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.org

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 

Reading on 2nd Tues of month at The Bath House Pub, 96 Dean St, W1D; launching Ambit every 3 months at The Owl Bookshop, 207 Kentish Town Rd, NW5 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 

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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Ashbourne Festival

18 June–4 July 2010, features creative writing workshops, poetry, Peak District Writers' Forum. Contact Ashbourne Arts Ltd, St John’s Community Hall, King Street, Ashbourne DE6 1EA
Tel: 01335 348707
info@ashbournefestival.org
http://ashbournefestival.org

Borders Book Festival

17–20 June, a literary festival on the Scottish Borders. Contact Borders Book Festival
, Harmony House, St Mary's Road
, Melrose TD6 9LJ
Tel: 07929 435575
info@bordersbookfestival.org
www.bordersbookfestival.org

Bridlington Poetry Festival

Sewerby Hall, 11–13 June, a new poetry festival in Bridlington organised by the Beverley Lit. Fest. taking place in the Georgian House of Sewerby Hall for a weekend of readings, workshops, discussions and performances. The programme is launched at the end of March. Contact John Clarke, Wordquake, Council Offices, Skirlaugh, East Riding of Yorkshire HU11 5HN
Tel: 01482 392745
john@bevlit.org
www.beverley-literature-festival.org

Brighton Festival

1–23 May, general art festival with literary content including poetry. Contact Festival Administration Office, 12a Pavilion Buildings, Castle Square, Brighton BN1 1EE
Tel: 01273 709709
info@brightonfestival.org
www.brightonfestival.org

Bury St. Edmunds Festival

14–30 May, general art festival with literary content including poetry.Contact Borough Offices, Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 1XB
Tel: 01284 757062
info@buryfestival.co.uk
www2.buryfreepress.co.uk/festival/index.asp

Cambridgewordfest

9–11 April, literary festival including poetry. Contact Festival Office, 
7 Downing Place, Cambridge, CB3 2EL

Tel: 01223 515335

admin@cambridgewordfest.co.uk
www.cambridgewordfest.co.uk

Daphne du Maurier Festival of Arts and Literature

Fowey, Cornwall, 13–22 May, Contact Cornish Riviera Box Office, St Austell TIC
, Southbourne Road
, St Austell
, Cornwall, PL25 4RS
Tel: 0845 094 0428
01726 879 500
www.dumaurierfestival.co.uk

Dartington Hall Festival

9–18 July, a festival of words and ideas in South Devon, Contact Ways With Words, Droridge Farm, Dartington, Totnes, Devon TQ9 6JG
Tel: 01803 867373
www.wayswithwords.co.uk

The Dorothy Wordsworth 
Festival of Women's Poetry

16–18 April, presented by The Wordsworth Trust 

in association with Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate. Readings, workshops, talks and discussions featuring some of the finest women poets, chosen and introduced by Carol Ann Duffy. 

Full programme available from February. Contact The Wordsworth Trust, Dove Cottage, The Wordsworth Museum & Art Gallery, Grasmere LA22 9SH
Tel: 015394 35544
www.wordsworth.org.uk

Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival

21–29 May, Contact Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival, Gracefield Arts Centre, 28 Edinburgh Road, Dumfries DG1 1JQ
Tel: 01387 260447
info@dgartsfestival.org.uk
www.dgartsfestival.org.uk

Essex Book Festival

March 2010, Contact Essex Country Council Library Headquarters, Goldlay Gardens, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 0EW
Tel: 01245 244953,
Booking: 01206 573948
www.essexbookfestival.org.uk

Grassington Festival

11 June–26 June, Contact The Festival Office, Grassington, BD23 5AA
Tel: 01756 752691
info@grassington-festival.org.uk
www.grassington-festival.org.uk

The Guardian Hay Festival

27 May–6 June, Contact Festival Office, The Drill Hall, 25 Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye HR3 5AD
Tel: 01497 822 620
admin@hayfestival.co.uk
Booking: 01497 822 629

boxoffice@hayfestival.com
www.hayfestival.com

Lincoln Book Festival

12–16 May, Contact City of Lincoln Council, Department of Development and Environmental Services, City Hall, Beaumont Fee, Lincoln LN1 1DF
Tel: 01522 873844
Sara.Bullimore@lincoln.gov.uk
www.lincolnbookfestival.co.uk

London Word Festival

7 March–1 April, a pioneering, annual celebration of words, text and language; daring in its approach to cross-artform programming, commissioning new work and exploring non-traditional spaces. Contact London Word Festival
, 3 Cleeve Workshops
, Boundary Street, London E2 7JD
Booking: www.wegottickets.com/f/1423
Info: info@londonwordfestival.com
www.londonwordfestival.com
www.twitter.com/ldnwordfestival

Poetry-next-the-sea Festival

May tbc, Contact Festival Office, Whitestones, The Buttlands, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk NR23 1EZ
Tel: 01328 711813
enquiries@poetrynextthesea.com
www.poetry-next-the-sea.com

Scarborough Literature Festival

15–18 April, Contact Scarborough Library and Information Centre, Vernon Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire. YO11 2NN
Tel: 08450349516
www.scarboroughliteraturefestival.co.uk

StAnza: Scotland’s Poetry Festival

St Andrews, 17–21 March, Box Office: 
The Byre Theatre,
Abbey Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9LA, Scotland

Tel: 01334 475000
Info: info@stanzapoetry.org
admin@stanzapoetry.org
www.stanzapoetry.org

The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival

Christ Church, 20 March–28 March, Contact Alex Simmons
, Operations Manager, 
Christ Church, 
Oxford
 OX1 1DP
Tel: 
01865 276152
Booking: 0870 343 1001
info@oxfordliteraryfestival.com
www.oxfordliteraryfestival.com

Swindon Festival of Literature

3–15 May, Contact Matt Holland, Lower Shaw Farm, Shaw, Swindon, Wiltshire SN5 5PJ
Tel: 01793 771080
matt@lowershawfarm.co.uk
litfest@lowershawfarm.co.uk
www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk

Word – University of Aberdeen Writers Festival

14–16 May, Contact Fiona Reid, University of Aberdeen, Office of External Affairs, University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen AB24 3FX
Tel: 01224 273874
www.abdn.ac.uk/word

 

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March

The Michael Marks Awards for Poetry Pamphlets
Now in its second year, the Michael Marks Awards for Poetry Pamphlets, run by the Poetry Book Society and the British Library, will be accepting submissions from 1st February 2010.
There are two awards worth £5,000; the Poetry Award recognises an outstanding work of poetry published in pamphlet form in 2009, and the Publishers’ Award is for a publisher to reward their endeavours in promoting poetry pamphlets in 2009.The judges this year are Ali Smith (Chair), Richard Price and Jo Shapcott.
For further information including submission guidelines and forms please email or visit the Poetry Bookshop Online website
pamplets@poetrybooks.co.uk
www.poetrybookshoponline.com/pamphlets.php
Closing date: 12 March 2010

David Burland Poetry Prize 2010
For poems in French or English of up to 40 lines. The entries will be judged by award-winning Poet, Michel François. First prize £150. Entry fee £5 for the first poem, £3 for additional poems. Contact Anna Burland Services Limited, 2nd Floor, 3 Brindley Place, Birmingham B1 2JB Further information:
enquiries@davidburlandpoetryprize.com

www.davidburlandpoetryprize.com
Closing date: 31 March 2010

April

Buxton Poetry Competition 2010
Theme: 'A Breath of Fresh Air'. Judges are Ann and Peter Sansom. The competition has three categories: Open: for poets 19 years and over, £5 to enter, prizes £300, £200 and £100; Young People's: for poets aged 12 to 18, free to enter, prizes are Waterstone's book tokens; Children's: for poets aged 11 and under, free to enter, prizes are Waterstone's book tokens. Contact Claire Rhodes, Buxton Festival 3 The Square, Buxton, SK17 6AZ
Tel: 01298 70395
claire@buxtonfestival.co.uk
www.derby.ac.uk/buxtonpoetrycompetition
Closing date 1 April 2010

Callum Macdonald Memorial Award 2010
For publishers of Scottish origin, living in Scotland or engaged with Scottish culture may submit up to three pamphlets. For further details, visit the website listed below. Contact The Administrator, Communications Devision, The Callum Macdonald Memorial Award, National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh EH1 1EW
Tel: 0131 623 3810/3808
marketing@nls.uk
www.scottish-pamphlet-poetry.com
Closing date: 2 April 2010

Rhyme & Reason Poetry Competition 2010
For poems on the theme 'Anniversary' of up to 30 lines. Judge Gerard Benson. Poems only accepted electronically. Address below is for entry forms and fees. Entry fee £5 per poem. Contact Rhyme & Reason Poetry Competition 2010, 4 Gomms Wood House, Cherry Drive, Forty Green, Beaconsfield, Bucks, HP9 1XW Send poems to
anniepoet007@aol.com
Closing date: 6 April 10

Ware Poets Open Poetry Competition 2010
For poems up to 50 lines. Sole adjudicator is Robert Seatter. First prize £500; second prize £200; third prize £100. Redpage Sonnet Prize £100. Entry fee £3 per poem, £10 for 4 poems, £2.50 for subsequent poems in the same submission. For further details, send SAE to The Competition Secretary, Clothall End House,
 California, Baldock, Herts. SG7 6NU
Closing date: 30 April 2010

MAG Poetry Prize 2010
Raising funds for Mines Advisory Group, the prize fund accumulates at £2 per entry up to £10,000. Judged by entrants. For poems of up to 42 lines. Entry fee £6 per poem.
Info: www.poeticrepublic.com
Closing date: 30 April 2010

Southport Writers' Circle International Poetry Competition 2010
For poems of up to 40 lines. Adjudicator is Alison Chisholm. First prize £200. Humour prize and local prize also awarded. Local entrants (Liverpool and Preston postcodes) should mark poems with an 'L' in the top right corner. Entry fee £3 per poem. Envolopes should be marked 'Poetry Competition'. Contact Southport Writers' Circle, 18 Ditchfield, Formby, Merseyside L37 4EQ
Closing date: 30 April 2010

Ver Poets Open Poetry Competition 2010
For poems of up to 30 lines. Adjudicator is Anne Berkeley. First prize £500, second prize £300, third prize £100. Young Writers Prize £100. Entry fee £3 per poem, 4 poems for £10, £2 per poem thereafter. Contact Competitions Secretary, 181 Sandridge Road, St Albans, Herts AL1 4AH Info:
www.verpoets.org.uk
Closing date: 30 April 2010

May

Partners Annual Open Poetry Competition

First prize £250, second prize £50, third prize a year's subscription to Aspire poetry magazine. All prize winners guaranteed publication by Partners. 
Entry fee £2.50 per poem. Please make cheques payable to I. Deal. Contact Partners, 289 Elmwood Avenue, Feltham, Middlesex TW13 7QB
partners_writing_group@hotmail.com
Closing date: 1 May 2010

Templar Poetry Pamphlet & Collection Prizes 2010
Short Collections of poetry of 18-24 pages are invited. Four submissions published as pamphlets, each author wins £500 and an invitation to read at the 2010 Derwent Poetry Festival in Derbyshire. Best individual poems from the shortlist published in the annual anthology, and anthology poets are also offered festival reading opportunities. All poets submitting receive a complimentary anthology. Judge is Pat Winslow. 
Entry fee £18 for postal submissions and £20 for online submissions. Send submissions & requests for Submission Guidelines with SAE to Templar Poetry Pamphlet Prizes 2010, PO Box 7082, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 9AF
Tel: 01629 582500
info@templarpoetry.co.uk

www.templarpoetry.co.uk
Closing date: 8 May 2010

Northampton Literature Group Open Poetry Competition 2010
For poems of up to 40 lines. Judge is Dr Christopher Ringrose. There are two categories: Rhyming Poems and Free Verse each with prizes of £150/£50/£25 with three prizes of £10 each for highly commended poems. 
Entry fee £3 per poem or 4 for £10, or £3.50 and £10.60 if paid on-line. Make cheques payable to N.L.G. Contact Pat Archer tricia.archer@tiscali.co.uk, 7 Cattle Hill, Great Billing NN3 9DU
Closing date: 15 May 2010

The Times Stephen Spender Prize for Poetry Translation 2010
Translate a poem from any language, classical or modern, into English. Three categories: open, 18 and under, and 14 and under. Entry fee £3 per entry (entrants under 18 are exempt). Cash prizes plus all winning entries published in a booklet. Selected winning entries published in The Times. Contact
info@stephenspender.org
www.stephen-spender.org
Closing date: 28 May 2010

Welsh Poetry Competition 2010
For poems of up to 50 lines. Judge is John Evans. First prize £300, second prize £150, third prize £75. Entry fee £3 per poem. Contact The Welsh Poetry Competition, 9 The Avenue, Pontypridd, CF37 4DF Info:
www.welshpoetry.co.uk
Closing date: 30 May 2010

Frogmore Poetry Prize 2010
For poems of up to 40 lines. The winner will win two hundred guineas and a two-year subscription to The Frogmore Papers. Adjudicator is Stewart Conn. Entry fee £3 per poem. Make cheques payable to The Frogmore Press. Contact The Frogmore Press, 21 Mildmay Road, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1PJ
Closing date: 31 May 2010

Poetry London Competition 2010
Prizes £1000, £500, £200 and four commendations of £75 each. Judge is Michael Longley. Winning poems published in Poetry London, and poets will be invited to read at the magazine launch. Entry fee £5 per poem (subscribers' rate £3 per poem). For entry form and further info, send a SAE to Poetry London, 81 Lambeth Walk, London SE11 6DX or visit
www.poetrylondon.co.uk/competition
Closing date: 31 May 2010

June

Marple Poetry Competition 2010
For poems of up to 40 lines. Two poetry categories: formal and humorous. Separate prizes in each. Total prize fund of £350 with book tokens for those shortlisted. 
Entry fee £3 per entry or three entries for £7. Contact Marple Writing Competition, PO Box 143, Marple (L.D.O.), Stockport SK6 9AD Entry forms can be downloaded from
www.marplewriting.org.uk
Closing date: 2 June 2010

12th Manchester Cathedral Interfaith Religious Poetry Competition 2010
For poems that are broadly religious or spiritual in nature. Religious includes poems that are Christian, as well as those from within other faith traditions. Those struggling to discover their own sense of the sacred. Judge is Vona Groarke. First prize £400. Entry fee £4 for the first poem, £2.50 each thereafter. Contact The Religious Poetry Competition, Manchester Cathedral, Victoria Street, Manchester M3 1SX,
albert.radcliffe@dsl.pipex.com
Closing date: 30 June 2010

Writing the World
Cool it Schools, a global online climate change and environmental showcase, has just launched Writing the World, a new competition for young people. The theme celebrates the International Year of Biodiversity. The winning poems will be published on the Natural History Museum's web site and in the junior member's magazine Second Nature, also beautiful books on biodiversity will be presented by Dorling Kindersley and Silver Jungle. Cool it Schools is an education partner with the Natural History Museum. Enter an illustrated poem of up to 14 lines on the theme of changing environment. Age categories are 5-10,11-14,15-18. The judge is the poet Sue Hubbard. 
Entry fee £2 per poem. Further info:
www.coolitschools.com/writing-the-world
Closing date: 23 July 2010

 

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