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UID:f7727216-bd4d-4828-8517-005bbaabe3f2@360exp.net
SEQUENCE:29842511
DTSTAMP:20260928T155449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260927T231156Z
DTSTART:20261010T140000Z
DTEND:20261010T150000Z
SUMMARY:Ben Aitken | Sh*tty Breaks: A Celebration of Unsung Cities
LOCATION:Stoke Minster
DESCRIPTION:Not everything that glitters is gold - which is why Ben Aitken 
 gave Manchester the cold shoulder and went to Preston instead. Hailing fro
 m Portsmouth\, Ben knew from experience that unfashionable places could be
  quietly brilliant. So\, over the course of a year\, the author visited tw
 elve of the least popular spots in the UK and Ireland for a city break. Th
 e motivation wasn't to take the mickey or stick the boot in\, but to seek 
 out the good stuff. By doing so\, he hoped to demonstrate that anywhere - 
 like anyone - can be interesting and nourishing and enjoyable if approache
 d in the right fashion. Even Wolverhampton! By ghosting Bath and giving Li
 sbon the boot\, the book champions the unsung in an algorithmic\, over-sig
 nposted world dominated by celebs and hotspots. Cheeky weekend in Milton K
 eynes anyone? Ben will be in conversation at Stoke Book Festival\, discuss
 ing all things sh*tty cities\, travel advice and maybe some tales about hi
 s Gran Tour! About the Author Ben Aitken was born under Thatcher\, grew to
  6ft then stopped\, and is an Aquarius. He is the author of six books\, in
 cluding A Chip Shop in Poznan (a Times bestseller)\, The Gran Tour (which 
 is being made into a film) and Shitty Breaks: A Celebration of Unsung Citi
 es\, which argues that anywhere – like anyone – can be interesting and
  enjoyable if approached in the right fashion. He was Travel Writer of the
  Year at the 2025 Travel Media Awards\, is a Sunday Times columnist\, and 
 used to be in a boyband. What to Expect 60-minute author conversation Audi
 ence Q&A Book signing will be available afterwards Books available to purc
 hase Suitable for ages 14+ About the Venue Wheelchair Access : The main gr
 ound floor is fully accessible via ramps. Note that specific historical ar
 eas like the Peace Chapel and belfry require using stairs. Toilets : An ac
 cessible toilet and general toilets are available onsite. Parking : A car 
 park is located directly opposite the building on Kingsway (ST4 1JB). Addi
 tional Support: Assistance dogs are welcome. Public transport links : The 
 bus stop on Glebe Street is served by Routes 24 (D&G)\, 23 & 40A (First Po
 tteries). The nearest Railway Station is Stoke-on-Trent Railway\, a 7-minu
 te walk. Arrival time : Doors open 30 minutes before the event About Stoke
  Book Festival Join us for a week of inspiring author talks\, creative wor
 kshops\, performances and community events\, bringing readers and writers 
 together from across Stoke-on-Trent and beyond. Stoke-on-Trent is a city b
 uilt on creativity\, craftsmanship and community. This October\, we’re b
 ringing those qualities together for the Stoke Book Festival. We break dow
 n barriers to participation\, champion books\, inspire creativity and crea
 te opportunities for residents and visitors to connect with literature\, l
 earning and culture. By bringing together national and local talent\, scho
 ols\, libraries\, businesses and communities\, our goal is to improve enga
 gement with reading and support youth literacy development in Stoke-on-Tre
 nt. To discover more visit: www.StokeBookFestival.co.uk Good to Know Pleas
 e arrive 15–20 minutes before the event Late entry may not be possible o
 nce the event has started Tickets are non-refundable except in the event o
 f cancellation by the Festival Photography may be taken during the festiva
 l Books can be purchased on the day (subject to availability)\n\nBoletos: 
 https://www.fatsoma.com/e/3neogq1s/ben-aitken-sh-tty-breaks-a-celebration-
 of-unsung-cities
URL;VALUE=URI:https://360exp.net/events/f7727216-bd4d-4828-8517-005bbaabe3f
 2
STATUS:CONFIRMED
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