Madhatter Chatter

It is a beautiful evening in the bookshop and I am shortly off to Burford Library to interview local author, Eve Smith, we are so lucky that Burford still has an active library with a great selection of events throughout the year.

Our own Madhatter events go from strength to strength and tickets for our Burford Literary Festival are selling fast. The Festival takes place in September but with authors including Susie Dent, Gill Hornby - author of Miss Austen and economist Dr Linda Yueh - it might be better for you to buy tickets early rather than be disappointed. Go to www.burfordlitfet.co.uk

We are also delighted to welcome back 'Comedy at the Bookshop' bring your own refreshments for an evening of laughter planned for Wednesday 24th September - there will be more information about how you can get your tickets soon.

Many of you may know that there has been a bookshop at 122 High Street for over 50 years and each 'owner - manager' has weathered many storms both literal and economic, from the 'beast from the East' to the Covid pandemic but this year has seen the bookshop, and indeed many other stores on our High Street struggle to make a living. I have seen our customer demographic change considerably from local trade / tourist trade, this used to sit at around 50 / 50 but is now 5 / 95 - thank goodness for our coaches and mini-buses, but now we are all in a difficult position of deciding if and where this trade is welcome in our town. All I can say is this, Burford is such a beautiful High Street and indeed a rare one, being packed with independent traders. Let us hope a suitable solution can be found and agreed that supports this. I fear that if this trade is taken away then the bookshops, indies and tea rooms will be replaced with VAPE shops, Turkish Barbers and Nail Bars. If I may be so bold as to ask, please buy local.

We have lots of wonderful books to tell you about but that will have to wait because now, Eve Smith awaits.

Keep reading

Kim and the bookshop team.