Events

28 November; 5, 12 & 19 December [until 8pm]

In the shop & throughout Bovey Tracey

Festive Fridays are back at 54 Fore Street and across Bovey. Join us for a holly jolly good time every Friday from 28 November-19 December, from 5-8pm.

❄ 28 November: Festive Fridays kick off with relaxed late-night shopping and some wine & mince pies.
❄ 5 December: A bumper night of festivities including book signings from 6-7pm with Stephanie Austin and Reeve & McIntyre. Plus, Friends of Bovey School will be gift wrapping to raise funds for the local primary.
❄ 12 December: Bumble & Iris are bringing all the holiday florals – gifts, table decorations and more
❄ 19 December: It’s the Christmas Cracker, our annual end-of-year celebration to say thank you to all our lovely customers – drinks, nibbles, music and friendly chat.

You can also bring your letters to Santa and post them in the shop. In the square each Friday, there will be a mix of live music, food trucks and a Christmas grotto. And don’t forget the Bovey Lights Switch-on & Christmas Market is Saturday, 22 November. Come & see us!

2 December 2025 [7:00-8:30PM]

In the Shop, 54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE

JOIN THE CLUB // £5. Please reserve your spot in advance.

The final Curious Readers Club of 2025 is going to be a cracker. Join us on 2 December from 7-8:30pm to dig into Colony by Annika Norlin, translated by Alice E. Olsson.

We will dig into all the big ideas and small moments that made us feel the feelings. Annika will join us virtually from Sweden to answer our questions. Plus, when you register for this event, you get 10% off the book when you buy it in the shop (£10.99 RRP).

What to expect:

+ 7:00pm – Settle in with a drink & a biscuit

+ 7:15pm – Book club chat commences

+ 7:30pm – Q&A with Annika Norlin

+ 8:00pm – Book club chat continues

+ 8:30pm – End of event

Curious Readers Club is a book club for, you guessed it, curious readers. Books are selected by Leslie at First Draft Books with an eye towards unique, thought-provoking debut titles. Always in paperback. Always discussion-worthy. Join us!

About the book

A mega bestseller in Sweden — and winner of two of its biggest literary awards — Colony is a gripping portrayal of contemporary society and its alternatives. Burnt-out from a demanding job and a bustling life in the city, Emelie has left town to spend a few days in the country. Once there, in the peaceful, verdant hills, down by the river she encounters a mysterious group of seven people, each with personal stories full of pain, alienation, and the longing to live differently.

They are misfits, each in their own way, and all led by the enigmatic and charismatic Sara. How did they end up there? Are they content with the rigid roles they’ve been assigned? And what happens when an outsider appears and is initially drawn to their alternative lifestyle, but cannot help stirring things up? A masterful blend of humour, emotion, unforgettable characters, and sharp social commentary, Colony is a magnetic and deeply touching story about love, community, and the unfathomable power we have over others and that others have over us.

10 December 2025 [6:30-8:30 PM]

The Cromwell Arms, Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE

The Writing Social is a monthly gathering to work on whatever you’re working on among fellow writers. All abilities welcome – just bring yourself and whatever you’re currently writing on whatever form you prefer (laptops, notebooks, phones, post-its, etc).

We meet on the second Wednesday of each month to write silently together. Here’s how it runs.

6:30PM – Doors open, get settled, say hello
6:45PM – Silent Writing Block #1 Begins
7:30PM – Break, chat about the work; option to head off
7:45PM – Silent Writing Block #2 Begins
8:30PM – Social Ends

It’s a great mix of people at all points in their writing journey. At recent Writing Socials, people were editing articles, starting new stories, and refining novel drafts. So bring whatever you’re working on – or hoping to start – and let’s write together.

This event is free.

17 December 2025 [5:30-7:30PM]

The Cromwell Arms, Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE

Calling all you readers in Bovey Tracey who are looking for dedicated time each month to read amongst friends. Grab whatever you’re reading, however you’re reading it and join us in the Cromwell Arms for a bit of friendly, bookish chitchat and silent reading.

How it works:

+ 5:30pm – arrive, get settled, chitchat
+ 6:00pm – the silent reading hour
+ 7:00pm – more chitchat about what we read
+ 7:30pm – wrap up

All readers welcome, no purchase necessary! No need to register – just pop in. See you there & happy reading!

18 December 2025 [5:30-7:30PM]

Upstairs @ TQ BeerWorks, 1A Abbey Crescent, Torquay

Calling all you readers in Torbay who are looking for dedicated time each month to read amongst friends. Grab whatever you’re reading, however you’re reading it and join us upstairs at TQ BeerWorks for a bit of friendly, bookish chitchat and silent reading.

How it works:

+ 5:30pm – arrive, get settled, chitchat
+ 6:00pm – the silent reading hour
+ 7:00pm – more chitchat about what we read
+ 7:30pm – wrap up

All readers welcome, no purchase necessary. And no need to register in advance – just pop in. See you there & happy reading!

21 January 2026 [7:30-9:00PM]

In the Shop, 54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE

BOOK YOUR TICKET // £5 per person [all proceeds supporting 2026 Great Big Green Week Bovey Tracey]

Climate Action Bovey & Heathfield (CABH) and First Draft Books invite you to an evening with Tim Lenton, Chair in Climate Change & Earth System Science at University of Exeter, to explore the part we each play in triggering vital positive tipping points that accelerate us out of the climate crisis.

Tim will be joined by Colin Corkerton to discuss his book, Positive Tipping Points: How to Fix the Climate Crisis. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and meet Tim after the talk to pick up a signed copy of his book.

The funds raised through event ticket sales will go to support the 2026 Great Big Green Week in Bovey Tracey, organised by CABH. Thanks for your support and join us on 13-21 June!

About Tim

Tim Lenton OBE is Chair in Climate Change and Earth System Science at the University of Exeter, where he founded the Global Systems Institute. His research focuses on understanding how life has transformed the Earth system over the past 4 billion years, and how humans are transforming it now. He uses computer models to simulate the climate and biogeochemical cycles. Tim is renowned for his work in identifying climate tipping points, which informed the setting of the ‘well below 2°C’ climate target. He is passionate about the opportunities for positive tipping points in human activities to accelerate action towards global sustainability.

3 February 2026 [6:30-8:00PM]

In the Shop, 54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE

BOOK YOUR SEAT // Free with ticket

Every year night skies get 10% brighter. Light pollution is erasing the stars.

Join us at First Draft Books for a conversation with travel writer and dark sky advocate Megan Eaves-Egenes around her new book, Nightfaring: In Search of the Disappearing Darkness.

Megan travels the world to better understand our deep connection with the night sky. Finding solace in the stars at a time of difficulty in her own life, she embarks on a journey that takes her from New Zealand to Uzbekistan, Italy to Japan, Germany to the Himalaya, exploring the many ways that we have depended on, feared and mythologised darkness culturally and historically. The constellations have guided humankind in navigation and husbandry since the very earliest cultures, yet as nocturnal cities bleach our skies and that deep knowledge is lost, are we also losing our connection with the wild, with stillness, with the possibility that self-knowledge and healing can come from darkness, too?

Blending travel and nature writing with history and self-discovery, Nightfaring is a profound and often startling journey through darkness and the endangered night.

Following the talk, there will be an opportunity to ask questions and pick up a signed copy of Megan’s book.

4 February 2026 [7:00-9:00 PM]

Moretonhampstead Community Club, 17 Court Street, TQ13 8NE

SOLD OUT // To join the waitlist, email Leslie at [email protected].

Tickets: £20 per person

Good food, good books, good company. The perfect trio! The Van du Pain and First Draft Books invite you to join us at From Page to Plate’s first literary supper club of 2026.

How does it work?

–> We cook up a delicious two-course meal inspired by a great book. And it’s BOYB – we’ll have water but you can bring anything else you might enjoy.

–> We provide prompts throughout the evening to support an engaging conversation about the boo

–> You enjoy a wonderful evening of delicious food and rich discussion at your table.

Our next literary supper club will be inspired by Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon, a funny & raucous story about the healing power of art in dark times. Set in Ancient Sicily among ancient Greek soldiers, expect a meal that fuses Italian and Greek cuisine.

You can request a copy of the book through your order form today or pop into one of our shops (54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey OR Zero Waste Moreton) later. You can also pick up the audiobook here, purchase the e-book here or order online for home delivery here – all of which support our independent bookshop.

Dietary restrictions will be accommodated where possible and with advance notice. Feel free to reach out to Leslie with any questions.

Bon appétit and happy reading!

14 March 2026 [10AM-5PM]

Wickham Hall, 23 Ashburton Road, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9BY [Author Events]; Bovey Tracey Cricket Club, Newton Road, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9BY [Community Activities]

BOOK YOUR TICKETS // £3 per person per session (plus booking fees)

Welcome to Bovey Tracey’s very first book festival – and this one’s for the kids!

Join us for a day full of stories and imagination with some of Britain’s very best writers, illustrators and creators.

Celebrate the launch of Reeve & McIntyre‘s newest Adventuremice book. Dive into the wonderful world of Mikey Please‘s The Cafe at the Edge of the Wood. Delight in Serena Patel‘s charming & pet-loving Pia’s Pet Club adventures. Explore the creepy Victorian underworld of Zohra Nabi‘s Cassia Thorne Mysteries. Revel in the vibrant, joyful chaos of Neill Cameron‘s Donut Squad

After each interactive session, these amazing authors & illustrators will hang out to sign copies of their books. Visit the Festival Book Table on the day to pick up something special. Please book a ticket for each session you want to attend.

In addition to our author & illustrator sessions at Wickham Hall, stop by the Pavilion at the Bovey Tracey Cricket Club for even more bookish fun from 10AM-4PM, including story time, crafts, and special meet & greets. All free and open to the whole community.

If you have a young person in your life who loves to read or draw or write, today is their day!

Thanks so much to our partners who are helping make this day possible: The Rebel Reading Society, Bovey Futures, Bovey Tracey Cricket Club, and Teignbridge District Council.