Enjoy both books and buns at Marlborough Litfest thanks to Waitrose gift (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Enjoy both books and buns at Marlborough Litfest thanks to Waitrose gift

8:00pm Friday 21st September 2012 in News

Probably the most unusual sponsorship Marlborough Literary Festival has had since its launch three years ago is a supply of Marlborough buns from Waitrose.

They will be served up at the Litfest cafe that will be open in the town hall over the festival weekend of September 28-30.

The festival depends on the support it gets from its main sponsors, the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society, wealth management company Brewin Dolphin and Hiscox Insurance.

However, the offer of free buns from Waitrose for the events cafe where festival goers can relax between literary sessions and browse through a stall by the White Horse Bookshop has delighted the organisers.

Steve Tuddenham of Waitrose said: “We’re delighted to be supporting this local annual festival, which highlights a wealth of literary talent in our historic market town.”

Sampling one of the buns at Waitrose, author Mavis Cheek, who lives near Marlborough and is the festival chairman, said: “Thanks to Waitrose, I shall be enjoying a cup of tea and a Marlborough bun in the LitFest Café!”

The LitFest is experiencing strong ticket sales, said its spokeswoman Fran Del Mar, with a number of its events already sold out.

Among this year’s visiting authors are the 2010 Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson, best sellers Iain Banks and Michael Frayn plus new teenage fiction writer Moira Young.

Bella Bathurst will discuss her latest work The Bicycle Book, while Susie Parr will talk about her book The Story of Swimming. Popular children’s author, Judith Kerr will talk about The Tiger Who Came to Tea and the Mog series, as well as new title, The Great Granny Gang.

For more details visit www.marlboroughlitfest.org