Festival Frequently Asked Questions
How much are the tickets for the Festival?
General Admission: £12.50
Student Admission: £6
Friends Admission: £10
Literary Lunches: £12.50 (no booking fee)
Literary Quiz (teams of 6 preferably) £7 per person
There is a booking charge of £1 per ticket, which will be added to your purchase at checkout. In common with most booking platforms, the ticketing site for Cedars Hall, Tixly, adds a booking /administration charge to the price of a ticket.
How can I become a Friend of Wells Festival of Literature?
More information: Friends of Wells Festival of Literature
How do I receive my Friendsbenefits in the priority week?
To get the benefits of your Festival Membership you will be sent an email which will include a special link to view the Wells Festival of Literature Friends Programme Page. Once you select events you wish to book using this link, your discount will be applied in the Cedar’s Hall booking system. You will need to use this link each time you wish to purchase tickets to enable you to receive your discount.
The Friends discount is valid for ticket purchases within and after Priority Booking Week.
When and where will brochures be available?
Brochures will be sent by post to Friends and sponsors. They will also be available at various locations in and around Wells and the surrounding area, including libraries, information centres, shops, pubs etc. Please look out for them from the end of July! The 2025 Festival Full Programme is also available online.
How do I book a ticket for the Festival?
On our website: www.wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk you will be able to view the events taking place during the Festival. Once you have found events you would like see click ON SALE NOW. This will direct you to Tixly, the ticketing site for Cedars Hall. Here you will be able to select your seats and pay for your tickets.
Alternatively, you can purchase tickets via the box office telephone line: 01749 834483 (weekdays 9.30am to 12.30pm).
Any unsold tickets will be available ‘on the door’ at Cedars Hall prior to each event. Payment by cash or card.
I would like to attend an event but forgot to book. Is it too late?
Unless an event is sold out, tickets will be on sale in the usual way until 4pm the previous day. For events taking place at the weekend this is 4pm on the Friday. Any remaining tickets will then be on the door, on the day. Details of available tickets will be on a board in the Cedars Hall foyer.
I am attending a Literary Lunch and forgot to advise anyone of my dietary requirements?
If you have a lunch ticket, please make sure the catering staff are aware of any special needs by informing the booking office as soon as possible: boxoffice@cedarshallwells.co.uk / 01749 834483
How long is each event?
Each event lasts an hour, including approximately 15-20 minutes for questions. The Poetry Reading and Prize Giving event lasts for three hours.
How do we ask questions to the author during their event?
The email system will be in use again this year. So, remember your smartphone! You will then be able to submit questions to the speaker via the event chair. Instructions will be displayed at every event and the login details will stay the same throughout the Festival.
What happens if the event is cancelled?
If any event is cancelled for whatever reason, ticket-holders will be given a full refund.
Where do events take place?
All Festival events, including the Literary Quiz are held in Cedars Hall, a state-of-the-art performance venue which is a short walk from the centre of Wells and close to several car parks – see map for details. Cedars Hall is situated in Wells Cathedral School and can be accessed on foot either from The Liberty or from the main gate in College Road. Please note that there is no public access via the service gate at the Bristol Hill junction of New Street and Mountery Road.
Literary Lunches take place in the Dining Room of Cedars House, opposite Cedars Hall.
Is there wheelchair access?
There is wheelchair access to Cedars Hall. Wheelchair seats can be selected at checkout along with a Wheelchair Companion seat.
How do I get a hearing loop seat?
Cedars Hall has a hearing support system that is fully compatible with modern hearing aids. Details are available on the Cedars Hall website. Please click here to view. They can also be found in the Festival foyer. Please ask a steward on the door for a receiver that will enable you to access the hearing system.
Is the seating in Cedars Hall numbered or reserved?
All tickets will be for numbered seats and will be allocated at time of purchase.
Will there be a Festival Book shop?
Waterstones will be running a pop-up shop in the Drawing and Morning Rooms in Cedars House which is across the green from Cedars Hall.
Will speakers be signing their books after the event?
The speaker will be in the Festival Book shop, pen poised! Clear signs will point you in the right direction.
Can I buy books by authors other than the ones featured in their events?
Depending on space and availability, Waterstones will be selling a selection of books from all speakers.
I have tickets for two consecutive events. Will refreshments be on sale at Cedars Hall?
A selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, daily soups and sandwiches, crisps, individual portions of cheese and crackers, cakes, chocolates, and ice creams will be available in the foyer of Cedars Hall. It will be open one hour before each event every day. In the evenings it will close when the last event starts.
Is there somewhere to eat before and after events?
Light refreshments will be available in the Cedars Hall foyer and there are also many places to eat in Wells, a short walk away. Several restaurants are offering a special Festival offer with a 10% discount to Festival ticket-holders. These are:
- Goodfellows @7b 01749 676774
- Root 01749 672887
- Rugantino’s 01749 672029
- Sadlers Wine Bar 01749 681982
- The Fountain 01749 672317
- The Olive Tree 01749 673866
- The Pressoir 01749 672234
- The White Hart 01749 678642
Come before or after an event and remember:
- ring in advance to book, asking for the Festival dining offer
- ensure everyone in your party wishing to take advantage of the offer has a ticket for the Festival
- and bring your ticket/s with you!
Is parking available?
FREE FESTIVAL PARKING
This is available in Mundy’s Meadow car park (BA5 2QL) on a first-come-first-served basis; from here it is a short walk via Lovers Walk to The Liberty. Mundy’s Meadow is a private car park accessible from Mountery Road (see map) and will be open for Festival-goers throughout the Festival only.
DISABLED PARKING
Disabled parking is available and is provided exclusively to people with mobility needs and for speakers appearing at the Festival (see map).
PUBLIC CAR PARKS
Additional parking spaces are available in the city’s public car parks (see map). Charges start from £1.80 for two hours parking during the day and are often free after 6.00 pm. All these car parks are within a 15-minute walk from the Festival:
Union Street (off Chamberlain Street, BA5 2PU)
South Street (BA5 1SL)
Princes Road (BA5 1TE)
Tucker Street (off West Street, BA5 1TF)
For more information, please visit: en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/wells
Where can I stay during the Festival?
There are many hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation in and around Wells. Click here to visit Place To Stay In Wells.
If you have a query that is not answered below, please email your question to admin@wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk