Festival.

🎤 Shona Maclean - doors open at 1:30pm, with the event starting at 2pm. Hear all about author Shona’s exciting brand new book “The Cromarty Library Circle”. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and get your books personally signed at the end of the event. PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS NOW SOLD OUT.

☕️ Refreshments will be available from our designated tea and coffee station for a small donation just before Shona’s event starts.

🎁 There will also be a raffle. If you have any raffles you would like to donate, we would be more than happy to accept these. The raffle will be drawn after the guest speaker has finished.

We hope you have a lovely afternoon.

17/04/2026

📚BOOK FESTIVAL - DAY 1!📚

We are finally at the weekend you have all been waiting for! It’s the return of the Book Festival and we are excited to be back after a 6 year absence. Here is everything you need to know for tonight’s event:

🎟️ Doors open at the Portsoy Church Centre at 6:30pm. The festival will be formally opened by our patron HM Lord-Lieutenant of Banffshire Andrew Simpson. Please note there are car parks situated around Portsoy - at the Co-op, the Square & An Caorann Medical Practice. Please be mindful not to block any local residents’ driveways etc if you are parking on the street.

☕️ Teas & coffees will be available from our designated tea and coffee station for a small donation!

🎁 There will also be a raffle. If you have any raffles you would like to donate, we would be more than happy to accept these. There will be a raffle at each event this weekend which will be drawn after the guest speakers have finished.

📚 Beinn Books, our official booksellers will be there with their pop-up shop giving you an opportunity to purchase your next reading material!

🎤 Our double header event with Rory Cellan-Jones and Si Wooler starts at 7pm; we are really looking forward to a heartwarming session exploring the incredible bond between humans and their dogs - featuring the moving story of Rory’s beloved rescue dog, Sophie. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and get your books personally signed at the end of the event. THERE ARE STILL LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE.

We wish you all a great weekend!