Residents in Basingstoke, Hampshire, have new opportunities to connect over literature this spring as Festival Place launches a series of events for book lovers. Throughout May, the shopping centre will host various activities, including book club sessions and creative workshops, designed to bring the community together in a social setting.
The HMV store at the centre is now offering friendly book club sessions, providing a space for readers to share their favourite stories and meet new people. In addition to these discussions, the store is hosting creative bookmark making workshops, offering residents a chance to add a personal touch to their reading materials.
Literary events are also taking place at Waterstones Basingstoke, located at 35 Wesley Walk. The shop will host a Colouring Night on Wednesday 13 May 2026, running from 18:30 to 20:30. Entry is priced at £3, with a combined book and ticket option available for £11.
Ahead of these events, Sunday Times bestselling author Beth O’Leary will visit the store to sign copies of her latest novel, The Name Game. The signing is set for Monday 20 April 2026 at 12:00. The book, published on 7 April 2026, tells the story of a man and a woman who share the same name and find themselves applying for the same job on a remote island.
These new additions to the local calendar build upon an existing culture of reading in the area, which already includes local groups such as the Beggarwood Bookworms and the Chapter 25 Book Club. For further information on these events, residents can contact Waterstones directly at 01256 460646.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
