Big names. Great ideas.
Beautiful surroundings.
And a moat.
Curated by award-winning independent bookshop, The Book Hive.
“A joy. What a beautiful place and a wonderful, intimate atmosphere.”
— Lemn Sissay
Picture credits: Eleanor Walpole, Charles Bliss/Newsquest
The line up
Click a name to buy tickets for that event —
or scroll down for Weekend and Day Passes
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Events run across Thursday evening and Friday evening, then all day Saturday and Sunday.
Bonus! Every ticket grants you access to the grounds of Mannington.
Find out about the gardens, walks and wildlife on offer!
The schedule
Thursday 25th, 7pm: Simon Armitage
Friday 26th, 7pm: Ben Youngs
Saturday 27th, 10am: Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
Saturday 27th, 12pm: Esther Freud
Saturday 27th, 2pm: Pete Brown, Beer Man!
Saturday 27th, 4pm: Adam Buxton
Saturday 27th, 6pm: Nigel Planer
Sunday 28th, 11am: Mónica Feria Tinta
Sunday 28th, 1pm: Natalie Haynes
Sunday 28th, 3pm: TJ Clark
Sunday 28th, 5pm: Sarah Perry
Transport, access, and accommodation
Mannington is a very rural location. Public transport is limited.
There are regular buses from Norwich to the nearby town of Aylsham (Sanders Coaches route X44), and regular trains to Cromer and Sheringham (Greater Anglia) – but in both instances you’d need to arrange onward travel to Mannington Hall. A good local taxi firm is About Town Taxis.
In sum, we highly recommend driving, or lift-sharing where possible.
There are plenty of places to stay nearby. In Aylsham there are The Ironmongers and The Black Boys; in Holt there’s Byfords and The Feathers. There are also a number of Airbnb properties available a few minutes away from the Hall. For those who want the full ‘bash’ experience, there are a very limited number of camping pitches (from £20 per person) available on the grounds!
The event site is accessed via a short walk across uneven ground, but if you have alternative needs we can of course accommodate. Please send us an email or call The Book Hive and we'll be happy to help.
Three cheers to the 'Back the Bash' supporters!
Thanks to them, children in rural Norfolk will get the chance to enjoy live literary experiences — for free.
Alice Martineau
James Layte
Lindsay Heywood
Jennifer Knights
Isabel Isaacson
Christine & David Davies
Hannah Errock
Clive Wiggins
Moira Morrissey
Melinda Varcoe
Glenys Thorneycroft
Sarah Hanson
Mandy McDonald
Julia Thompson
Linda Hartley
Peggy Hughes
Caroline Morton
Fancy helping out too?
Find out how you can make a difference.
