EventsNews

Dominic Knight September 28, 2025

October news & events from Southwold Library

Meet Local Author Writer Carsten Clovelly

Monday, 6th October, 11am, talk @ Southwold Library

Local fiction author Carsten Clovelly will talk about his novel series featuring Nathan and Moriarty. Including their visits to Southwold!

Nathan Stockwood is a middle-aged, middle-of-the-road actor. A fundamentally decent man with a slightly flawed conscience, his overly theatrical nature and willingness to bend the rules leads him into a succession of disastrous situations. Moriarty is a vast wolfhound of regal bearing and sharp intellect. His is the thankless task of keeping Nathan out of trouble.

Free talk, no need to book.

Harry Potter Book Night 2025

Thursday, 9th October, 6–7pm @ Southwold Library

Free Harry Potter book night event.

Crafts, games, Sorting Hat and fancy-dress competition.

Free Harry Potter Activity Pack

Saturday, 4th October until Sunday, 11th October

Come and pick up your free pack full of special Harry Potter Book Night 2025 activities, and owl and wizardcraft materials supplied by the Friends of Southwold Library.

Beginners’ Italian

Monday, 13th October for six weeks, 4–6pm

£120 for 12-hour course

Book at Southwold Library – tel: 01502 442817 or online: www.ticketsource.co.uk/southwoldlibrary.

Ann Cleeves

Thursday, 16th October, 6.30pm @ Southwold Arts Centre

Ann Cleeves is the multi-million-copy bestselling author behind TV series Shetland, Vera and The Long Call. Her first Shetland novel, Raven Black, won the Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger for best crime novel, and Ann was awarded the CWA Diamond Dagger in 2017. She was awarded the OBE in 2022 for services to reading and libraries. Ann will be talking about her writing, including her new book, The Killing Stones.

Tickets are £25, including a signed copy of her new Jimmy Perez novel, The Killing Stones (a £10 ticket talk-only ticket can be bought with each £25 one), and are available from Southwold Library – tel: 01502 442817 or online: www.ticketsource.co.uk/southwoldlibrary.

Welcome to The Mushroom Show!

Saturday, 25th October, 3.30pm @ Southwold Library

There’s a secret kingdom full of mysteries. . .

A whole world of strange, smelly and surprising life. . .

And they’re all around us!

Augustine Fogwoode might be the world’s MOST enthusiastic mushroom enthusiast! She is on a quest to make sure everyone knows about the brilliance of fungi: their scientific superpowers and amazing abilities. But it’s just her and her puppet friend Goldie. She might just need a few more fun-guys to make it happen.

Join the party and discover how fungi grow, connect and help the natural world, including us humans. Packed full of interactive games, playful music and lots of laughs for all the family, The Mushroom Show is one person’s mission to build a community… and maybe it’ll become your mission too?

Award-winning Scratchworks Theatre Company brings together science, music and participatory activities for whole families to experience together. Suitable for ages 5+

Supported by Arts Council England, Doorstep Arts, Libraries Unlimited, Beaford, Theatre Alibi and Unity Theatre Trust.

Developed in consultation with research partners and funding from the University of Plymouth.

https://tinyurl.com/547ua467

Book your FREE tickets here: https://suffolkcommunitylibraries.co.uk/events/the-mushroom-show-at-southwold.

Free Monster Crafts

Tuesday, 28th October, 11am and 2pm @ Southwold Library

Make a monster flowerpot, monster magnets, monster masks and more!

Crafts supplied by the Friends of Southwold Library.

No need to book.

Freaky Science Workshops for Kids with Kinetics Science Adventures Lab in a Library

Wednesday, 29th October, 11am and 1.30pm @ Southwold Library

Our Freaky Science Workshops include inflating hands, gruesome faces, ice excavation of brains and much more! We bring the fun factor to science and this is a hands-on activity (we even ask the adults to join in).

£2 per child. Open to children 5+. Please do not wear your best clothes. Limited spaces. Book your place today! Tel: 01502 442817; e-mail: southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk; online: www.ticketsource.co.uk/southwoldlibrary.

Southwold Arts Centre & Southwold Library Present: Southwold Community Cinema

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (2025) 15 – Wednesday, 1st October, 3pm

After jumping back into the dating pool, single-mother Bridget Jones finds herself caught between a younger man and her son’s science teacher.

Mr Burton (2025) 12A – Wednesday, 5th November, 3pm

The story of the wild schoolboy Rich Jenkins, son of a boozy miner and an English teacher who recognised his talent, Philip Burton.

Black Bag (2025) 15 – Wednesday, 3rd December, 3pm

When his beloved wife Kathryn is suspected of betraying the nation, intelligence agent George Woodhouse faces the ultimate test – loyalty to his marriage or his country.

Tickets – £5, including refreshments. Book a ticket at www.southwoldartscentre.co.uk or visit the box office @ Southwold Arts Centre, Cumberland Road, Southwold IP18 6JP, tel: 01502 722572.

Southwold Literary Festival

Friday, 7th November until Sunday, 9th November @ Southwold Arts Centre

Inspired by the success of “Slaughter in Southwold”, Southwold Library, Southwold Arts Centre and Southwold Books launched “Southwold Literary Festival” in November 2023. The 2025 Festival features an amazing mix of fiction and non-fiction authors speaking about a fascinating range of subjects.

Tickets are £7 a talk, £7 Friday Day Ticket, £30 Saturday Day Ticket, £18 Sunday Day Ticket or £55 for the whole weekend.

Tickets can be booked at Southwold Library (in person, by phone 01502 722519 or by visiting www.ticketsource.co.uk/southwoldlibrary) or at Southwold Arts Centre (in person, by phone 01502 722572 or by visiting www.southwoldartscentre.co.uk).

Friday, 7th November

5.30pm: Alison Weir: Legend of historical fiction

Saturday, 8th November

10am: Richard Negus: Suffolk conservationist and hedge layer
11.30am: Neil Lanham: The James Herriot of antiques
2pm: Jasper Fforde: Wildly inventive, genre-bending novels
3.30pm: Sarah Perry: The Essex Serpent author on dying, family and love.
5pm: Robert Ross: Biographer of Monty Python’s Terry Jones.

Sunday, 9th November

10am: Robert Ashton: Storyteller of vanished rural traditions
11.30am: Sophie Hannah: Poirot writer and queen of the thriller
2pm: Wendy Holden: Author of The Teacher of Auschwitz.

Meet the East Suffolk Lettings Team

Thursday, 23rd October, 10am–1pm @ Southwold Library

Our aim is to increase residents’ access to the private rented sector.

If you’re a landlord, we want to meet you! Come along to discuss the landlord benefits and free services included within the rent guarantee scheme.E-mail: EastSuffolkLettings@eastsuffolk.gov.uk; online: www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/east-suffolk-lettings.

Let Us Help You Get Connected

Every Wednesday, 10am–12noon @ Southwold Library

Need help with tech? A drop-in advice session where we can help you with things like:

• Setting up e-mail and social media accounts.

• Online shopping (Amazon, eBay and more).

• Basic support with smartphones, tablets and computers.

• Travel plans using Google Maps and similar tools.

• Staying safe online and avoiding scams.

For more information, ask library staff, call 01502 722519 or e-mail: southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk.

Kids, Come and Read to Ash the PAT Dog

Thursday, 9th and 23rd October, 3.30pm @ Southwold Library

The Read2Dogs scheme provided by PAT helps to improve literacy skills and wellbeing in young people by developing their confidence, interest and enjoyment in reading.

Dogs are non-judgemental and great listeners – they don’t interrupt or correct – so they aid confidence and concentration levels. PAT Dogs are also known to encourage positive social behaviours, enhance self-esteem and inspire young people to relax and have fun.

Come and read to Ash and enjoy his calm company.

Friends of Southwold Library 100 Club

Would you like to turn your £1 into £25 and support your library?

For just £1 a month, you could win £25 at our monthly draw.

Southwold Library 100 Club is a fundraising club, and money raised will be used to support the facilities and services supplied by the Library.

*** More members = More prizes ***

Ask to join at Southwold Library today!

Southwold Library Jigsaw Swap Shop

Come and help yourself to a jigsaw at Southwold Library completely free! You can take one and return it, take one and return a different one or just take one (we have plenty).

Come and check out what we have available.

Blyth Poets ‘The Isle is Full of Voices’

Friday, 3rd October, 2.15–3.30pm

First Friday of every month.

A poetry group meeting at Southwold Library.

All welcome to read or just listen.

We invite contributions of original work or well-loved poems.

Refreshment break in the Canteen.

Free event, no booking required.

Mah-jong Group

Friday, 10th and 24th October, 2.15–4.15pm

Second and fourth Friday of the month

Can you play Mah-jong?

Do you want to learn?

Come along and join the group at Southwold Library. £1 per person.

Scrabble Club

Thursday, 9th October, 2.15pm

Second Thursday of every month.

All equipment supplied.

Refreshment break in the Canteen.

Free event, no booking required.

Crochet and Craft Club

Every Wednesday, 2.15–4pm

£2 each.

A friendly group for all crafters as well as those who crochet (to any ability). Barbara will be on hand to teach crochet beginners, add to your crochet skills or troubleshoot problems, should you want to. Or just bring along your latest craft project and work on them together.

Bring your own equipment or Barbara can supply crochet equipment at a price.

Hot drinks supplied.

Lego Club!

Sundays, 12.15–1pm

Open to kids (and adults) of all ages.

This autumn, we’re building: Vast Vehicles.

All donations of Lego welcome.

Free event, no booking required.

Adults: Would you like to help with Lego Club? Just ask staff.

Southwold Library Reading Group

Thursday, 30th October, 6.30pm @ Southwold Library

This month, we are reading: The Couple at the Table by Sophie Hannah.