Bournemouth, Culture, Events & Entertainment | Posted on October 2nd, 2025 | return to news

Bournemouth’s Romance Writing Festival attracts international audience

The event, which takes place at the Royal Bath Hotel will bring together authors, literary agents and publishing professionals.

Bournemouth’s Romance Writing Festival, which takes place on Saturday 18 October, will welcome attendees from across England and Wales as well as from California, Toronto, Belgium and Germany.

Taking place at the Royal Bath Hotel, it will bring together bestselling authors, literary agents and publishing professionals for a day of talks, workshops, networking and book signings.

The mayor of Bournemouth will join writers at an evening reception to honour two distinguished guests and to celebrate the growing literary influence enjoying a renaissance in Bournemouth.

The programme includes 10 panels with Sunday Times bestselling authors such as Paige Toon, Milly Johnstone and Sue Moorcroft, as well as one-to-one sessions with literary agents and editors, and a lively Author Marketplace where published writers will showcase their work. Five authors will also celebrate the launch of their new books at the festival, offering attendees the chance to be among the first to pick up signed copies.

Beyond the hotel, festivalgoers can join beach walks to meet fellow writers in an informal setting, or take part in literary walks of Bournemouth, highlighting the town’s rich heritage as the home and inspiration for writers including Mary Shelley and J R R Tolkien. Afternoon tea with publishing editors will take place at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum

A bursary for two underrepresented writers from Boscombe-based writing charity Vita Nova to attend the whole festival has been provided by the Bournemouth Writing Festival.

Dominic Wong, festival director, said: “It’s remarkable to see how quickly Bournemouth’s writing scene has gained international attention through our year-round writing events and activities that we put on. To have writers and readers travelling from North America and across Europe for our first Romance Writing Festival shows what a powerful draw Bournemouth has become as a hub for creativity, culture and community. Our aim is to inspire writers at every stage of their journey – and to do it right here on the beautiful south coast.”

The Romance Writing Festival is part of the Bournemouth Writing Festival family of events.

Tickets and full programme details are available at www.romancewritingfestival.co.uk.