Shop queen Mary Portas opens window in her life and work when she returns to Scarborough's Books by the Beach
Scarborough is anticipating a show-stopping Saturday when ‘Queen of shops’ Mary Portas appears at Scarborough’s literature festival Books by the Beach later this year.
The event is based at Queen Street Methodist Central Hall and runs from Friday June 5 to Sunday June 7
The businesswoman, broadcaster, author and activist will be in conversation with the festival patron and former Head of BBC Radio, Helen Boaden at Queen Street on the Saturday at 8pm.
Portas has previously published four books: Windows: The Art of Retail Display, Shop Girl, Work Like a Woman and Rebuild.
At age 32, Mary became a board member at Harvey Nichols before founding a retail consultancy. Mary has since worked with some of the biggest names in global retail.
Her BBC series, Mary, Queen of Shops premiered in 2007 and she has presented on television and radio ever since. In 2009, she partnered with Save the Children to reinvent charity shops. She also conducted a review of the future for high streets for the British government.
In 2024, she was awarded an OBE for her services to business, broadcasting and charity.
Mary will be discussing her fifth book, I Shop, Therefore I Am: The '90s, Harvey Nicks and Me at the festival. The memoir is centred around her 1990s career in retail when fashion was ripe for reinvention.
Leading the charge was 20-something Mary, who was brought in to revitalise the fusty department store Harvey Nichols into the fabulous Harvey Nicks.
She will take the festival audience behind her headline-grabbing window displays, which stopped the London traffic,to share how she created a global brand destination.
The festival audience will also get an insight into how her personal life changed alongside her career.
There’s sensitivity in the memoir, too, as Mary comes to terms with the death of her mother and the problems which result from her loss. Mary will be signing copies of her books at the event.
Festival organiser Heather French said: “Mary originally appeared at Books by the Beach in 2015, when we had a sellout.
“We’re thrilled she agreed to return and we’re hoping for a huge crowd. Mary is warm, funny and entertaining. And most importantly she’s taking the time out of her busy diary to share her witty and honest memoir with Scarborough audiences.
“I read her book in one sitting and didn’t want it to end. We’re very honoured to have her here and we’re really looking forward to welcoming her back to Scarborough.”
Also booked in for the event are:
Broadcaster Tom Bradby, Friday June 5; Celebrity Traitor and suburban noir author Harriet Tyce, Saturday June 6; historian Mary Beard, Sunday June 7; best-selling author Alexander McCall Sith, Sunday June 7 and festival favourite Alan Johnson.
Tickets for Mary’s appearance and all other festival tickets are available in-person at Scarborough YMCA Theatre box office or online at booksbythebeach.co.uk