The borough’s first ‘literary salon’ will be held in Twickenham next week as part of Richmond’s annual literature festival.

An empty shop unit in Heath Road will be transformed into an exhibition space for three weeks, hosting events and workshops for aspiring writers in the borough.

The salon opens on Sunday, November 13, with a mini-beast factory art and poetry workshop for children and an adults’ poetry master class, both with award-winning poet, Ross Sutherland.

Visitors will also be invited to an exhibition of photography and short films created by a group of young people from the local travelling community.

The project has been made possible due to funding from the Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund.

Richmond Council cabinet member for communities, business and culture, Councillor Pamela Fleming, said: “We are committed to using the Mayor’s funding to revitalise our high street, and this is just one step of a number of improvements. Over the next three weeks we will be bringing an empty shop unit to life. There will be opportunities for keen writers, children and families and co-ordinated school workshops.”

The literary salon will be situated at 164 Heath Road, which was the former Nova Glass premises.

For further information visit richmondliterature.com or by call the box office on 020 8831 6494.