Virago are excited to announce the launch of a new event partnership with Pages Cheshire Street: Virago Speakeasy at Pages, bringing together Virago and non-Virago authors and readers in a dynamic, challenging and interactive forum. 

There will be four events a year, held at Pages Cheshire Street Bookshop, an independent bookshop showcasing books by women, trans and gender diverse authors. Amid drinks and discussions, socialising and signing books there will also be themed activities and a spotlight on the Virago Modern Classics list, linking the new authors with the old in a continuing tradition of brilliant books by women. Tickets will be £5 including a drink and are available to book from the Pages Cheshire Street website.

The Virago Speakeasy is proud to have two brilliant women–run drinks sponsors: Lussa Gin, a distillery on the isle of Jura founded and run by Claire Fletcher, Georgina Kitching and Alicia MacInnes, and Walthamstow-based Wild Card Brewery, run by the award–winning Head Brewer, Jaega Wise, a TV presenter and campaigner against sexism in the beer industry.

Rose Tomaszewska: ‘The name Speakeasy hints at the style of the night, but also what we want to achieve by challenging ideas out loud. These events will be a great opportunity to set an ongoing conversation about books and feminism – and doing it in an inspiring bookshop with a drink in your hand. For decades Virago has been championing women writers – and more recently, non-binary writers – and we’re delighted to launch the Speakeasy to bring authors and readers together.’  

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