Liverpool´s Largest Ever Book Festival Announced For September

LIVERPOOL'S largest ever book festival has been announced for:- Sunday, 7 September 2025! The inaugural Liverpool Book  Festival is taking place at the:- Invisible Wind Factory and Make CIC and will feature:- 60 authors, book signings, workshops, live music, street food, artisan stalls, workshops, Q&As, celebrity special guests and more!

The exciting new book festival will feature some of the Region’s most talented and award winning authors and will showcase a wide range of books for sale; including:- autobiographies, crime, thrillers, sci-fi, romance, comedy, historical, children’s books and everything in between!

Special guests announced so far include:- broadcasting legend Billy Butler, acclaimed novelist Ramsey Campbell, Marvel Writer Tim Quinn, award winning Comedian Gary Skyner, Celebrity Chef Dave Critchley, Punk Legend Phil Jones and many other well known figures.

Multi award winning life coach:- Alison Blackler will be in attendance, as will renowned life coach Linda Baldvinsdottir, who is flying in from Iceland. Meanwhile, respected publishers will be attending such as:- Estelle Maher from Tauk Publishing, Canelo, Northodox Press, Susan Westoby from Liverpool Books Online and Louisa Herridge. Books shops such as:- Bob Stone’s Write Blend will also be at the event.

The festival will feature fascinating Q&As on stage, as well as live music from talented local acts such as:- Primal Live winner Sam Leyden. Workshops will be taking place throughout the day, including:- poetry from Zonked, children’s creative workshops from Helen Poole and Find Your Flow with John Bullock. Meanwhile, there’ll be street food and artisan stalls selling quirky and artsy products.

Liverpool Book Festival is being hosted by local magazine, marketing and PR company, La Vida Liverpool. The aim is to provide a platform for local authors; connecting them with fellow authors, publishers, book shops and experts and a great opportunity to sell their books to enthusiasts. For avid readers, it’s a chance to meet the authors directly, ask them questions and get their purchased books signed in person.

La Vida Liverpool’s Justin Hopper said:- “I’ve owned La Vida Liverpool for 7 years now and have promoted many different people, businesses, charities and events. Every time I do marketing and PR for authors it always strikes me how difficult it is for them to get their books out there and sell direct to readers without getting lost on big online platforms that charge huge commissions. As a writer myself, I am passionate about supporting creatives and I’m proud to have done that really well through La Vida these past 7 years. With Liverpool Book Festival, I’m aiming to take that one step further for writers; connecting them with book lovers in a fun event with loads going on! I’m making it really affordable for all too; that’s very important to me.”

2 charity partners will both receive a free stand at the event and a 10% donation of ticket sales each. Builder Book, founded by Natalie Reeves Billing and Jude C Lennon, provide creative and literacy packs to children to help bridge the gap in education. Inspiring Minds CIC will also benefit, to help raise money for their Embracing The Extraordinary book about parenting neurodivergent children.

Tickets to the festival are just:- £10, and there are big plans for it to be hosted bi-annually. The event aims to offer more than a standard book fair; with lots going on throughout the day and something for everyone, whilst celebrating the rich literary talent in Merseyside.

Justin summarised:- “There are so many talented authors in our Region and so many people love reading so I’m excited about providing this platform to bring them together. It’s tough for authors to get noticed and you can’t beat a good physical copy, so it’s a win win situation; in a digital world with artificial intelligence we must fight to keep our creativity alive and I’m hoping this festival will help in some small way.”

Recap... Liverpool Book Festival takes place on:- Sunday, 7 September 2025, from:- 12 pm to 5 pm, at the:- Invisible Wind Factory and MAKE CIC, on:- 3 Regent Road, Liverpool, L3 7DS, next to the new Everton Football Club Stadium.

To book your ticket, visit:- EventBrite.Co.UK.

Hugh Baird College Student Katie Blundell Reaches Final of Prestigious Nestlé Toque d'Or® 2025 Competition

KATIE Blundell, a Level 2 Hospitality and Catering student at Hugh Baird College, has earned a coveted place in the final of the prestigious Nestlé Toque d'Or® 2025 competition. Chosen from over 400 applicants across the UK, Katie is 1 of just 6 finalists set to compete in the Grand Final this May.

The semi-final, held over 2 days in York, tested participants across 3 demanding challenges designed to showcase their skills, creativity, and professionalism.

In the 1st task, Katie was partnered with a chef to complete a coffee and dessert pairing. Her inventive mint Aero mocha impressed the judges, perfectly complementing a rich mint brownie.

The second challenge focused on wine pairing. Katie selected a 2021 French Sauvignon Blanc and a 2021 South African Merlot to accompany a vegetable terrine, demonstrating both knowledge and thoughtful pairing.

For the final stage, a table service challenge, she was required to serve a table of 2, present her chosen wine, and explain the flavours and overall dining experience, a task she approached with confidence and knowledge.

Reflecting on her experience, Katie said:- "I really enjoyed the competition; it was great to meet new people, especially the guest chefs. I felt nervous at first, but my nerves soon turned into excitement. I feel very fortunate that I have made it to this stage in the competition. I am looking forward to the finals in May and have started preparing with my tutors."

Stephen Otty, Curriculum Manager at Hugh Baird College, praised Katie's dedication and talent:- "Katie has excelled in the competition so far and we are incredibly proud and delighted that she has reached the Grand Finals. It's a testament to her passion for the Hospitality industry and her hard work with her College studies. At the L20 Hotel School at Hugh Baird College, we aim to raise the aspirations of our learners so they can 1 day reach the pinnacle of the industry. This experience will be invaluable for Katie's future career, which we are confident will be very successful."

The Nestlé Toque d'Or® Grand Final will take place over 5 days, in London, from:- 11 May to 15 May 2025.

For more information on Hospitality and Catering courses at Hugh Baird College, visit:- HughBaird.AC.UK.