LAVENHAM LITERARY FESTIVAL DINNER
with Andrew Lownie
Friday 13th November 2026
£95 per person
We are delighted to invite you to spend an extraordinary, entertaining and thought-provoking evening with Andrew Lownie, author of the most discussed royal biography in three decades. Accompanied by a three course dinner in The Swan at Lavenham's historic Gallery restaurant. The evening will begin at 6pm with an opportunity to take photograph's with Andrew, followed by a drinks reception, three-course dinner and book signing before concluding at 10pm.
An experienced and thoroughly entertaining speaker, Dr Lownie's early career began by reading history at Magdalene College in Cambridge, where he was President of the Union, before going on to gain an MSc and doctorate at Edinburgh University.
In addition to his latest international bestseller, Entitled: The Rise and fall of the House of York, Andrew is a distinguished historian and biographer whose books include his Sunday Times bestseller, The Mountbattens: Their Lives and Loves, Traitor King: The Scandalous Exile of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and Stalin’s Englishman: The Lives of Guy Burgess.
Throughout the evening, Andrew will talk more on the theme of adventures of a biographer and discuss the challenges of biography in this modern ‘post-truth’ world.
Order of the evening
6pm | Opportunity to meet and take photo's with Andrew Lownie
6:45pm | Drinks reception in the lounge
7:15pm | Guests to take their seats in The Gallery restaurant (tables will be mixed with other guests) before the first session will commence and your three-course dinner is served.
9:30pm | A further talk from Andrew followed by book signing opportunity
10pm | Evening concludes
Tickets will be available to purchase online on Monday 14th September.
For enquiries, please email [email protected]
Menu
Starters
Gin Cured Salmon
Pickled cucumber, chive emulsion, rye crumb, puffed capers
Pork Belly with Poached Apple
Apple crisp, apple gel, balsamic glaze
Confit Mushroom Ve
Mushroom bon bon, Porcini mushroom ketchup, crispy shallot
Mains
Chicken Supreme
Dauphinoise potatoes, leek emulsion, kale, morel jus, crispy leek
Roasted Trout
Potato press, lobster bisque, cavalo nero, trout roe
Vegan Wellington
Baby leek, carrot and vegan gravy
Desserts
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Toffee sauce, vanilla ice cream
Passion fruit Cheesecake
Blood orange sorbet
Red Wine Poached Pear
Maple syrup, candied nuts
Please advise if you have any allergies or dietary requirements that we need to be aware of.
Andrew's dual biography on former Prince Andrew and the now plain Sarah Ferguson, Entitled: The Rise & Fall of the House of York, will also form the central theme of his headline session on Saturday 14th November of the Lavenham Literary Festival.
For further details of the full weekend programme, please visit the festival website: www.lavenhamliteraryfestival.co.uk
‘I thoroughly enjoy the always-entertaining and convivial Lavenham Literary Festival and their lively and astute audiences with their fascinating questions.’ – Andrew Lownie
Stay the night
If you'd like to make a night of it and stay with us, we advise booking early to avoid disappointment. You can take a look at our bedrooms via the button below.
