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FAQs

Coming to the festival and want to know a bit more? Check out our our detailed FAQs. If you can't find the answer you can get in touch via our contact form.

  • Where does the Hertford Literary Festival take place?
    The main festival takes place at the Hertford Club, Bull Plain. Full contact details can be found here. The majority of talks and performances will take place on our garden stage, under the cover of our marquee.
  • What time does the festival start?
    The first session starts at midday on Friday 4th July. On Saturday 5th July, the first guest is at 2pm
  • Is the Hertford Literary Festival free to enter?
    Yes! The whole, main festival is completely free.
  • Do I need a ticket to get into the Hertford Literary Festival?
    No. This is a free community event and you can come and go as you please throughout the festival.
  • Where can I park?
    There is no parking directly at the festival but Hertford town has plenty of public parking and it's all within walking distance.
  • Is the festival open to non-members of the Hertford Club?
    Yes! Access to the The Hertford Club is usually exclusive to members but for the duration of the festival any one can visit.
  • Can I buy an author's book and get it signed at the event?
    Yes! All books will be available to purchase and authors will be available after their sessions to sign books.
  • Are children allowed into the festival?
    Yes of course. However do bear in mind that the festival is not designed with children in mind, so it is worth considering whether they will enjoy sitting and listening to the talks.
  • Can I bring my dog to the festival?
    We're afraid not, unless it is a guide/assistance dog. Dog's aren't allowed at the festival.
  • Will there be food and drink at the Hertford Literary Festival?
    Yes absolutely. The Jerk Chicken Man will be serving Jamaican inspired food and the Hertford Club's well-stocked bar will be serving drinks for the duration of the festival. You can find out more here.
  • Where can I get hold of a festival programme?
    There will be printed copies at the event and you can download a PDF version here
  • What happens if it rains during the festival?
    The festival takes place under the cover of our giant marquee so rain or shine, it will be a fabulous event.
  • What is a literary festival?
    A literary festival celebrates the art of spoken word, literature and poetry. Authors will be invited to come and talk about their books and provide in depth presentations on the inspiration behind their stories. Some of our guests write fiction, others write about their true-life experiences. A the Hertford Literary Festival, we expand our line up to include people with fascinating tales to tell whether it be their own family history or life experiences. If you have an inquisitive mind and a passion for books and literature, then join us - entry is completely free.
  • Who organises the Hertford Literary Festival?
    The festival is run by members of The Hertford Club. It is a non-commercial event and simply exists because we love literature and the arts and wanted an event to celebrate that. If you want to get in touch with us, simply drop us a note via the website here and we'll come back to you. Please remember that all our organisers are volunteers and do it for love...not profit!
  • Can I sponsor the Hertford Literary Festival?
    Yes! Our festival couldn't take place without our fantastic sponsors and supporters. From covering the cost of our staging, printing the programmes, covering speaker travel expenses etc. There's a lot that goes into keeping our festival free for everyone to enjoy. We'd love to hear from local businesses or organisations with a passion for literature and the arts and supporting community events. We're excited to announce that for next year, we will be offering different sponsorship packages, allowing companies to advertise in our programme, on our website and social media channels too. If you are interested, then please fill in the form here and we'll be in touch.
  • Can I speak / perform / play at the Hertford Literary Festival?
    We're always looking for guests with fascinating tales to tell or talents to share. If you are interested in joining the line up next year, then please fill in the appropriate form here and we'll be in touch to let you know if your application has been successful. If you simply want to find out more then drop us a note here
  • How much does it cost to become a member of the Hertford Club?
    The 2024 annual price for membership to the club is £87 per year. For information on the benefits and joining the Hertford Club, please visit their website here.

Festival News

We'll let you know when new guests are announced and keep you up to date with the latest festival news.

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Apply to be part of the 2025 festival

Applications to be part of the 2025 festival line up are open now!

 

If you are an author, poet, musician, performer or someone simply with a fascinating tale to tell, we want to hear from you.

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