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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260724T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260724T120000
DTSTAMP:20260623T085403Z
CREATED:20260623T085403Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T085403Z
UID:21682-1784890800-1784894400@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:Coffee & Connections - Weekly Community Meet Up
DESCRIPTION:Coffee & Connections \nAt House of Books & Friends\, our mission is to combat loneliness and social isolation. In a time when we are more digitally connected than ever\, it can be hard to find real and meaningful connections. We want to create opportunities for people to meet over coffee and good conversation\, providing the chance for people to forge new friendships and community. \nHow does it work? \nAt the beginning of each session\, there will be a 5-minute group activity to get the conversation flowing led by a member of our team. Everybody is then invited to write down their favourite topic of conversation and drop it in our Chatty Hat! Our team member will randomly pull out 3 topics\, which we will discuss for 10 minutes each. Remember\, there is no need to be an expert! All discussions are designed to be relaxed\, respectful and enjoyable! We’ll organise everything you need to have a great time. You just show up\, be yourself & make new connections! \nCoffee & Connections is only open to people over 18. Meet ups will take place in public\, and we ask all participants to be mindful of their own safety when attending – for example\, thinking carefully before sharing personal information such as your home address with other participants. We ask all people to be respectful of other participants taking part in the session. \nWhat dates and times are the sessions taking place? \nSessions are 60 minutes\, and run weekly on Fridays from 11 – 12pm (except bank holidays). \nTickets \nIt is free to attend Coffee & Connections\, but we do ask for you to book a ticket so we know how many people to expect. There is a free hot drink available for people taking part in the event. \nYou can book a ticket on our website by following the links below or in person at the bookshop. \nFriday 24 July \nFriday 31 July 
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/coffee-connections-weekly-community-meet-up-7
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Coffee & Connections
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ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260725T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260725T113000
DTSTAMP:20260519T100924Z
CREATED:20260518T123602Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260519T100924Z
UID:20640-1784975400-1784979000@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:Books & Beats
DESCRIPTION:The gunnercooke foundation and House of Books and Friends are so excited to invite you to Books and Beats this school holiday! Led by our fabulous workshop leader\, Beth Bishop\, Books and Beats is a relaxed\, interactive musical storytelling session\, designed for children with special education needs and disabilities and their families. \nThis session is suitable for children aged 6 – 11. \nSquash and biscuits/healthy snacks will be available for all throughout the session. \nWhere and when is Books and Beats taking place? \nSaturday 25 July 2026 \n10:30 – 11:30am \nHouse of Books and Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH \nTickets \nTickets are £5 per young person. 1 ticket admits 1 participant plus accompanying adult/s. You can book a ticket here or in person at the bookshop. \nComplimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live or call 07597365380. \nAccess Information \nPlease see our access page for information about accessing the bookshop. \nA member of staff will be at the door to greet you. \nAt the beginning of the session our workshop leader will explain where our accessible toilets are as well as a designated quite space for the session. \nPlease contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live or call 07597365380 if you have any questions regarding accessibility.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/books-beats
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Children's Events
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ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260727T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260727T200000
DTSTAMP:20260614T150328Z
CREATED:20260625T094731Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260614T150328Z
UID:20985-1785178800-1785182400@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:The Book Club - Online
DESCRIPTION:This session of The Book Club will take place on Monday 27th of July from  7pm – 8pm via Zoom. This month\, we are reading Cooking in the Wrong Century by Teresa Praauer. £10.99 is the price of the book and a ticket to the session. The book can be delivered directly to you (please add your shipping address and tick the box for shipping) or you can collect it in store free of charge. You can buy a book and ticket here. \nIf you already own a copy of the book\, you can purchase a ticket alone for £3. You can purchase a ticket only here. \nFor those unable to afford a book or ticket at present\, we have a limited amount of complementary books/tickets. Please contact the bookshop via bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live or call 07597365380. \nOne of our booksellers will lead the book club\, and the group will be split up into smaller groups in breakout rooms to discuss the questions. \nWe always ask that you be respectful and kind whilst discussing the book and others’ opinions of it. \n  \nAbout the book \nFor the hostess\, food has always been about growing up. From the pancakes your grandmother made you\, dolloped with jam\, to the salty glug of your first oyster. Now\, poised at the brink of midlife\, the hostess prepares for a dinner party in her new apartment. With a hunger for the finer things in life\, she folds linen napkins into neat triangles\, arranges wildflowers for the table and puts on a jazz playlist the projects effortless cool. \nBut her composure begins to falter when her guests arrive drunk and late\, downing bottles of her perfectly cooled wine and trailing water over the floor. Here comes the chain-smoking professor who never says the right thing\, the husband glued to his smartphone\, the wife who makes a secret pass at your boyfriend. As small talk and social preening give way to sexual tension and lost inhibitions\, the hostess struggles to maintain control over an evening far beyond her wildest imaginings.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/the-book-club-online-9
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:The Book Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Untitled-design-2026-05-29T100801.776.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260729T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260729T190000
DTSTAMP:20260614T150338Z
CREATED:20260625T112948Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260614T150338Z
UID:21452-1785348000-1785351600@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:The Book Club - Evening
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Wednesday 29th July 6pm-7pm in person. In this month’s Book Club\, we are reading Cooking in the Wrong Century by Teresa Praauer. \nPurchase the book and a ticket to the event for £10.99. The book can be delivered directly to you (please add your shipping address and tick the box for shipping) or you can collect it in store free of charge. You can buy a book and ticket here. \nIf you already own a copy of the book\, you can purchase a ticket alone for £3. You can purchase a ticket only here. \nFor those unable to afford a book or ticket at present\, we have a limited amount of complementary books/tickets. Please contact the bookshop via bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live or call 07597365380. \nOne of our booksellers will lead the book club\, and we will split into smaller groups to discuss the questions. We always ask that you be respectful and kind whilst discussing the book and others’ opinions of it. \nAbout the book \nFor the hostess\, food has always been about growing up. From the pancakes your grandmother made you\, dolloped with jam\, to the salty glug of your first oyster. Now\, poised at the brink of midlife\, the hostess prepares for a dinner party in her new apartment. With a hunger for the finer things in life\, she folds linen napkins into neat triangles\, arranges wildflowers for the table and puts on a jazz playlist the projects effortless cool. \nBut her composure begins to falter when her guests arrive drunk and late\, downing bottles of her perfectly cooled wine and trailing water over the floor. Here comes the chain-smoking professor who never says the right thing\, the husband glued to his smartphone\, the wife who makes a secret pass at your boyfriend. As small talk and social preening give way to sexual tension and lost inhibitions\, the hostess struggles to maintain control over an evening far beyond her wildest imaginings.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/the-book-club-evening-6
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:The Book Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Untitled-design-2026-05-29T100801.776.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260730T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260730T113000
DTSTAMP:20260614T150357Z
CREATED:20260625T142523Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260614T150357Z
UID:21462-1785407400-1785411000@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:The Book Club - Baby Friendly
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Thursday 30th June 10.30am in person. For this month’s Book Club\, we are reading Cooking in the Wrong Century by Teresa Praauer. \nPurchase the book and a ticket to the event for £10.99. The book can be delivered directly to you (please add your shipping address and tick the box for shipping) or you can collect it in store free of charge. You can buy a book and ticket here. \nPLEASE NOTE: This is a baby friendly session of our adult bookclub\, parents are able to bring little ones and we understand there may be noise and interruption. Much like baby friendly movie screenings\, the books will still contain adult themes and language etc. We ask that all in attendance understand and expect this. \nIf you already own a copy of the book\, you can purchase a ticket alone for £3. You can purchase a ticket only here. \nFor those unable to afford a book or ticket at present\, we have a limited amount of complementary books/tickets. Please contact the bookshop via bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live or call 07597365380. \nOne of our booksellers will lead the book club\, and we will split into smaller groups to discuss the questions. We always ask that you be respectful and kind whilst discussing the book and others’ opinions of it. \nAbout the book \nFor the hostess\, food has always been about growing up. From the pancakes your grandmother made you\, dolloped with jam\, to the salty glug of your first oyster. Now\, poised at the brink of midlife\, the hostess prepares for a dinner party in her new apartment. With a hunger for the finer things in life\, she folds linen napkins into neat triangles\, arranges wildflowers for the table and puts on a jazz playlist the projects effortless cool. \nBut her composure begins to falter when her guests arrive drunk and late\, downing bottles of her perfectly cooled wine and trailing water over the floor. Here comes the chain-smoking professor who never says the right thing\, the husband glued to his smartphone\, the wife who makes a secret pass at your boyfriend. As small talk and social preening give way to sexual tension and lost inhibitions\, the hostess struggles to maintain control over an evening far beyond her wildest imaginings.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/the-book-club-baby-friendly-4
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:The Book Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Untitled-design-2026-05-29T100801.776.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260730T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260730T150000
DTSTAMP:20260618T145839Z
CREATED:20260625T135845Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260618T145839Z
UID:21469-1785420000-1785423600@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:The Book Club - Afternoon
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Thursday 30th June 2pm in person. For this month’s Book Club\, we are reading Cooking in the Wrong Century by Teresa Praauer. \nPurchase the book and a ticket to the event for £10.99. The book can be delivered directly to you (please add your shipping address and tick the box for shipping) or you can collect it in store free of charge. You can buy a book and ticket here. \nIf you already own a copy of the book\, you can purchase a ticket alone for £3. You can purchase a ticket only here. \nFor those unable to afford a book or ticket at present\, we have a limited amount of complementary books/tickets. Please contact the bookshop via bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live or call 07597365380. \nOne of our booksellers will lead the book club\, and we will split into smaller groups to discuss the questions. We always ask that you be respectful and kind whilst discussing the book and others’ opinions of it. \nAbout the book \nFor the hostess\, food has always been about growing up. From the pancakes your grandmother made you\, dolloped with jam\, to the salty glug of your first oyster. Now\, poised at the brink of midlife\, the hostess prepares for a dinner party in her new apartment. With a hunger for the finer things in life\, she folds linen napkins into neat triangles\, arranges wildflowers for the table and puts on a jazz playlist the projects effortless cool. \nBut her composure begins to falter when her guests arrive drunk and late\, downing bottles of her perfectly cooled wine and trailing water over the floor. Here comes the chain-smoking professor who never says the right thing\, the husband glued to his smartphone\, the wife who makes a secret pass at your boyfriend. As small talk and social preening give way to sexual tension and lost inhibitions\, the hostess struggles to maintain control over an evening far beyond her wildest imaginings.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/the-book-club-afternoon-7
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:The Book Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Untitled-design-2026-05-29T100801.776.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260731T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260731T120000
DTSTAMP:20260623T085537Z
CREATED:20260623T085537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T085537Z
UID:21684-1785495600-1785499200@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:Coffee & Connections - Weekly Community Meet Up
DESCRIPTION:Coffee & Connections \nAt House of Books & Friends\, our mission is to combat loneliness and social isolation. In a time when we are more digitally connected than ever\, it can be hard to find real and meaningful connections. We want to create opportunities for people to meet over coffee and good conversation\, providing the chance for people to forge new friendships and community. \nHow does it work? \nAt the beginning of each session\, there will be a 5-minute group activity to get the conversation flowing led by a member of our team. Everybody is then invited to write down their favourite topic of conversation and drop it in our Chatty Hat! Our team member will randomly pull out 3 topics\, which we will discuss for 10 minutes each. Remember\, there is no need to be an expert! All discussions are designed to be relaxed\, respectful and enjoyable! We’ll organise everything you need to have a great time. You just show up\, be yourself & make new connections! \nCoffee & Connections is only open to people over 18. Meet ups will take place in public\, and we ask all participants to be mindful of their own safety when attending – for example\, thinking carefully before sharing personal information such as your home address with other participants. We ask all people to be respectful of other participants taking part in the session. \nWhat dates and times are the sessions taking place? \nSessions are 60 minutes\, and run weekly on Fridays from 11 – 12pm (except bank holidays). \nTickets \nIt is free to attend Coffee & Connections\, but we do ask for you to book a ticket so we know how many people to expect. There is a free hot drink available for people taking part in the event. \nYou can book a ticket on our website by following the links below or in person at the bookshop. \nFriday 31 July 
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/coffee-connections-weekly-community-meet-up-8
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Coffee & Connections
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Coffee-and-Connections.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260802T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260802T120000
DTSTAMP:20260607T131834Z
CREATED:20260607T130747Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260607T131834Z
UID:21299-1785668400-1785672000@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:Little Bookworms August 2026
DESCRIPTION:Have you got a little bookworm in your life? Then look no further than House of Books & Friends. We are excited to invite you to Little Bookworms\, our monthly book club for 8-12 years. The book club runs the first Sunday of every month\, 11am-12pm. \nFor August\, we will be reading Bridlands by Anthony McGowan. You have until the day of the book club to finish the title – this is available to buy as part of your ticket\, or you can purchase a ticket only. \nAs well as discussing the book\, there will be book-related activities each month for our Little Bookworms to get stuck into\, fun quizzes and games\, and squash and biscuits for all. Our Little Bookworms will also get their own book lovers passport to add to each month they attend as they jet set around the world through reading. \nAll sessions will be ticketed: £7.99 for the book and ticket\, and £2 for just the ticket. All little ones must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased on our website and in store. A limited number of complementary tickets will also be reserved for those who might need them so please do let us know. \nIf you have any questions about the book club or tickets\, you can always take a look at our website\, email us\, or ask a friendly bookseller in store \nAbout the book: \nLife can be tough when you’re a bird\, especially for Beaky\, Herman and Pidge. With the young jackdaw’s twisted beak\, the crow’s broken wing and the pigeon’s fear of flying\, survival seems impossible. Until\, that is\, they band together. \nThe trio set out into the wild\, leaving the city far behind. But danger lurks at every turn… Will the three birds ever find a place they can call home?
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/little-bookworms-august-2026
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copy-of-Copy-of-LIL-BW-May-26.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260803T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260803T180000
DTSTAMP:20260622T150547Z
CREATED:20260622T144107Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260622T150547Z
UID:21639-1785776400-1785780000@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:HOBAF Craft Club - August
DESCRIPTION:Introducing our monthly Craft Club at House of Books and Friends – a space dedicated to sharing creativity and meeting new people! \nThese peer-led\, relaxed sessions will take place on the first Monday of the month\, 5pm – 6pm. We encourage you to bring along a project or use one of the small kits provided. All abilities are welcome\, and no previous crafting experience is needed. \nTickets \nTickets cost £3 and include a hot drink. You can purchase a ticket on our website by following the link below or in person at the bookshop. \nMonday 3rd August ticket \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live or call 07597365380. \nWe can’t wait for you to join us!
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/hobaf-craft-club-4
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:The Craft Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Craft-CLUB.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260805T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260805T113000
DTSTAMP:20260709T133253Z
CREATED:20260708T144103Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260709T133253Z
UID:22096-1785925800-1785929400@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:Coffee & Connections - Family Edition
DESCRIPTION:Coffee & Connections \nAt House of Books & Friends\, our mission is to combat loneliness and social isolation. In a time when we are more digitally connected than ever\, it can be hard to find real and meaningful connections\, especially for families. We want to create opportunities for parents and carers to meet over coffee and good conversation\, providing the chance for people to forge community\, and sharing the trails and tribulations of family life. \nHow does it work? \nAt the beginning of each session\, there will be a 5-minute group activity to get the conversation flowing led by a member of our team. Everybody is then invited to write down their favourite topic of conversation and drop it in our Chatty Hat! Our team member will randomly pull out some topics\, which we will discuss throughout the session. Remember\, there is no need to be an expert! All discussions are designed to be relaxed\, respectful and enjoyable! We’ll organise everything you need to have a great time\, including a craft table to keep the little ones entertained. You just show up\, be yourself & make new connections! \nMeet ups will take place in public\, and we ask all participants to be mindful of their own safety when attending – for example\, thinking carefully before sharing personal information such as your home address with other participants. We ask all people to be respectful of other participants taking part in the session. \nWhat dates and times are the sessions taking place? \nSessions are 60 minutes\, and take place during school holidays from 10:30am – 11:30am \nTickets \nIt is free to attend Coffee & Connections\, but we do ask for you to book a ticket so we know how many people to expect. There is a free hot drink available for people taking part in the event\, and juice for the young ones. \nYou can book your free ticket on our website by following the links below or in store at the bookshop. \nWednesday 5th August ticket \nWednesday 12th August ticket \nWednesday 19th August ticket \nWednesday 26th August ticket
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/coffee-connections-family-edition-4
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Children's Events,Coffee & Connections
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Family-Friendly-Coffee-and-Connections-Infographic-Instagram-Post-45-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260807T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260807T120000
DTSTAMP:20260728T133537Z
CREATED:20260728T133537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T133537Z
UID:22485-1786100400-1786104000@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:Coffee & Connections - Weekly Community Meet-Up
DESCRIPTION:Coffee & Connections \nAt House of Books & Friends\, our mission is to combat loneliness and social isolation. In a time when we are more digitally connected than ever\, it can be hard to find real and meaningful connections. We want to create opportunities for people to meet over coffee and good conversation\, providing the chance for people to forge new friendships and community. \nHow does it work? \nAt the beginning of each session\, there will be a 5-minute group activity to get the conversation flowing led by a member of our team. Everybody is then invited to write down their favourite topic of conversation and drop it in our Chatty Hat! Our team member will randomly pull out 3 topics\, which we will discuss for 10 minutes each. Remember\, there is no need to be an expert! All discussions are designed to be relaxed\, respectful and enjoyable! We’ll organise everything you need to have a great time. You just show up\, be yourself & make new connections! \nCoffee & Connections is only open to people over 18. Meet ups will take place in public\, and we ask all participants to be mindful of their own safety when attending – for example\, thinking carefully before sharing personal information such as your home address with other participants. We ask all people to be respectful of other participants taking part in the session. \nWhat dates and times are the sessions taking place? \nSessions are 60 minutes\, and run weekly on Fridays from 11 – 12pm (except bank holidays). \nTickets \nIt is free to attend Coffee & Connections\, but we do ask for you to book a ticket so we know how many people to expect. There is a free hot drink available for people taking part in the event. \nYou can book a ticket on our website by following the links below or in person at the bookshop. \nFriday 7 August  \nFriday 14 August \nFriday 21 August  \nFriday 28 August
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/coffee-connections-weekly-community-meet-up-9
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Coffee & Connections
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Coffee-and-Connections.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260812T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260812T113000
DTSTAMP:20260709T133332Z
CREATED:20260702T092953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260709T133332Z
UID:22008-1786530600-1786534200@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:Coffee & Connections - SEND Family Edition
DESCRIPTION:Coffee & Connections \nAt House of Books & Friends\, our mission is to combat loneliness and social isolation. In a time when we are more digitally connected than ever\, it can be hard to find real and meaningful connections\, especially for families. We want to create opportunities for parents and carers to meet over coffee and good conversation\, providing the chance for people to forge community\, and sharing the trails and tribulations of family life. \nThis session has a SEND focus\, creating a space to support families with additional needs\, while remaining open and inclusive to all families who would like to join. \nHow does it work? \nAt the beginning of each session\, there will be a 5-minute group activity to get the conversation flowing led by a member of our team. Everybody is then invited to write down their favourite topic of conversation and drop it in our Chatty Hat! Our team member will randomly pull out some topics\, which we will discuss throughout the session. Remember\, there is no need to be an expert! All discussions are designed to be relaxed\, respectful and enjoyable! We’ll organise everything you need to have a great time\, including a craft table to keep the little ones entertained. You just show up\, be yourself & make new connections! \nMeet ups will take place in public\, and we ask all participants to be mindful of their own safety when attending – for example\, thinking carefully before sharing personal information such as your home address with other participants. We ask all people to be respectful of other participants taking part in the session. \nWhat dates and times are the sessions taking place? \nSessions are 60 minutes\, and take place during school holidays from 10:30am – 11:30am \nTickets \nIt is free to attend Coffee & Connections\, but we do ask for you to book a ticket so we know how many people to expect. There is a free hot drink available for people taking part in the event\, and juice for the young ones. \nYou can book your free ticket on our website by following the links below or in store at the bookshop. \nWednesday 5th August ticket \nWednesday 12th August ticket \nWednesday 19th August ticket \nWednesday 26th August ticket
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/coffee-connections-family-edition-august
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Children's Events,Coffee & Connections
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Family-Friendly-Coffee-and-Connections-Infographic-Instagram-Post-45-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260814T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260814T120000
DTSTAMP:20260728T134215Z
CREATED:20260728T133741Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T134215Z
UID:22491-1786705200-1786708800@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:Coffee & Connections - Weekly Community Meet-Up
DESCRIPTION:Coffee & Connections \nAt House of Books & Friends\, our mission is to combat loneliness and social isolation. In a time when we are more digitally connected than ever\, it can be hard to find real and meaningful connections. We want to create opportunities for people to meet over coffee and good conversation\, providing the chance for people to forge new friendships and community. \nHow does it work? \nAt the beginning of each session\, there will be a 5-minute group activity to get the conversation flowing led by a member of our team. Everybody is then invited to write down their favourite topic of conversation and drop it in our Chatty Hat! Our team member will randomly pull out 3 topics\, which we will discuss for 10 minutes each. Remember\, there is no need to be an expert! All discussions are designed to be relaxed\, respectful and enjoyable! We’ll organise everything you need to have a great time. You just show up\, be yourself & make new connections! \nCoffee & Connections is only open to people over 18. Meet ups will take place in public\, and we ask all participants to be mindful of their own safety when attending – for example\, thinking carefully before sharing personal information such as your home address with other participants. We ask all people to be respectful of other participants taking part in the session. \nWhat dates and times are the sessions taking place? \nSessions are 60 minutes\, and run weekly on Fridays from 11 – 12pm (except bank holidays). \nTickets \nIt is free to attend Coffee & Connections\, but we do ask for you to book a ticket so we know how many people to expect. There is a free hot drink available for people taking part in the event. \nYou can book a ticket on our website by following the links below or in person at the bookshop. \nFriday 14 August \nFriday 21 August  \nFriday 28 August
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/coffee-connections-weekly-community-meet-up-10
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Coffee & Connections
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Coffee-and-Connections.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260814T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260814T160000
DTSTAMP:20260731T092055Z
CREATED:20260731T092055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260731T092055Z
UID:22585-1786708800-1786723200@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:FREE - Live Personalised Poetry with Molly Ovenden
DESCRIPTION:Join poet\, Molly Ovenden\, on Friday 14 August\, for a free\, live personalised poem! Molly and her typewriter will be with us from 12pm – 4pm. \nAttendance is free; we recommend arriving early to avoid disappointment. \nWe look forward to seeing you there!
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/free-live-personalised-poetry-with-molly-ovenden
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/HoBF-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260817T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260817T180000
DTSTAMP:20260805T102853Z
CREATED:20260730T083645Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260805T102853Z
UID:22514-1786986000-1786989600@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:FREE - What Does It Mean to Think Without Images? - Aphantasia Drop-In
DESCRIPTION:What Does It Mean to Think Without Images?  \nHave you ever considered what it would be like to think without images\, or in silence? Is this a familiar experience to you\, or not? Join Neesa Suncheuri Sunar in an exploration into aphantasia\, a distinct cognitive profile causing reduced to no ability to create mental imagery. From absent visual imagery to silent cognition without a capacity for thinking about music aurally\, Neesa will explore the multisensory aspects of the aphantasic experience. This presentation will include clips from a film\, which will prompt vivid discussion of the aphantasic experience. \nAfter the event\, participants are invited to join for dinner at a nearby restaurant. \nTimings: 5pm – 6pm \nFree\, drop in\, un-ticketed event \nNeesa Suncheuri Sunar is a PhD student and researcher at the University of Salford\, supported by the Leverhulme Trust Aural Diversity Doctoral Research Hub (LAURA). Her research examines the lived experiences of musicians with aphantasia\, a distinct cognitive profile which causes highly reduced to no ability to generate real-feeling mental imagery. This can include visual aphantasia\, where image-free thinking allows one to think in darkness\, or auditory aphantasia\, where silent thinking prohibits one from hearing inner sound and inner music in the mind’s ear. Through her research\, she aims to contribute to the development of more inclusive approaches to musical learning and performance. \nA native of New York City\, Neesa brings an interdisciplinary background in classical music performance on viola\, violin and viola pedagogy\, and classroom music education\, alongside professional expertise in clinical social work and psychotherapy within the New York City public mental health sector. She herself has total aphantasia.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/what-does-it-mean-to-think-without-images-aphantasia-drop-in
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Aphantasia-Event-Poster.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260818T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260818T190000
DTSTAMP:20260626T093927Z
CREATED:20260616T124347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260626T093927Z
UID:21521-1787076000-1787079600@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:PRIDE PANEL: Layla McCay and Sacha Coward in conversation
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends is excited to welcome Layla Mccay and Sacha Coward to the store on Tuesday 18th August at 6pm to discuss their books\, ‘The Queer Bookshelf’ and ‘Queer as Folklore’. As well as a discussion on their books\, there will also be a Q&A\, plus the chance to get your books signed by Layla and Sacha. \nTickets \nClick here to buy your ticket for £5. You can add on Layla Mccay’s title for an additional £15 (£20 total)\, Sacha Coward £5.99 (£10.99 in total)\, or we are offering a bundle for both books and a ticket at £29. These will be available for collection on the night. \nAbout the books \nThe Queer Bookshelf \nWe are in the middle of a vibrant renaissance of queer writing. But LGBTQ+ writers\, characters and readers have been here since the beginning — quietly\, defiantly\, and persistently telling their stories — if you know where to look. \nThe Queer Bookshelf is your guide to this essential queer history\, and to its contemporary flourishing. Drawing on the author’s own journey as a queer reader and book club host\, and packed with recommendations from authors\, booksellers\, and book lovers around the world\, The Queer Bookshelf is a celebration of the books that have helped generations of LGBTQ+ people find themselves on the page. \nFrom literary fiction to memoir\, to crime\, fantasy\, and young adult\, and even cowboy romance\, The Queer Bookshelf is a warm\, entertaining companion for anyone beginning or deepening their own queer reading adventure. \nQueer as Folklore \nA celebration of queer history like you’ve never seen it before. \nQueer as folklore travels across centuries and continents to reveal the unsung heroes and villains of storytelling\, magic and fantasy. Featuring images from archives\, galleries and museums around the world\, each chapter investigates the queer history of different mythic and folkloric characters\, both old and new. \nLeaving no headstone unturned\, Sacha Coward takes you on a wild ride through the night from ancient Greece to the main stage of RuPaul’s Drag Race\, visiting cross-dressing pirates\, radical fairies and the graves of the ‘queerly departed’ along the way. Queer communities have often sought refuge in the shadows and created safe spaces in underworlds. But these forgotten narratives tell stories of resilience that deserve to be heard. \nJoin any Pride march and you will see a glorious display of papier-mâché unicorn heads\, drag queens in mermaid tails and more fairy wings than you can shake a trident at. These are not just accessories: they are queer symbols with historic roots. To truly understand who queer people are today\, we must confront the twisted tales of the past.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/author-panel-layla-mccay-and-sacha-coward-in-conversation
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/QUEER-BOOKSHELF.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260819T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260819T113000
DTSTAMP:20260708T145319Z
CREATED:20260708T143907Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260708T145319Z
UID:22094-1787135400-1787139000@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:Coffee & Connections - Family Edition
DESCRIPTION:Coffee & Connections \nAt House of Books & Friends\, our mission is to combat loneliness and social isolation. In a time when we are more digitally connected than ever\, it can be hard to find real and meaningful connections\, especially for families. We want to create opportunities for parents and carers to meet over coffee and good conversation\, providing the chance for people to forge community\, and share the joys\, trials and tribulations of family life. \nHow does it work? \nAt the beginning of each session\, there will be a 5-minute group activity to get the conversation flowing led by a member of our team. Everybody is then invited to write down their favourite topic of conversation and drop it in our Chatty Hat! Our team member will randomly pull out some topics\, which we will discuss throughout the session. Remember\, there is no need to be an expert! All discussions are designed to be relaxed\, respectful and enjoyable! We’ll organise everything you need to have a great time\, including a craft table to keep the little ones entertained. You just show up\, be yourself & make new connections! \nMeet ups will take place in public\, and we ask all participants to be mindful of their own safety when attending – for example\, thinking carefully before sharing personal information such as your home address with other participants. We ask all people to be respectful of other participants taking part in the session. \nWhat dates and times are the sessions taking place? \nSessions are 60 minutes\, and take place during school holidays from 10:30am – 11:30am \nTickets \nIt is free to attend Coffee & Connections\, but we do ask for you to book a ticket so we know how many people to expect. There is a free hot drink available for people taking part in the event\, and juice for the young ones. \nYou can book your free ticket on our website by following the links below or in store at the bookshop. \nThursday 23rd July ticket \nWednesday 5th August ticket \nWednesday 12th August ticket \nWednesday 19th August ticket \nWednesday 26th August ticket
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/coffee-connections-family-edition-3
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Coffee & Connections
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Family-Friendly-Coffee-and-Connections-Infographic-Instagram-Post-45-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260819T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260819T193000
DTSTAMP:20260716T101907Z
CREATED:20260620T094237Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260716T101907Z
UID:21595-1787162400-1787167800@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:The Feminist Bookclub - August
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends are delighted to announce that we are hosting the Feminist Book Club. Taking place monthly\, this will be a space for people of all genders to discuss feminist books. In August we will be discussing Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi. It will take place August 19th at 6pm. \nTickets \nBook & Ticket – £14.99 \nTicket only – £3 \nAbout the Book \nWinner of the 2026 International Booker Prize \nWinner of the 2024 National Book Award for Translated Literature \nDisguised as a translation of a rediscovered text by a Japanese writer\, Taiwan Travelogue is a bittersweet story of love between two women\, nested in an artful exploration of language\, history and power. Set in May 1938\, the young novelist Aoyama Chizuko sails from Japan to Taiwan where her interpreter proffers tantalising glimpses of island life and helps her to taste as much of cuisine as her larger-than-life appetite can bear.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/the-feminist-bookclub-august
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:The Book Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/LAURA-29.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260820T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260820T120000
DTSTAMP:20260414T130830Z
CREATED:20260408T102259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260414T130830Z
UID:19372-1787220000-1787227200@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:Greater Manchester Bereavement Service Pop-Up
DESCRIPTION:To mark Grief Awareness Day 2026\, on Thursday 20 August\, the Greater Manchester Bereavement Service will be hosting their pop up session at the House of Books & Friends from 10am – 12pm. \nAll are welcome to attend to learn more about bereavement and the Greater Manchester Bereavement Service. These free drop ins are open to the public\, service users and professionals. Just register for free on Eventbrite. \nThere will also be an opportunity to speak to a Bereavement Practitioner for help and support. \nEach month the topic will change so keep on eye out for information and feel free to get in touch with any questions by calling 0161 983 0902 or emailing gmicb-sal.gm.bs@nhs.net. \nFuture Pop-Up Dates (10am – 12pm) \n\nFriday 11th September\nThursday 3rd December\n\nFor more information visit greater-manchester-bereavement-service.org.uk.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/greater-manchester-bereavement-service-pop-up-2
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-14-135917.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260821T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260821T120000
DTSTAMP:20260728T133908Z
CREATED:20260728T133908Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T133908Z
UID:22493-1787310000-1787313600@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:Coffee & Connections - Weekly Community Meet-Up
DESCRIPTION:Coffee & Connections \nAt House of Books & Friends\, our mission is to combat loneliness and social isolation. In a time when we are more digitally connected than ever\, it can be hard to find real and meaningful connections. We want to create opportunities for people to meet over coffee and good conversation\, providing the chance for people to forge new friendships and community. \nHow does it work? \nAt the beginning of each session\, there will be a 5-minute group activity to get the conversation flowing led by a member of our team. Everybody is then invited to write down their favourite topic of conversation and drop it in our Chatty Hat! Our team member will randomly pull out 3 topics\, which we will discuss for 10 minutes each. Remember\, there is no need to be an expert! All discussions are designed to be relaxed\, respectful and enjoyable! We’ll organise everything you need to have a great time. You just show up\, be yourself & make new connections! \nCoffee & Connections is only open to people over 18. Meet ups will take place in public\, and we ask all participants to be mindful of their own safety when attending – for example\, thinking carefully before sharing personal information such as your home address with other participants. We ask all people to be respectful of other participants taking part in the session. \nWhat dates and times are the sessions taking place? \nSessions are 60 minutes\, and run weekly on Fridays from 11 – 12pm. \nTickets \nIt is free to attend Coffee & Connections\, but we do ask for you to book a ticket so we know how many people to expect. There is a free hot drink available for people taking part in the event. \nYou can book a ticket on our website by following the links below or in person at the bookshop. \nFriday 21 August  \nFriday 28 August
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/coffee-connections-weekly-community-meet-up-11
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Coffee & Connections
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Coffee-and-Connections.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260824T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260824T200000
DTSTAMP:20260730T103435Z
CREATED:20260730T102023Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260730T103435Z
UID:21918-1787598000-1787601600@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:The Book Club August - Online
DESCRIPTION:This session of The Book Club will take place on Monday 24th August from  7pm – 8pm via Zoom. This month\, we are reading Happy Life by David Foenkinos and translated by Sam Taylor. £10.99 is the price of the book and a ticket to the session. The book can be delivered directly to you (please add your shipping address and tick the box for shipping) or you can collect it in store free of charge. \nYou can buy a book and ticket here. \nIf you already own a copy of the book\, you can purchase a ticket alone for £3. \nYou can purchase a ticket only here. \nFor those unable to afford a book or ticket at present\, we have a limited amount of complementary books/tickets. Please contact the bookshop via bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live or call 07597365380. \nOne of our booksellers will lead the book club\, and the group will be split up into smaller groups in breakout rooms to discuss the questions. \nWe always ask that you be respectful and kind whilst discussing the book and others’ opinions of it. \nAbout the book \nEveryone\, at some point in their lives\, wants to be someone else. \nEric Kherson – forty\, divorced\, disconnected – is questioning all his life choices. One meeting with an old school friend is all it takes for him to pack in his prestigious job and accept her offer of a high-powered government position. \nHe throws himself into her world of endless networking and high-risk deals\, but when a business trip to Seoul starts unravelling\, Eric feels more lost than ever. Wandering the city streets\, he stumbles across Happy Life\, a shop offering a curious service: fake funerals. For Eric\, this encounter with death might be the very thing to reawaken his appetite for life…
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/the-book-club-august-online
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:The Book Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Happy-Life-Book-Club.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260825T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260825T190000
DTSTAMP:20260809T133846Z
CREATED:20260515T150843Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260809T133846Z
UID:20605-1787680800-1787684400@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:AUTHOR EVENT: 'Carnaval Fever' by Yuliana Ortiz Ruano and Madeleine Arenivar
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends is overjoyed to welcome author Yuliana Ortiz Ruano and translator Madeleine Arenivar to discuss their book\, ‘Carnaval Fever’. The event will take place on 25th August\, and will involve a discussion\, a Q&A\, and a chance for you to get your book signed by Yuliana and Madeleine. The event will be chaired by our bookseller\, Jessica. \nThis event is in partnership with Instituto Cervantes\, who are providing us with an interpreter for the event. \nTickets \nBook and ticket £14.99 \nTicket only £5 \nAs always\, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live or call 07597365380. \nAbout the book \nSheltered within her grandmother’s fiercely protective household\, Ainhoa blossoms under the guidance of her constellation of aunts—women who become her teachers\, guardians\, and spiritual anchors. Through Ainhoa’s keen observant eyes\, readers experience how music and dance – particularly during the explosive energy of Carnaval – don’t merely entertain but form the very heartbeat of existence\, a pulsing testament to Afro-Ecuadorian identity and resistance. \nYet beneath this tapestry of warmth and celebration\, Carnaval Fever fearlessly confronts the shadows: crushing economic hardship\, the heartbreak of migration\, and the ever-present threat of male violence hovering at the community’s edges. At its luminous core\, however\, this novel stands as a defiant celebration of women’s resilience\, collective power\, and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood that sustain communities through generations. \nAbout the authors \nYuliana Ortiz Ruano (Esmeraldas\, Ecuador\, 1992) is a research professor at the University of the Arts of Ecuador\, and an Afro-music DJ. A novelist and a poet\, she is the author of the collections Sovoz\, Canciones desde el fin del mundo\, and Cuaderno del imposible retorno a Pangea. Carnaval Fever won the Joaquín Gallegos Lara Award\, the Primo Romanzo Latinoamericano Award\, and the PEN Presents English PEN Award. \nMadeleine Arenivar is a literary translator from Spanish living in Quito\, Ecuador. Her short translations have been published in Another Chicago Magazine\, Latin American Literature Today\, Los Angeles Review\, and the Best Literary Translations Anthology (Deep Vellum\, 2024). She is a winner of the PEN Presents program (2023)\, and a past attendee of Bread Loaf Translator’s Conference. She has degrees from Vassar College and the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO) Ecuador. \nAbout Instituto Cervantes \nThe Instituto Cervantes is an official language body created by the Spanish government. It is responsible for teaching and promoting the Spanish language\, the co-official languages of Spain and the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries. It is present in 90 cities across the world and has more than 200\,000 students. \nAt the Instituto Cervantes Manchester\, they offer in-person and online Spanish courses for adults\, kids and teens taught by highly qualified\, native teachers. They also run training courses for teachers of Spanish as a foreign language. Additionally\, they organise the official DELE\, SIELE and CCSE exams\, as well as the DADIC exam for teachers of Spanish as a foreign language. Moreover\, we hold preparation courses for DELE\, DADIC\, GCSE and A level exams. \nThey have an extensive on-site library\, and our library team arrange extracurricular activities for schools and cultural activities for all.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/author-event-carnaval-fever-by-yuliana-ortiz-ruano
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/QUEER-BOOKSHELF-CARNAVAL-THE-MAREoLIVER-jEFFERS-4.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260826T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260826T113000
DTSTAMP:20260709T133639Z
CREATED:20260708T143528Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260709T133639Z
UID:22086-1787740200-1787743800@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:Coffee & Connections - SEND Family Edition
DESCRIPTION:Coffee & Connections \nAt House of Books & Friends\, our mission is to combat loneliness and social isolation. In a time when we are more digitally connected than ever\, it can be hard to find real and meaningful connections\, especially for families. We want to create opportunities for parents and carers to meet over coffee and good conversation\, providing the chance for people to forge community\, and sharing the trails and tribulations of family life. \nThis session has a SEND focus\, creating a space to support families with additional needs\, while remaining open and inclusive to all families who would like to join. \nHow does it work? \nAt the beginning of each session\, there will be a 5-minute group activity to get the conversation flowing led by a member of our team. Everybody is then invited to write down their favourite topic of conversation and drop it in our Chatty Hat! Our team member will randomly pull out some topics\, which we will discuss throughout the session. Remember\, there is no need to be an expert! All discussions are designed to be relaxed\, respectful and enjoyable! We’ll organise everything you need to have a great time\, including a craft table to keep the little ones entertained. You just show up\, be yourself & make new connections! \nMeet ups will take place in public\, and we ask all participants to be mindful of their own safety when attending – for example\, thinking carefully before sharing personal information such as your home address with other participants. We ask all people to be respectful of other participants taking part in the session. \nWhat dates and times are the sessions taking place? \nSessions are 60 minutes\, and take place during school holidays from 10:30am – 11:30am \nTickets \nIt is free to attend Coffee & Connections\, but we do ask for you to book a ticket so we know how many people to expect. There is a free hot drink available for people taking part in the event\, and juice for the young ones. \nYou can book your free ticket on our website by following the links below or in store at the bookshop. \nWednesday 5th August ticket \nWednesday 12th August ticket \nWednesday 19th August ticket \nWednesday 26th August ticket
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/coffee-connections-family-edition-2
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Coffee & Connections
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Family-Friendly-Coffee-and-Connections-Infographic-Instagram-Post-45-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260826T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260826T190000
DTSTAMP:20260730T104648Z
CREATED:20260730T102036Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260730T104648Z
UID:21920-1787767200-1787770800@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:The Book Club August - Evening
DESCRIPTION:This session of The Book Club will take place on Wednesday 26th August from  6pm – 7pm at the bookshop. This month\, we are reading Happy Life by David Foenkinos and translated by Sam Taylor. £10.99 is the price of the book and a ticket to the session. The book can be delivered directly to you (please add your shipping address and tick the box for shipping) or you can collect it in store free of charge. \nYou can buy a book and ticket here. \nIf you already own a copy of the book\, you can purchase a ticket alone for £3. \nYou can purchase a ticket only here. \nFor those unable to afford a book or ticket at present\, we have a limited amount of complementary books/tickets. Please contact the bookshop via bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live or call 07597365380. \nOne of our booksellers will lead the book club\, and the group will be split up into smaller groups in breakout rooms to discuss the questions. \nWe always ask that you be respectful and kind whilst discussing the book and others’ opinions of it. \nAbout the book: \nEveryone\, at some point in their lives\, wants to be someone else. \nEric Kherson – forty\, divorced\, disconnected – is questioning all his life choices. One meeting with an old school friend is all it takes for him to pack in his prestigious job and accept her offer of a high-powered government position. \nHe throws himself into her world of endless networking and high-risk deals\, but when a business trip to Seoul starts unravelling\, Eric feels more lost than ever. Wandering the city streets\, he stumbles across Happy Life\, a shop offering a curious service: fake funerals. For Eric\, this encounter with death might be the very thing to reawaken his appetite for life…
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/the-book-club-august-evening
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:The Book Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Happy-Life-Book-Club.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260827T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260827T113000
DTSTAMP:20260730T110029Z
CREATED:20260730T102510Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260730T110029Z
UID:21922-1787826600-1787830200@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:The Book Club August - Baby Friendly
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Thursday 27th August at 10:30am in person. For this month’s Book Club\, we are reading Happy Life by David Foenkinos and translated by Sam Taylor. \nPurchase the book and a ticket to the event for £10.99. The book can be delivered directly to you (please add your shipping address and tick the box for shipping) or you can collect it in store free of charge. \nYou can buy a book and ticket here. \nIf you already own a copy of the book\, you can purchase a ticket alone for £3. \nYou can purchase a ticket only here. \nFor those unable to afford a book or ticket at present\, we have a limited amount of complementary books/tickets. Please contact the bookshop via bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live or call 07597365380. \nPLEASE NOTE: This is a baby friendly session of our adult bookclub\, parents are able to bring little ones and we understand there may be noise and interruption. Much like baby friendly movie screenings\, the books will still contain adult themes and language etc. We ask that all in attendance understand and expect this. \nAbout the book: \nEveryone\, at some point in their lives\, wants to be someone else. \nEric Kherson – forty\, divorced\, disconnected – is questioning all his life choices. One meeting with an old school friend is all it takes for him to pack in his prestigious job and accept her offer of a high-powered government position. \nHe throws himself into her world of endless networking and high-risk deals\, but when a business trip to Seoul starts unravelling\, Eric feels more lost than ever. Wandering the city streets\, he stumbles across Happy Life\, a shop offering a curious service: fake funerals. For Eric\, this encounter with death might be the very thing to reawaken his appetite for life…
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/the-book-club-august-baby-friendly
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:The Book Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Happy-Life-Book-Club.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260827T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260827T150000
DTSTAMP:20260730T110440Z
CREATED:20260730T102507Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260730T110440Z
UID:21924-1787839200-1787842800@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:The Book Club August - Afternoon
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Thursday 27th June 2pm in person. For this month’s Book Club\, we are reading Happy Life by David Foenkinos and translated by Sam Taylor. \nPurchase the book and a ticket to the event for £10.99. The book can be delivered directly to you (please add your shipping address and tick the box for shipping) or you can collect it in store free of charge. \nYou can buy a book and ticket here. \nIf you already own a copy of the book\, you can purchase a ticket alone for £3. \nYou can purchase a ticket only here. \nFor those unable to afford a book or ticket at present\, we have a limited amount of complementary books/tickets. Please contact the bookshop via bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live or call 07597365380. \nOne of our booksellers will lead the book club\, and we will split into smaller groups to discuss the questions. We always ask that you be respectful and kind whilst discussing the book and others’ opinions of it. \nPLEASE NOTE: This is a baby friendly session of our adult bookclub\, parents are able to bring little ones and we understand there may be noise and interruption. Much like baby friendly movie screenings\, the books will still contain adult themes and language etc. We ask that all in attendance understand and expect this. \nAbout the book:  \nEveryone\, at some point in their lives\, wants to be someone else. \nEric Kherson – forty\, divorced\, disconnected – is questioning all his life choices. One meeting with an old school friend is all it takes for him to pack in his prestigious job and accept her offer of a high-powered government position. \nHe throws himself into her world of endless networking and high-risk deals\, but when a business trip to Seoul starts unravelling\, Eric feels more lost than ever. Wandering the city streets\, he stumbles across Happy Life\, a shop offering a curious service: fake funerals. For Eric\, this encounter with death might be the very thing to reawaken his appetite for life…
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/the-book-club-august-afternoon
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:The Book Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Happy-Life-Book-Club.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260828T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260828T120000
DTSTAMP:20260728T134052Z
CREATED:20260728T134052Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T134052Z
UID:22495-1787914800-1787918400@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:Coffee & Connections - Weekly Community Meet-Up
DESCRIPTION:Coffee & Connections \nAt House of Books & Friends\, our mission is to combat loneliness and social isolation. In a time when we are more digitally connected than ever\, it can be hard to find real and meaningful connections. We want to create opportunities for people to meet over coffee and good conversation\, providing the chance for people to forge new friendships and community. \nHow does it work? \nAt the beginning of each session\, there will be a 5-minute group activity to get the conversation flowing led by a member of our team. Everybody is then invited to write down their favourite topic of conversation and drop it in our Chatty Hat! Our team member will randomly pull out 3 topics\, which we will discuss for 10 minutes each. Remember\, there is no need to be an expert! All discussions are designed to be relaxed\, respectful and enjoyable! We’ll organise everything you need to have a great time. You just show up\, be yourself & make new connections! \nCoffee & Connections is only open to people over 18. Meet ups will take place in public\, and we ask all participants to be mindful of their own safety when attending – for example\, thinking carefully before sharing personal information such as your home address with other participants. We ask all people to be respectful of other participants taking part in the session. \nWhat dates and times are the sessions taking place? \nSessions are 60 minutes\, and run weekly on Fridays from 11 – 12pm. \nIt is free to attend Coffee & Connections\, but we do ask for you to book a ticket so we know how many people to expect. There is a free hot drink available for people taking part in the event. \nYou can book a ticket on our website by following the links below or in person at the bookshop. \nFriday 28 August
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/coffee-connections-weekly-community-meet-up-12
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Coffee & Connections
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Coffee-and-Connections.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260901T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260901T190000
DTSTAMP:20260804T141714Z
CREATED:20260804T134733Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260804T141714Z
UID:22684-1788285600-1788289200@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:AUTHOR EVENT - Pete Wharmby discusses 'Different Minds: How We Can Help Our Autistic School Children Thrive'
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends is excited to welcome Pete Wharmby to discuss his book ‘Different Minds: How We Can Help Our Autistic School Children Thrive’. The event will take place on 1st September at 6pm\, and will last one hour\, and will include a discussion\, a Q&A\, and a chance to get your book signed by Pete. \nTickets \nClick here to buy the book and ticket. \nClick here to buy the ticket only. \nAbout the book \nIf you have an autistic child in school\, you may be painfully aware that mainstream education wasn’t built with them in mind. \nIn Different Minds\, former teacher and neurodivergence campaigner Pete Wharmby reveals what it’s really like to be autistic in school today\, why so many children are misunderstood\, and how we can help them. \nThrough a blend of impassioned storytelling and empathetic advice\, Wharmby: \n\nExposes the inadequacies of the current system.\nReveals how neurodivergent differences are often mislabelled ‘challenging behaviour’.\nExplains how to bridge the gap between the autistic and non-autistic worlds.\n\nGalvanising\, validating and compassionate\, Different Minds empowers parents\, teachers and carers to take a stand for our children and create the conditions they need to truly thrive. \nAbout the author \nPete Wharmby was diagnosed as autistic at the age of 34. Shocked by the statistics around depression\, anxiety and life expectancy for autistic people\, Pete has immersed himself in working to improve neurodiversity awareness\, acceptance and making the world a more suitable place for the neurodivergent community to live in. Pete was diagnosed as ADHD in April 2024. He has written two books on autistic experience: Untypical and What I Want to Talk About: How Autistic Special Interests Shape a Life.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/author-event-pete-wharmby-discusses-different-minds-how-we-can-help-our-autistic-school-children-thrive
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Author Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DIFFERENT-MINDS-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260902T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260902T190000
DTSTAMP:20260809T142922Z
CREATED:20260808T100542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260809T142922Z
UID:22806-1788372000-1788375600@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:The Global Stories Book Club with Laviya Cooke - September
DESCRIPTION:House of Books & Friends are delighted to announce that we are hosting The Global Stories Book Club\, facilitated by Laviya Cooke. Taking place on the first Wednesday of every month\, The Global Stories Book Club is a space where the voices of people of colour are explored and celebrated. People of colour are welcome\, as is anybody interested in stories from diverse perspectives. \nThis will be taking place Wednesday 2nd September at 6pm. \nFor our first meeting\, we will be reading Jamaica Road by Lisa Smith. You have until the day of the meeting to read the book. \nTickets \nClick here to buy a book and ticket \nClick here to buy a ticket only \nAbout the book \nSouth London\, 1981: Daphne is the only Black girl in her class. All she wants is to keep her head down\, preferably in a book. The easiest way to survive is to go unnoticed. \nDaphne’s attempts at invisibility are upended when a boy named Connie Small arrives from Jamaica. Connie is the opposite of small in every way: lanky\, outgoing\, and unapologetically himself. Daphne tries to keep her distance\, but Connie is magnetic. As they navigate growing up in a volatile\, rapidly changing city\, their families become close\, and their friendship begins to shift into something more complicated. But when Connie reveals that he is ‘nuh land’ – meaning he’s in England illegally – Daphne realises that she is dangerously entangled in Connie’s fragile home life. Soon\, long-buried secrets in both families threaten to tear them apart permanently. \nSpanning one tumultuous decade\, Jamaica Road is an emotionally expansive debut novel about race and class\, the family you’re born into\, the family you choose and the limits of what true love can really conquer. \nAbout Laviya \nLaviya is the founder and facilitator of the Global Stories Book Club. A Mancunian native\, Laviya has mixed Congolese heritage. In her current role at Arts Council England\, she works in the North Combined Arts division\, where she supports funding for ethnically diverse theatre makers. Previously\, she worked in the Libraries Development Team at Arts Council. Before that\, she went to Manchester Metropolitan University where she studied Criminology\, and completed research projects with a special interest in library prison services and literacy of inmates. An avid reader\, Laviya particularly enjoys Literary horror\, Black Contemporary Fiction and fantasy. When she’s not got her nose in a book\, you’ll find Laviya watching classic ‘80s teen movies\, doing karaoke with her sisters\, and going to the theatre.
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/the-global-stories-book-club-with-laviya-cooke-september
LOCATION:House of Books & Friends\, 81 King Street\, Manchester\, M2 4AH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:The Book Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/THE-GOLBAL-STORIES-BOOKCLUB-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="House of Books & Friends":MAILTO:bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.live
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260904T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260904T120000
DTSTAMP:20260825T102350Z
CREATED:20260825T102350Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260825T102350Z
UID:23316-1788519600-1788523200@houseofbooksandfriends.live
SUMMARY:Coffee & Connections – Weekly Community Meet Up
DESCRIPTION:Coffee & Connections \nAt House of Books & Friends\, our mission is to combat loneliness and social isolation. In a time when we are more digitally connected than ever\, it can be hard to find real and meaningful connections. We want to create opportunities for people to meet over coffee and good conversation\, providing the chance for people to forge new friendships and community. \nHow does it work? \nAt the beginning of each session\, there will be a 5-minute group activity to get the conversation flowing led by a member of our team. Everybody is then invited to write down their favourite topic of conversation and drop it in our Chatty Hat! Our team member will randomly pull out 3 topics\, which we will discuss for 10 minutes each. Remember\, there is no need to be an expert! All discussions are designed to be relaxed\, respectful and enjoyable! We’ll organise everything you need to have a great time. You just show up\, be yourself & make new connections! \nCoffee & Connections is only open to people over 18. Meet ups will take place in public\, and we ask all participants to be mindful of their own safety when attending – for example\, thinking carefully before sharing personal information such as your home address with other participants. We ask all people to be respectful of other participants taking part in the session. \nWhat dates and times are the sessions taking place? \nSessions are 60 minutes\, and run weekly on Fridays from 11 – 12pm (except bank holidays). \nTickets \nIt is free to attend Coffee & Connections\, but we do ask for you to book a ticket so we know how many people to expect. There is a free hot drink available for people taking part in the event. \nYou can book a ticket on our website by following the links below or in person at the bookshop. \nFriday 4 September \nFriday 11 September  \nFriday 18 September  \nFriday 25 September 
URL:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/event/coffee-connections-weekly-community-meet-up-13
CATEGORIES:Coffee & Connections
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://houseofbooksandfriends.live/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Coffee-and-Connections.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR