Dover Silent Book Club

11/10/2026

Simply bring yourself, what you're currently reading plus something to sit on.

No toilets at the site so bear that in mind and there are two steps down from the front door.

If anyone needs a lift, please let me know below and let's see if we can get lifts organised.

Let me know below if you're coming along to this fantastic opportunity to enjoy some chilled reading in one of our historic buildings.

02/10/2026

📚SAVE THE DATE - IMPORTANT SBC ANNOUNCEMENT!

Thanks to the lovely Hannah and Vicky from English Heritage, I am SO excited to announce a very special Dover Silent Book Club - and our first venture into some of the fabulous historic places right on our doorstep. 🥰

Dover is absolutely peppered with history, which is one of the things that makes it such an interesting and fabulous place to live. And thanks to Hannah reaching out to see if we could collaborate, we’re going to bring our very own Silent Book Club into one of those very special places.

🗓️ Saturday 17 October
📍 St John’s Commandery, Swingfield
🕝 Meet from 3pm
🤫 Silent reading from 3.30pm

And this isn’t just any old building…

⛪️The surviving chapel dates back to around 1230.
⚔️ It was part of a medieval estate run by the Knights Hospitaller, the military-monastic Order of St John of Jerusalem.
🙏🏻The community at Swingfield was originally established for sisters of the order, who devoted themselves to prayer and nursing the sick.
🏡 After the Dissolution, the chapel was eventually incorporated into a farmhouse - and it remained part of that farmhouse until the 1960s

So what better place for some quiet reading as we head into spooky season? 👻📖

There are no toilets on site, so please bear that in mind and make sure you go before you arrive!

You'll also need to bring something to sit on so bring this folding camping chair.

A little accessibility info: the main nave of the chapel is accessed via two steps down from the front door. There’s a small gravel car park on site which can accommodate around 25 cars with considerate parking, and you’ll need to cross grass and gravel paths to reach the building.

Hannah has told us that we're welcome to explore the grounds and chapel while we're there, including the spiral staircase to the gallery and first-floor chamber, and the crypt beneath the chancel, which is also accessed by stairs. History and reading? Oh I am so excited!

I honestly think this is going to be a really special one, and I’m so incredibly grateful to Hannah and Vicky for helping make it happen. 🥰

Let me know with a like or a comment if you’re up for joining us!

And.. this might not be the last historic location we visit either. 👀

Oh and because every SBC announcement needs a book or two - here’s my current TBR choices!

10/09/2026

Happening this weekend, Saturday in fact, at Bunch & Lunch from 10am. Bring yourselves and whatever you're currently reading 📖

Another date for your diary! 📖 the lovely Bunch & Lunch are providing the venue 😊 drop me a comment below if hoping to come along 👇

07/09/2026

Thanks to everyone for coming along tonight - lovely to see some new faces as well as lots of familiar ones 😊

Next meet up is this Saturday from 10am at Bunch & Lunch . Look forward to seeing those who can make it 📚

Watch this space for more dates 📆

07/09/2026

Couldn't decide which one to bring! 🫣

21/08/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who came along to Connaught Park for our Picnic & Read this afternoon! The weather really played ball - it was actually pretty hot! ☀️ It was also so lovely to see a familiar face from our last picnic, and fantastic to welcome three new people along to see what Dover Silent Book Club is all about.

As always, you bookish lot really are such a lovely bunch, and I hope everyone had a great time. It was also great to (briefly) meet Dottie the dog, who came over to check us all out! 😂

I really hope we’ll see all of our new faces again at another meetup. Don't forget we've got Monday 7th September from 6.30pm at The Red Lion pub and Saturday 12th September from 10am at Bunch & Lunch.

And as for Picnic & Reads - I think they’ve been a brilliant success! Perhaps we’ll manage to squeeze in another outdoor reading session before autumn arrives. What do you think?

Anyway, what’s everyone reading this weekend? I'll start in the comments with my current reads 📖

21/08/2026

🌳📚 PICNIC & READ — TODAY! 📚🌳

Weather dependent, we're still going ahead at Connaught Park this afternoon as planned! 🤞

The weather is looking a little unpredictable (back to normal then!) , so we’ve got a lovely Plan B too - if the heavens open, we can either call it a day there, or anyone who fancies carrying on can head down to The Bean and Barrel, who have kindly offered to host us. 😊

So bring your book, your picnic blanket/camping chair and your weather-appropriate clothing (shorts/rain mac etc! 😂), and let’s see what the afternoon brings! 📖

I'll keep an eye on the weather, and if it changes and looks like it's going to pour down, I'll post here of any location changes.

17/08/2026

And one more...

17/08/2026

Another date for your diary! 📖 the lovely Bunch & Lunch are providing the venue 😊 drop me a comment below if hoping to come along 👇

14/08/2026