Whitby set to host its first literature festival in 2025 to celebrate the town’s literary links, inspire writers and boost tourism

The town will host its first literature festival in 2025 to herald the many famous writers who have been inspired by their time in North Yorkshire.

Whitby is well-known for its connection to Bram Stoker’s Dracula but has many other literary associations – including Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, a visit by Charles Dickens, the poetry of Caedmon and the works of Elizabeth Gaskell.

North Yorkshire Council has teamed up with a number of local businesses to launch the four-day festival, which is scheduled to be held from Thursday, November 6, to Sunday, November 9, 2025.

It is hoped the festival will not only honour the past but inspire future generations of authors – as well as providing local novelists, poets and playwrights the opportunity to showcase their work alongside established writers.

Coun Simon Myers, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for culture, arts and housing, said: “Whitby is among our most famous and popular towns that has been an inspiration to writers for centuries – and continues to be so.

“We know that the tourism sector is so valuable to the local economy, and our challenge is to try to extend the tourism season well beyond the summer when it’s traditionally quieter and our towns and coastal destinations can see reduced footfall.

“I’m sure that the launch of this festival will capture the imagination of many who want to share in the celebration of Whitby’s rich literary history.”

Visit North Yorkshire, the council’s new destination management and marketing organisation, has been established to drive forward tourism across the county, which a spokesperson said contributes £4billion every year to the local economy and supports 38,000 jobs.

Its formation represents the first time that there has been a dedicated tourism body for the whole county.

Local businesses, representatives from Visit North Yorkshire and the council’s libraries team are keen for other interested parties to get involved.

A special event has been organised on Friday, November 8 at Hetty and Betty in Whitby between 5.30pm and 7.30pm for any local businesses, venues or accommodation providers interested in finding out more or how to get involved.

The event’s steering group is particularly interested to hear from potential venues keen on being part of the festival.

Lois Kirtlan, managing director at Hetty and Betty, said: “Six years ago I started my business in Whitby and it struck me that there was no literature festival.

“It seemed a little odd that a town so steeped in literature heritage wouldn’t hold its own literature festival.

“I started conversations to create Whitby’s own literature festival but unfortunately the pandemic stopped it from coming into being.

“Earlier this year I started the conversations again, and we created the steering group.

“As festival director, I’m so delighted that Whitby will finally have its own literature festival, which will become a permanent addition to the annual events calendar.”

Among the venues already signed up to host events for the festival is the town’s Quayside restaurant.

Owner, Adrian Fusco, said: “In a town that has inspired many famous authors and has been the backdrop for many books and stories, Whitby’s literature festival will be a perfect addition to the town’s calendar in 2025.

“Whitby has a rich and fascinating history and the literature festival will be another captivating way to bring this to the attention of local residents and tourists. We are very much looking forward to its arrival.”

The town’s outreach librarian and local writer, Adele Duffield, added: “I’m so pleased we are finally going to have a literature festival in Whitby.

“Inspiring youngsters and providing a space for emerging writers to be promoted alongside established authors is a truly worthwhile cause.

“With a junior writing competition proposed, we hope to work with local schools to draw out the talent and creativity in those young minds who might turn out to be tomorrow’s greatest authors.

“This festival is a perfect stage to promote emerging talent.”