Book-lovers will be invited to rub shoulders with their favourite writers when Foyles opens the doors of its new flagship store next month.
Hilary Mantel will cut the ribbon for the official opening on June 13, but each department will have its own launch attended by a specialist writer.
Simon Armitage will unveil poetry, Mary Beard the history and politics section, Michael Palin travel and Yotam Ottolenghi the cookery titles.
Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman will open the children’s and young adult department, Jarvis Cocker the music, PD James crime fiction and Mark Kermode film and theatre.
For art, the store has turned to Grayson Perry, while Sarah Waters will honour fiction; neurosurgeon Henry Marsh the medical department and Twitter co-founder Biz Stone will launch the business section. Many have promised to choose their top 10 favourite books as part of the Foyles Grand Opening Festival, which marks the store’s move into the former home of Central Saint Martins art college, further along Charing Cross Road.
Events — some free, some ticketed — will include Jarvis Cocker talking about his lyrics and offering hints for aspiring songsmiths, and a storytelling tea party hosted by Malorie Blackman.
Authors Anthony Horowitz, Meg Rosoff, Lauren Child, Val McDermid and Stella Rimington will also make guest appearances.
Sebastian Faulks will discuss his First World War novel Birdsong, William Dalrymple will speak on Afghanistan and David Peace will discuss GB84, his novel about the miners’ strike, in a live satellite link from Japan.
There will also be concerts in the new auditorium, alongside events including a discussion of JS Bach by conductor John Eliot Gardiner. Sion Hamilton, retail operations director, said: “We’re delighted to be joined by some of the most loved writers of our time to recommend new avenues of reading enjoyment for our customers.”
