Portsoy Book Festival

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!

17/04/2026

📚SPONSORS!📚

We are delighted to add yet another name to our list of sponsors!

The Royal Oak is a traditional, family-run hotel and restaurant located in Cullen. Situated between the town's famous viaduct and the historic seatown, it is highly regarded for its coastal views and locally sourced Scottish cuisine.

Owner Caroline Ronald has kindly donated some malt whisky for our Saturday night event at the Salmon Bothy. We are very grateful for her support of the book festival.

15/04/2026

📚 VISIT BEINN BOOKS AT OUR FESTIVAL POP-UP SHOPS📚

We’re delighted to welcome local independent bookseller Beinn - Coffee & Books as both a sponsor and our official festival bookseller.

Throughout the weekend, you’ll find their pop-up shops at each venue, offering -

📕 Books by all our guest authors
📕 A wide selection of titles in similar genres
📕 A chance to support the festival - every purchase gives something back to the Book Festival.

Shop local, discover something new, and support a brilliant independent business too!

15/04/2026

📚 CHILDREN’S STORYTELLING AND CRAFTS WITH GAYNOR ANDREWS📚

⏰ There are just three days left for children to complete our exciting Word Hunt! Hidden throughout Portsoy are magical words from Gaynor’s lovely book Pandora & The Story Forge. You can pick up your entry forms from Symposium Coffee House and return them (before noon on 17th April) once you’ve found all 20 words to be entered into a prize draw.

📕 As part of our festival weekend, Gaynor will also be hosting a free storytelling and craft session for children at the Portsoy Church Centre on Saturday 18th April from 11am to 12 noon - do come along and say hello!

13/04/2026

📚 LAST TICKETS REMAINING!📚

⏳ Just 4 days to go until the 8th Portsoy Book Festival!
We’re so close to a full sell-out - don’t miss your chance to be part of it!
🎤 Friday night’s special double-header still has limited tickets:�Rory Cellan-Jones + Si Wooler
A powerful, heartwarming session exploring the incredible bond between humans and their dogs - featuring the moving story of Rory’s beloved rescue dog, Sophie. 🐾
✨ Inspiring. Insightful. Unmissable.
Grab the last tickets before they’re gone!

10/04/2026

📚PRE-ORDER YOUR BOOKS TO COLLECT!📚

It’s only a week to go until the 8th Portsoy Book Festival. Did you know that you can pre-order the visiting authors’ books from our official book seller Beinn Books? Collect your book from their stand at the festival and then get it signed too!

The link for pre-ordering is below

We're thrilled to be the official bookseller for the Portsoy Book Festival on 17 & 18 April 2026 - and we'll be at all of the events with a pop up bookshop selling lots of copies of books of the authors speaking as well as similar titles we think festival goers will enjoy.