Bailey's Book Bar at Waterstones

Here’s a pop-up you can sit down at - the Bailey’s Prize Book Bar. And it’s right in the heart of London at Tottenham Court Road’s recently opened Waterstones.

Set up to celebrate the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist, the book bar is one of the first of its kind. By day, book lovers are promised a relaxing spot for a chapter or two and a coffee. By night, there’s a series of events with bestselling authors including former winners of the prize Ali Smith (How to be Both) and Eimear McBride (A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing), and perennial favourite Kate Mosse (Labyrinth).

The event celebrates the crème de la crème of contemporary women’s fiction. But rejoice, there’s some Irish cream on the menu, too, and a free Bailey’s cocktail for anyone who buys one of the shortlisted books which include: Anne Enright evoking Ireland in The Green Road and the harrowing Man Booker Prize-shortlisted A Little Life, by Hanya Yanagihara.

The Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction was formerly the Orange Prize for Fiction and is generally thought to be one of the UK’s most prestigious literary prizes. It was originally founded as a reaction against the 1991 Booker Prize shortlist, which didn’t include a single female author. Times are changing, but the Bailey’s prize is as important as ever for celebrating great fiction.

Top of our list is the Monday event where, alongside Kate Mosse at 6:30pm, Ali Smith will be reading from the excellent How to be Both and talking about her creative process (16^th May). Of course, a Bailey’s cocktail is included in the ticket price. After a couple of those, you’ll be propping up the pop-up.