Margate Bookshop Event

14th May 2026

Fort Road Hotel Bar

Ben Aitken discusses his latest book Sh*tty Breaks, a travel guide and a tribute to the UK's most underrated cities at Fort Road Hotel Bar in Margate

7pm - 9pm

After trading in a chic Paris trip for a wonder-filled weekend in Wolverhampton, travel writer Ben Aitken decided to visit more of the UK and Ireland's unsung cities, the places that tourist boards tend to ignore. His aim, apart from having a nice time discovering hidden joys and gems, was to promote a less expensive, more sustainable type of travel.

Celebrating the joys of skiing in Sunderland, kissing alpacas in Bradford and feeling a bit sick in Limerick, Aitken's book Sh*tty Breaks is a wry and warm-hearted hymn to the route less taken, showing that anywhere can be enjoyable if given half the chance.

Ben Aitken is the author of five books: Dear Bill Bryson, A Chip Shop in Poznan, The Gran Tour and The Marmalade Diaries. He'll be discussing the fifth one - that is, Sh*tty Breaks - in conversation with local artist, activist and appreciator of the unappreciated, Dan Thompson.

The wonderful Fort Road Hotel host the meet-ups in their basement bar with a delicious selection of drinks and snacks.

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