Where the world's greatest writers tell new tales & reveal their own stories…

Welcome! We are no longer staging events live and online. The Salon Podcast is still live as a sort of archive, so please enjoy it.

Damian Barr’s Literary Salon started at Shoreditch House in 2008. Since then, we’ve popped up all around the world from Sydney to São Paulo, from Motherwell to Moscow, with iconic partners including British Airways, the British Council and the Women’s Prize. We’ve appeared on stages large and small and, once, memorably, in a field.

In August 2023, after fifteen amazing years and over a hundred fabulous events with hundreds of incredible writers and a pioneering podcast and a spin-off TV show, we feel it’s the right time to say: The End.

Thank you for all your support and for loving books and stories and the people who make them. You’ve always been there listening and thinking. You are the very best readers. And some of you aren’t bad at writing either.

For me, Damian, hosting Salon has been the purest joy. It’s made me laugh and cry and often a messy combination of both. It has enriched my reading immeasurably and given me a writing life I could never have imagined. But my own books stubbornly refuse to write themselves. I’ve got a play on the way and a novel to finish then a memoir to start - I’m delighted to be joining Canongate! At this point in my life, I need to do what every single of one our guest writers has done and make time for my own writing. I hope you get the time you need and deserve for your own creativity, whatever form it takes.

Happy reading!

Damian Barr's Literary Salon…

..is where the world’s best writers share new books and reveal their own personal stories. Writers and readers meet at our special live events in-person and online. And our podcast brings you the most honest interviews, must-listen readings and brand-new books…

Discover all things Salon

  • Tickets & Events

    Upcoming Salon Events

    Find out what we’re up to before anybody else. Get tickets & full event info.

  • Listen To Our Podcast

    Listen To Our Podcasts

    Listen to our latest Book of the Week. Enjoy the latest Salon. Or dive into our Back List.

  • We Love Indies!

    Find our latest favourite from around the world. Meet the owners & go behind the shelves at an Insta Live!

  • Be the first to know

    Get the latest Salon news, event invitations, world premieres & win prizes!

  • "I've been on stage and in the audience and The Salon does something very special."

    Sathnam Sanghera

  • "Damian Barr’s salons have become a brilliant and bold fixture of the literary world, and have done so much to connect books, writers and readers in a relaxed, inclusive and hugely entertaining setting."

    Alex Clark

  • "Absolutely stunning reading from Shy, Max Porter’s latest, on Damian Barr’s Literary Salon podcast - just listened open mouthed. Can’t wait to read!"

    From one of our Twitter friends

  • "We love what Damian and his team deliver for writers and readers in their multi-platform, genre-busting, stardust-spangled Literary Salon, and are delighted to partner with them to amplify their work."

    Peggy Hughes, Executive Director at National Centre for Writing

  • "The best literary salon in the world."

    Patrick Gale

  • "The most enjoyable online event I’ve been to in yonks!"

    Salonista

  • "Salon is renowned for amplifying writers and their work, and we couldn’t be happier to collaborate with such a wonderful multi-platform venture that places an enthusiasm about sharing stories at its core."

    Madeleine Knowles, Editor of NB Magazine

  • "LOVE this, you guys are so much fun!"

    Typewronger Books

  • "There are few other spaces - online or off - where literature and genuine belly laughs meet with such glee, and such success."

    Alexandra Heminsley

  • "Damian Barr’s Literary Salon has become a must for anyone seeking to break a book and discover writers both old and new."

    Sam Baker

Listen to our latest Book of the Week. Enjoy the latest Salon. Or dive into our Backlist.

From the freshest voices to the biggest bestsellers, our podcast is where the world’s most exciting writers read for the first time from their latest greatest books and share their own personal stories. We’re often first in the world to give a glimpse of the book you’ve been waiting for. We’ve launched hundreds of books including Hamnet, Shuggie Bain and the last two Tales of the City novels!

Listen here or find us on your favourite podcast platform - choose from over 250 episodes!

Podcast

Every week, we delight you with a different book including a special reading.

Book of the Week is often a world premiere! Recent firsts include Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah, Old God’s Time by Sebastian Barry and Shy by Max Porter—the only place where you can hear him read from it!

Sorry (not sorry) for your teetering TBR.

Book Of The Week

Indie Bookshops

Every month we go behind the shelves at a different independent bookshop - we meet the owners, customers and pets. Bookshop dogs and cats are the best! If you’d like us to feature your local bookshop get in touch.

Our Bookshop

Support Salon by getting your books from our shop on bookshop.org

Our shelves are heaving with hundreds of books hand-chosen by the writers featured at our Salons and on our podcast. We’ve got specially curated lists from Kate Mosse, Michael Rosen and many others. Bookshop.org is on a mission to support indies. Every time you buy a book from them, you contribute to a fund evenly shared among participating shops – including Salon!

Discover our events, in-person, online
& on-demand.

Follow us on Instagram @damianbarrliterarysalon