Outside London

Bath

Poetry Can Openers
3rd Thur, 8, £3/£1.50. Window Arts Centre, St. James Memorial Hall, Lower Borough Walls, Avon BA1 1QR Contact Richard Carder.
Tel: 01225 313 531

Birkenhead

Wirral Ode Show
3rd Thur, 8.30. Seamus O'Donnells, Charing Cross, Birkenhead. Contact Jason Richardson, 13 Cromer Drive, Wallasey CH45 4RR
Tel: 0151 638-3648
jasonrichards69@hotmail.com 

Bournemouth

Cliff Edge Poetry
Programme Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, East Cliff BH1 3AA
Tel: 01202 451858
info@renaissanceone.com 

Bracknell

South Hill Park Arts Centre
Organises course & events. Ringmead, Birch Hill, Bracknell RG12 7PA
Tel: 01344 484858
01344 484123 (box office)

Bristol

Acoustic Night
Open mic. MC Pete Hunter. Mon 7. "Crofts", Stokes Croft, Bristol Contact Pete.
Tel: 0117 3771677
peteland@madasafish.com
Bristol Can Openers
2nd Thur, 8, £3/£1.50. YHA, Narrow Quay. Contact Lucy Hudson.
Tel: 0117 942 6976 
Phat Lip Floor Show
Monthly, theatre/slam/video. 8, £3.50. MCs Pete Hunter & Tim Gibbard. Landsdown, 8 Clifton Rd. Contact Pete Hunter or Tim Gibbard.
Tel: 0117 3771677
07790 660939 

Cambridge

CB1 Poetry at Michaelhouse
Guest poets plus floor spot 2nd Tues every month £5/£3 8pm at Michaelhouse, Trinity Street, CB2 1SU. Also open mic every 4th Tues £3/£2 8pm at CB1 Café, 32 Mill Road, CB1 2AD Contact Ian Cartland.
Tel: 07985 708422
www.cb1poetry.org.uk

Cardiff

Welsh Academi
Promotes Welsh literature. Site lists events. Mount Stuart House, Mount Stuart Sq, Cardiff CF10 5FQ
Tel: 029 2047 2266
www.academi.org
Friday Nights in Cardiff
Chapter Arts Centre Market Rd, Canton.
Tel: 029 2030 4400
First Thursday Chapter Arts Centre, Readings & open mic, 7.30, £2/£1.50
www.poetrywales.co.uk

Chepstow

Poetry on the Border
Poetry event on the first Saturday of the month (no event in Jan 2010), hosted and introduced by William Ayot £12/£10 7.30pm at the Drill Hall, Chepstow, NP16 5HJ. The poetry reading is done by one poet from Wales and another poet from across the border, England, Scotland or another country.
Info: www.poetryontheborder.org

Colchester

Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate
Tel: 01206 573948

Cockermouth

Cockermouth Poetry
Castlegate, Qtly readings. Details Michael Baron.
Tel: 01900 85289
mikbaron@macunlimited.net

Durham

Colpitts Poetry
various dates, 8, £2.50/£1.50. Allington House, Sadler Street, North Bailey. Contact Mick Standen.
Tel: 0191 386 4058 

Edinburgh

Big Word Performance Poetry
Fortnightly cabaret. MCs Anita Govan and Jem Rolls. 8.30, £4/£3. The Gilded Balloon, 233 Cowgate, EH1 [bottom of Blair St].
Tel 0131 229 3633
jemrolls@bigword.fsnet.co.uk
Out Loud
Open mic. run by the Phoenix Writers Group. 1st Thu, 7.30, £1. The Diggars pub (aka The Athletic Arms) 1-3 Angle Park Terrace, Edinburgh, EH11. Contact Julie Clark.
Tel: 0131 478 6136
words@outloud.org.uk
Shore Poets last Sun, 7.45pm, £3/£2. Mai Thai cafe bar, The Tun, 111 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8
Info: www.marcabru.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

Ellesmere Port

Jim Bennett's Poetry Night
2nd Thur, 7.30pm, free Border Books, Outlet Village. Contact Jim.
Tel: 0151 691 1111 

Exeter

Uncut Poetry Cabaret
Monthly, 8, £5/£3. Phoenix Theatre. Contact Jim Bell.
Tel: 07879 888 319
jamesbell50@hotmail.com

Frome

Bi-monthly with featured poet & open mic. Garden Cafe, Stony St. Contact Ann & Keith Harrison-Broninski.
Tel: 01373 836520
jazz@nunneyjazzcafe.org

Glasgow

The Ramshorn Theatre
98 Ingram St G1 1EX
Tel: 0141 552 3489
ramshorn.theatre@strath.ac.uk 

Grasmere

The Wordsworth Trust
Dove Cottage, Grasmere, Cumbria LA22 9SH
Tel: 01539 435544
www.wordsworth.org.uk 

Greatfield

Pulsar Live Microphone Mon, 8.00, free. Riffs Bar, Greatfield, Nr. Purton, Swindon, Wiltshire. Contact Mike York or David Pike.
Tel: 01793 778304, 01793 875941
david.pike@virgin.net 

Haslingden

Live at the Trades
Guest poets & open mic. 4th Wed, 8pm, £2. Trades Club. Contact Martin Peacock.
Tel: 01254 389250
peacock912@breathemail.net 

Hebden Bridge

Nelson's Wine Bar
Crown St. Poetry & open mic. 8.30, free. Contact Helen. Tel: 01925 752611
Helen@thomas0.fsnet.co.uk

Huddersfield

Poems at the Albert pub
Beside Huddersfield Library, 2nd Thursday of every month. 8pm
Tel: 01484 305179 

Ipswich

Poetry Ipswich
Reading & open mic. Wed, 7.30, £4/£2. Workshop & reading £7.50/£5. Workshop only £5. The Friends Meeting House, 39 Fonnereau Road. (Opposite Arboretum entrance to Christchurch Park).
derina@ukonline.co.uk 

Lancaster

LitFest's Spotlight Club
Guest readers & open mics. 3rd Fri, 8.30pm, £3/£2. Yorkshire House, Parliament St. Contact Ron Baker or Sarah Fiske.
Tel: 01524 381642
sarah.fiske@virgin.net 

Leeds

Abbey House Museum
Abbey Walk, Kirkstall.
Tel: 0113 230 5492
Phoenix Poetry
Guest & open mic. 2nd Tue. Fusion Café in Host Media Centre, 21 Savile Mount LS7 3HZ. Contact Siobhan Macmahon.
Tel: 0113 262 0138
b_mcpartlan@hotmail.com
Shamed Poetry
Open mic. Cafe Moderno, Lower Briggate
Tel: 0113 229 2541 
Wicked Words
Poetry Slam And Kash Prise to Boot! 2nd Tues of month, 8-11, free. Fusion Cafe Bar, Host Media Centre, off Chapeltown Road, 21 Savile Mount Leeds LS73HZ. Contact Siobhan Macmahon or Brendan Ego.
Tel: 0113 262 0138, 017715 115582
chickenpoetryleeds@hotmail.com
Survivors Poetry
3rd Mon, 7.30. Interchange @ Strawberry Fields. MC Johnny Solstice.

Leicester

Poetry Society
Readings & workshops. Fri, 7.45, £3.50/£2.50. Leicester Adult Education College, Wellingston St. Contact Emma Lee.
Tel: 0116 256 7074 (office hours)
e.hooper@bssgroup.com

Liverpool

The Club Surreal
Sun, £4/£3. The Sundaybeat, The Brewery. Contact Gonzo.
Tel: 0151 707 9479
Dead Good Poets Society
Monthly open floor. 1st Wed, at the Everyman Bistro Third Room, Hope St, 8.30pm, 24 slots of 5 mins per person. Monthly Guest Nights 3rd Wed. 8.30pm. 3 in 4 events at above venue, 4th at The Unity Theatre, Hope Place. Contact Sarah Maclennan 96 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4HY
Tel:0151 709 5221
sarah@deadgoodpoetssociety.co.uk
www.deadgoodpoetssociety.co.uk
The Hub Cafe
Poetry & acoustic music. 2nd & 4th Wed, 8-11. Ranleigh St. Contact Kieron Deveney.
Tel: 0151 286 1255
Stamps Cafe Open mic and guests. 1st Mon.
Xplosive Mouth 2nd & 4th Tue, 8. The Picket, Hardman St. Contact Kieron Deveney.
Tel: 07790 925437
xplosivemouth2@activemail.co.uk 

Llanberis

Space
Open mic, poets, musicians, DJs, storytellers. 8-11,Dolbadarn Hotel, High St. Contact Claire Tal-y-Bont.
Tel: 0786 777 2679
clairetalybont@netscape.net 

Manchester

Speakeasy
Open mic & guests. £5/£4. (readers £3) The Green Room, Whitworth St West. Contact Ekua.
Tel: 0161 236 1261 

Middlesbrough

The B[uz]z Poetry
Performances 1st Fri, 8, £3/£2, (students £1). The Cyber Café, 65 Grange Road
The Purple Onion Music & layers, Tue 8. 80 Corporation Road
Tel: 01642 222250

Middlesex

Salisbury House
Guest poet & floor spots. 1st Sat, 7.30, £3/£2 Bury St West, Enfield N9 9LA Contact Jane Elder.
Tel: 020 8360 5470, 020 8360 7779 
Watermans Arts Centre
40 High St Brentford. Wheelchair access.
Tel: 020 8232 1020 (admin)
020 8232 1010 (box office)
info@watermans.org.uk
www.watermans.org.uk 

Newcastle upon Tyne

Basil Bunting Poetry Centre
Morden Tower, Back Stowell St. Contact Connie Pickard. Tel: 0191 477 4430 
Origins
Poetry & music. 2nd Sun Bridge Hotel 

Norwich

TVP
Promote poetry events & publish. Contact Lisa D’Onofrio or Jason Raper.
Tel: 01603 629782, 01603 485679 
Ten Bells Open mic. Last Sun, 8.30. St. Benedict's Street. Contact Andrew McDonnell.
Tel: 01603 762378
quickspace99@hotmail.com

Nottingham

Net Talks
From trAce. 7, room 004, Clifton Campus, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane NG11 8NS
Tel: 0115 948 6360
trace@ntu.ac.uk
www.nottscc.go.uk/arts

Oxford

Back Room Poets
Tel: 018655 14699
www.myspace.com/backroompoets

Portsmouth

Tongues and Grooves
Poetry and Music. Featured poets, musicians & open mic. £1 8pm The last Sunday of every month at The Florence Arms, Florence Road, Southsea. Contact Maggie Sawkins.
Tel: 023 9273 4180
www.tongues-and-grooves.org.uk

Plymouth

The Language Club
Guest readers, support, open mic & mic. Last Sat, 7.30, £3/£2. Plymouth Arts Centre, Looe St, The Barbican Contact Tim Allen.
Tel: 01752 661339, 01752 206114
TAllenTW@aol.com 

Reading

Rising Sun Arts Centre
30 Silver St, Reading RG1 2ST
Tel: 0118 9866788
risingsun@freewire.co.uk

Sheffield

Poetry/Songwriting/Music
2nd Tue, 8.30, free. The Harlequin, Johnson St. Contact Bill Allerton.
Tel: 0114 2684732
Cybermouse@compuserve.com

St Andrews

Performance Poetry Cabaret
First Monday at The Lizard hosted by Milton Balgoni & open mic 8pm in the Lizard Lounge, The Inn, North Street, St Andrews, Scotland. Contact Milton.
Tel: 01334 652353, 07851 044922 

Stockport

Open mic & guests. Last Wed, 8, free. The Blue Cat Café, Shaw Rd, Heaton Moor.

Swansea

Dylan Thomas Centre
National Literature Centre for Wales, Somerset Place, Swansea SA1 1RR
Tel: 01792 463980
www.dylanthomas.com 

Tameside

Central Library, Old St, Ashton-under-Lyne
Tel: 0161 342 2031
information.direct@mail.tameside.gov.uk 

Toddington

Poetry Society
Readings at Shannon Hotel, Guildford Street
Tel: 01582 723500
janes@connect-2.co.uk

Wakefield

Open mic & guests. 1st Wed, 8. Interchange @ The Monkey Cafe Bar, Northgate.

Westcliff on Sea

Speakeasy
Open Mic 2nd Tue, 8pm, £2. Club Riga, 228 London Rd, Westcliff On Sea, Essex SS0 7JG (via the Cricketers pub)
Tel: 01702 393962
buffo@freenetname.co.uk

Wigan

Poetry Action
Wigan & Leigh Libraries, performances at Orwell pub, Wigan Pier, Tues. Contact Gary Boswell.
Tel: 01942 404566 

West Yorkshire

Write Angles
Reliable arts info. Newsletter, also available online. 21 Bond St, Dewsbury WF13 1AX
Tel: 01924 455555
info@yarts.co.uk
www.arts.org.uk
Opening Line
Listings & events.
www.openingline.co.uk

 

London

Ambit 

Ambit hosts regular events with open mic slots at a range of London venues and launches a new issue every three months at The Owl Bookshop, 207 Kentish Town Road, NW5. Join Ambit's Facebook page for up-to-date information or sign up to the mailing list. Contact Kate Pemberton.
Tel: 020 8340 3566
info@ambitmagazine.co.uk
www.ambitmagazine.co.uk 

Apples & Snakes

Major poetry event organiser. Contact George Palmer, Press & Marketing Co-ordinator, Apples & Snakes, The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, SE8
Tel: 0845 521 3460, 020 8465 6147
george@applesandsnakes.org
www.applesandsnakes.org 

Bishopsgate Institute 

Offers concerts, talks & literary events, 230 Bishopsgate, EC2 4QH
www.bishopsgate.org.uk 

British Library 

Offers literary talks & poetry readings, 96 Euston Rd NW1 2DB. The John Ritblat Gallery ontains a permanent display of over 200 of the British Library's greatest treasures. Wheelchair access, wheelchairs available.
Tel: 020 7412 7332
www.bl.uk

Brixtongue 

South London’s premier performance poetry, showcasing young, national & international performers every other month on 2nd Saturday at Brixton Art Gallery, 35 Brixton Station Rd, SW9
Tel: 02077336957
www.brixtonartgallery.co.uk/Brixtongue.html

Calder Bookshop 

Hosts regular readings, talks, book & magazine launches Tues/Thurs 7pm £6/£4 51 The Cut, SE1
Tel: 020 7620 2900

Coffee-House Poetry 

Regular events at The Troubadour, 265 Old Brompton Rd, SW5 (Earls Court tube). Basement, no wheelchair access. Readings on Mondays  8pm–10pm £6.50/£5.50 Contact Anne-Marie Fyfe.
Tel: 02083540660
CoffPoetry@aol.com
www.coffeehousepoetry.org
www.annemariefyfe.com 

CoolTanArts.

Mental wellbeing charity running women only poetry classes. Thursdays 2.25 – 4.25pm. Produce creative writing in a safe and supportive environment. www.cooltanarts.org.uk

Exiled Writers Ink! 

Platform for artists living in exile in the UK, offers literature events, poetry writing workshops, mentoring & translation. Exiled Lit Cafe 1st Monday of month £4/£2 7.30pm at The Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton St, WC2
Tel: 020 8458 1910
www.exiledwriters.co.uk
jennifer@exiledwriters.fsnet.co.uk 

Foyles 

Hosts regular literary events, talks, launches, author signings at The Gallery (3rd Floor) 113-119 Charing Cross Rd, WC2H
Tel: 0207 437 5660
www.foyles.co.uk 

The Lamb 

The Blue Bus poetry readings every 3rd Tues of month upstairs 94 Lamb’s Conduit St, WC1N 3LZ Contact David Miller or Keith Jebb.
Katermurr@btinternet.com
keith.jebb@beds.ac.uk 

Lauderdale House 

Hosts regular poetry events, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill N6 Wheelchair access to performance space, toilet.
Tel: 02083488716
kives@lauderdale.org.uk 

London Review Bookshop 

Hosts talks, readings, debates & discussions £6 7pm
14 Bury Place, WC1A
Tel: 02072699030
books@lrbshop.co.uk,
www.lrbshop.co.uk 

Loose Muse 

Women writers night for women writers of all genres, with two featured writers each month & open mic. Hosted by fellow poet and performer Agnes Meadows. £5/£3 8pm on the second Wednesday of each month at the Poetry Café, 22 Betterton St, WC2 

Museum of London Docklands 

Hosts poetry & other literatrure events No 1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London E14 Wheelchair access
Tel: 020 7001 9844
www.museumindocklands.org.uk 

Pitshanger Poets 

Weekly workshops, readings at Questors Theatre, 12 Mattock Lane, Ealing W5 5BQ. Contact Alan Chambers.
Tel: 02085677234
nala.ques@virgin.net
www.pitshangerpoets.co.uk 

Poets Anonymous 

Meetings 1st Fri 8pm £2/£1 at the Dog & Bull pub, Surrey St, Croydon. Read your own poems or relax & listen to Poets Anonymous.
poets@poetsanon.org.uk
www.poetsanon.org.uk 

Poetry Cafe at the Poetry Society 

Basement, 22 Betterton St, WC2H 9BU
Tel: 020 7420 9880.
Exiled Writers Inc 
Guest performers exiled from their home countries & open mic. Monthly on Mon, 7.30 (doors), 8 (start), £4/£3
Tel: 020 7916 5317
www.exiledwriters.co.uk
Poetry Unplugged
Lively open mic on Tue. MC: Niall O’Sullivan. Sign up 7 for 7.30, £3.50/£2.50
Tel: 020 7240 2133
Loose Muse
Monthly on Wed, hosted by Agnes Meadows 
tall-lighthouse
Last Wed
www.tall-lighthouse.co.uk
Survivors Poetry
Guest readers & open mic. 2nd Thur, 7.30 for 8pm start £2/£1
Fourth Friday
Poetry & music, open mic 8pm
African writers
Evening hosted by Nii Parkes 3rd Fri.
The Cellar
Weekly on Sat £5/£3 8pm
The Shuffle
Last Sat 7.30pm

PoetryFilm 

Organises the UK's only regular screening events for the niche genre of PoetryFilm, showing films about poems, poems turned into films, text-based films & other short experimental work. Contact Malgorzata Kitowski to join the mailing list. Submissions are ongoing.
info@poetryfilm.org

The Poetry School 

Organises courses, workshops & special events such as masterclasses throughout London.81 Lambeth Walk, London SE11
Tel: 0207 582 1679
programme@poetryschool.com
www.poetryschool.com 

Somerset House 

Hosts literary events: poetry & prose readings, & is home to the Royal Society of Literature, Strand, WC2R 1LA
Info: www.somersethouse.org.uk 

Southbank Centre 

Literature & Spoken Word events; home to the Poetry Library Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX unstepped access by lift, braille lift controls
Tel: 020 7921 0971 (info), 020 7960 4242 (box office)
www.southbankcentre.co.uk 

Spread The Word 

Provides services & opportunities for writers of all levels at 77 Lambeth Walk, London SE11 6DX
Tel: 020 7735 3111
info@spreadtheword.org.uk
www.spreadtheword.org.uk 

Stark Gallery 

384-386 Lee High Road, Hither Green SE12 Contact Les/Keith.
Tel: 0208 297 8279
info@talllighthouse.co.uk
www.tall-lighthouse.co.uk 

Steel Grasped Open Poetry Mic 

Guest poets every first Tuesday of each month 7.45pm at The Sir Richard Steeles, Haverstock Hill, London NW3 Contact Steve James.
Tel: 078 3750 6560
stevejames.karmalife@virgin.net 

Sundays at the Oto 

Poetry & music on third Sunday of the month £4 3pm at Café Oto, 18-22 Ashwin Street, Dalston, London E8
Info: peter@greatworks.org.uk
www.cafeoto.co.uk 

Torriano Poets 

Torriano Meeting House, 99 Torriano Ave, Kentish Town NW5 Kentish Town Tube. Regular guest poets. Friendly scene. Sundays at 7.30pm, poets from the floor welcome. £5/£4/£3/£2 according to pocket. Wheelchair access.
Tel: 020 7267 2751
info@hearingeye.org
www.hearingeye.org
www.torriano.org

Troubadour Coffee House  

265 Old Brompton Rd SW5 (Earls Court tube). Basement, no wheelchair access. Fortnightly readings, Mon, 8 £6.50/£5.50 Contact Anne-Marie Fyfe.
Tel: 02083540660
CoffPoetry@aol.com
www.coffeehousepoetry.org
www.annemariefyfe.com

Utter! Camden 

Green Note, 106 Camden Parkway, NW1 2nd Tues of month, 7.30pm, £5. Contact Richard Tyrone Jones.
Tel: 07912539098
http://twitter.com/rtyronejones 

Waterstone's 

82 Gower Street WC1E 6EQ . We are interested in holding poetry-themed events or setting up a creative writing group. If interested, contact Emma.
Tel: 02076361577 ext.201
events@gowerst.waterstones.co.uk 

 

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Aldeburgh Poetry Festival 4-6 Nov Contact The Poetry Trust, 9 New Cut, Halesworth, Suffolk, IP19 8BY. Tel: 01986 835950. www.aldeburgh.co.uk and www.thepoetrytrust.org.

Belfast Festival at Queen’s 14-30 Oct Contact Anthony McGrath, 25 College Gardens, Belfast, BT9 6BS Tel: 028 90971197, 028 90971034. Email: festival.operations@qub.ac.uk, www.belfastfestival.com

Birmingham Book Festival 6-16 Oct 116 The Custurd Factory, Gibb Street, Birmingham, B9 4AA Tel: 0121 246 2774, 0121 303 2323, sara@birminghambookfestival.org, www.birminghambookfestival.org.

Bridport Open Book Festival 19-26 Nov Contact: David Woolley openbook@bridport-arts.com www.bridport-open-book.com

Canterbury Festival 15-29 Oct Festival House, 8 Orange Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2JA, Tel: 01227 452853, Email: info@canterburyfestival.co.uk, www.canterburyfestival.co.uk.

Cheltenham Festival of Literature 7-16 Oct 2011. Contact Judith Ludenbach
, The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival
, Town Hall
, Imperial Square, 
Cheltenham
, Gloucestershire
 GL50 1QA 
Booking: 0844 576 7979, judith.ludenbach@cheltenhamfestivals.com
, www.cheltenhamfestivals.com

Chester Literature Festival 14-30 Oct Contact Kate Sawallisch Tel: 01244 405631 Email: k.sawallisch@chesterfestivals.co.uk www.chesterfestivals.co.uk/ Chester Festivals Ltd, Chester Railway Station, 1st Floor, West Wing Offices, Station Road, Chester, CH1 3NT

Dundee Literary Festival 27-30 Oct 2011 Contact: Anna Day, Dundee Literary Festival, 5th Floor, Tower Building, Perth Road, Dundee, DD1 4HN literarydundee@gmail.com www.literarydundee.co.uk

Durham Book Festival 17-23 Oct 2011. Email: office@newwritingnorth.com. www.durhambookfestival.com

Dylan Thomas Festival, 
The Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea,
late Oct/ early Nov 2011 (Date tbc) Contact The Dylan Thomas Centre
, Somerset Place, 
Swansea
, Wales
 SA1 1RR 
Tel: 01792 463980, www.dylanthomas.com

Eype Autumn Literary Festival 13-21 Oct ‘Book ‘N Author’ theme. Eype Centre for the Arts, Marco Polo House, West Bexington, Dorchester, Dorset. Tel: 01308 898420 www.eypechurcharts.co.uk

Folkestone Book Festival 4-12 Nov Tel: 01303 858500 Contact Jo Olliver, Membership Secretary www.folkestonebookfest.com info@friendsoffolkestonebookfest.co.uk

Guildford Book Festival 13–22 October 2011 Contact Glenis Pycraft (Festival Director), 
C/o Tourist Information Centre, 
14 Tunsgate
, Guildford, 
Surrey 
GU1 3QT
 Tel: 01483 444334
, director@guildfordbookfestival.co.uk
, www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk

Ilkley Literature Festival, 
Ilkley Playhouse, 
1–17 October 2010 Contact Rachel Feldberg, The Manor House, 
2 Castle Hill
, Ilkley
, West Yorkshire
 LS29 9DT 
Tel: 01943 601210 Booking: 01943 816714, admin@ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk
, www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk

Knutsford Litearture Festival 7-20 Oct Knutsford Literature Festival 2011, 76 Glebelands Road, Knutsford, WA16 9DZ festival@knutsfordlitfest.org www.knutsfordlitfest.org

Lancaster Litfest 14-13 Oct 2011 The Storey, Meeting House Lane, Lancaster LA1 1TH Tel: 01524 62166 www.litfest.org

Literary Leicester, mid-Nov (dates tbc), University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE Contact: Pritty Wadhia. Tel: 0116 252 2320 Email: pw108@le.ac.uk www2.le.ac.uk/institution/literary-leicester

Manchester Literature Festival 13–23 October 2011 Contact: Beehive Mill
, Jersey Street
, Manchester 
M4 6JG
 Tel: 0161 236 5555, admin@manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk
, www.manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk

Mere Literary Festival 10-16 Oct Festival Organiser: 01747 860475 www.merelitfest.co.uk

Morley Literature Festival, 
Leeds 
8–16 October 2011 Contact Jill Morris
, c/o Morley Town Hall, 
Morley
, Leeds
 LS27 9DY
 Tel: 0113 2474370
, jill@morleyliteraturefestival.co.uk, www.morleyliteraturefestival.co.uk

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DECEMBER

 

Angels and Devils Poetry Competition

For poems up to 30 lines on the subject of family relationships. Can be in English or Dutch. Prize is £100 plus publication in online magazine. Administered by Holland Park Press, judged by Donald Gardner. Free entry. Further details at www.hollandparkpress.co.uk.

Closing date: 31 December 2011

 

The Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize

Judged by Matthew Sweeney. Prize-giving will take place at Ballymaloe House in Co. Cork in spring 2012. Winners will be invited to read their poems. Prizes of €2,000, €1,000, €500, plus travel to Ballymaloe in Co. Cork, Ireland for prize-giving. Entry €6. For full details go to www.themothmagazine.com. 

Closing date: 31 December 2011

 

 

JANUARY

 

Strokestown International Poetry Prize

Prizes of  €4,000, €2000 and €1000 for an unpublished poem in English not exceeding 70 lines. In addition the ten short-listed poets are invited to read a selection of their work at the festival. Entry fee €5 (postal) or €6 (online). Other prizes available include the Percy French Prize for humorous verse and the Colmcille Prize for poems in Irish or Scots Gaelic. Full details at www.strokestownpoetry.org.

Closing date: 20 January 2012

 

Inspired by Tagore International Writing Competition

Two categories: one for writers aged between 8 and 15, one for writers aged 16 and over. Entries must be in English and can be poetry, short stories or reportage. Writers can submit up to 6 pieces of work, maximum length 400 words, using Tagore's poetry and writing as a starting point. The winning entries will be published in a book that will be launched in 2012. Best entry in 8 to 15 category will receive £200 and best entry in 16 and over category will receive £300. Full details at www.sampad.org.uk

Sampad, c/o mac, Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston,  Birmingham B12 9QH, UK

Closing date: 31 January 2012

 

FEBRUARY 

Lumen/Camden Poetry Competition.

Judged by Carol Ann Duffy. Prizes include publication of short collection for one winner, 50 free copies, launch event and promotion. Poems up to 40 lines. Proceeds go to two London Homeless Cold Weather Shelters.  Entry fee: £2.50 per poem, 6 for £10. Details on www.wardwoodpublishing.co.uk competition page.

Closing date: 14 February 2012.

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