Events

Poetry Diary

This is where you can find out about poetry events in the UK listed by date.

July

Thurs 1

Oxfam Bloomsbury Bookshop featuring Ali Smith & Jackie Kay Free but suggested donation of £5 to cover the cost of refreshments 7pm at Oxfam Bloomsbury Bookshop, 12 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B. Reservation is essential.
Tel: 0207 637 4610
oxfambloomsbury@hotmail.co.uk
http://oxfambloomsburybooks.wordpress.com

Sat 3

Illustrated readings by Pascale Petit & Jane Weir 10.30am–12noon at the Ledbury Festival. Pascale Petit also gives one-to-one surgeries 2–4pm and lead a workshop on writing poetry from art on Sunday morning 4 July.
Booking: 0845 458 1743
admin@poetry-festival.com
www.poetry-festival.com

Sun 4

Keats House Summer Holiday seasonal summer poems by John Keats, readings from the letters and poems he wrote on his travels. Free with an admission ticket to the house (valid for one year) 3pm–4pm at Keats House , Keats Grove,   London NW3
Tel: 020 7332 3868
keatshouse@cityoflondon.gov.uk
www.keatshouse.cityoflondon.gov.uk

Mon 5

Coffee-House Poetry at the Troubadour Heartbreak hotel, a themed poetry party with invited guest poets, music, prize quiz. £7/£6 8pm at The Troubadour, 263-267 Old Brompton Rd, London SW5 For further information contact Anne-Marie Fyfe at Coffee-House Poetry, PO Box 16210, London W4 1ZP
Tel: 020 8354 0660
CoffPoetry@aol.com
www.coffeehousepoetry.org
www.annemariefyfe.com

Mon 5

Exiled Lit Cafe Post Exile: Launch of Sixology with Ali Abdolrezaei, Abol Froushan & friends, plus music £4/£2 (members) 7.30pm at the Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2H
www.exiledwriters.co.uk

Tue 6

The Hampstead of John Keats, a guided walk around John Keats’s favourite place, led by City Guide Jean Haynes. Meet at Hampstead tube station. Free but you must book in advance, 2pm–4pm
Tel: 020 7332 3868
keatshouse@cityoflondon.gov.uk
www.keatshouse.cityoflondon.gov.uk

Tue 6

The Wordsworth Trust John Burnside & David Constantine £7/£8 (on door) 6.45pm in St Oswald's Church.     Post-reading supper at the Dale Lodge Hotel, Grasmere at 8.45pm. Set two-course menu, £17.00/£19.00 (including a glass of wine). The Wordsworth Museum & Art Gallery, Grasmere LA22 9SH
Tel: 015394 35544
www.wordsworth.org.uk

Wed 7–Sun 25

Buxton Poetry Competition Exhibition at the Devonshire Dome, hosting a unique exhibition of the winning entries to the Buxton Poetry Competition. The exhibition also features the winners of this year’s Peak Photography Competition. Free, 3 The Square, Buxton SK17 6AZ
Tel: 01298 70395
www.derby.ac.uk/buxtonpoetrycompetition
www.buxtonfestival.co.uk

Wed 7

Dylan Thomas Centre Terry Hetherington memorial evening. Readings and tributes from his friends, and the award of the second Terry Hetherington Bursary to a promising young writer from Wales. Free 7pm at the Dylan Thomas Centre, Somerset Place, Swansea SA1
Tel: 01792 463980
Dylanthomas.lit@swansea.gov.uk
www.dylanthomas.com

Thurs 8

Oxfam Bloomsbury Bookshop Literary Quiz with prizes. Free but suggested donation of £5 to cover the cost of refreshments 6.45pm at Oxfam Bloomsbury Bookshop, 12 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B. Reservation is essential.
Tel: 0207 637 4610
oxfambloomsbury@hotmail.co.uk
http://oxfambloomsburybooks.wordpress.com

Fri 9

Poetry on the Border celebrating Chris Torrance with Lee Harwood, Phil Maillard, Ric Hool & friends. On the Border, Courtyard House, Moynes Court, Mathern, Nr Chepstow, Monmouthshire NP16 6HZ For further information contact Liz Power on
01291 638807
liz@poetryontheborder.org
www.poetryontheborder.org

Thurs 15

Brit Writers' Awards Unpublished 2010
For publishers, agents, writers, celebrities, media.
6.30pm IndigO2 at the O2, London
Tel: 0871 237 4442
www.britwriters.co.uk

Thurs 15

Oxfam Bloomsbury Bookshop featuring Amarjit Chandan (with Manjinder Virk) & other Punjabi poets, Romesh Guneserka & Jan Blake tbc. Free but suggested donation of £5 to cover the cost of refreshments 6.45pm at Oxfam Bloomsbury Bookshop, 12 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B. Reservation is essential.
Tel: 0207 637 4610
oxfambloomsbury@hotmail.co.uk
http://oxfambloomsburybooks.wordpress.com

Thurs 15

Tongue Fu featuring Polar Bear, Rinse & Zena Edwards
£5/£7 8pm at the Bar, Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1
Booking: 020 7613 7498
www.richmix.org.uk

Fri 16

Poetry on the Border celebrating Metaphysical Poets Henry Vaughan & Thomas Traherne with Anne Cluysenaar, William Ayot and lutenist Nigel North. On the Border, Courtyard House, Moynes Court, Mathern, Nr Chepstow, Monmouthshire NP16 6HZ For further information contact Liz Power on
01291 638807
liz@poetryontheborder.org
www.poetryontheborder.org

Sat 17 & Sun 18

Keats in Hampstead a play by James Veitch exploring the love affair between John Keats and Fanny Brawne, performed in and around Keats House and garden. £8/£6 (includes admission to the house) Sat 17th 3pm & 6pm; Sun 18th 3pm at Keats House , Keats Grove,   London NW3
Tel: 020 7332 3868
keatshouse@cityoflondon.gov.uk
www.keatshouse.cityoflondon.gov.uk

Tue 20

The Blue Bus presents Carol Watts & Michael Zand £5/£3 7.30pm in the upstairs room at The Lamb, 94 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London WC1

Tue 20

The Wordsworth Trust Simon Armitage £7/£8 (on door) 6.45pm in St Oswald's Church.     Post-reading supper at the Dale Lodge Hotel, Grasmere at 8.45pm. Set two-course menu, £17.00/£19.00 (including a glass of wine). The Wordsworth Museum & Art Gallery, Grasmere LA22 9SH
Tel: 015394 35544
www.wordsworth.org.uk

Wed 21

Apples and Snakes: Jawdance
A performance-poetry mash-up, a cavalcade of of va-va-voom verse. Free 7.30pm at the Bar, Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1
Booking: 020 7613 7498
www.richmix.org.uk

Sat 24

Dylan Thomas Centre Fluellen Theatre Company presents One State Of Happiness. Fluellen returns with this look at the happiest – and last – years of Dylan Thomas's life through the words of his family, his friends and Dylan himself. £5 1pm at Dylan Thomas Centre, Somerset Place, Swansea SA1
Tel: 01792 463980
Dylanthomas.lit@swansea.gov.uk
www.dylanthomas.com

Sat 24 & Sun 25

Keats in Hampstead a play by James Veitch exploring the love affair between John Keats and Fanny Brawne, performed in and around Keats House and garden. £8/£6 (includes admission to the house) Sat 24th 3pm & 6pm; Sun 25th 3pm at Keats House , Keats Grove,   London NW3
Tel: 020 7332 3868
keatshouse@cityoflondon.gov.uk
www.keatshouse.cityoflondon.gov.uk

Thurs 29

Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art presents a poetry reading by Keston Sutherland Free 7 pm 14 Wharf Road, London N1 Booking is essential due to limited spaces.
Tel: 0207 490 7373
events@parasol-unit.org
www.parasol-unit.org

Thurs 29

Poets in the Bookshop features Swansea-born Joe Dunthorne reading from his debut poetry collection from the Faber New Poets series. £4/£2.80/£1.60 7.30pm at the Dylan Thomas Centre, Somerset Place, Swansea SA1
Tel: 01792 463980
Dylanthomas.lit@swansea.gov.uk
www.dylanthomas.com

Thurs 29

Stewart Florsheim
8pm at St. John Fisher RC Church Hall, 80 Imperial Close, North Harrow, Middlesex HA2 7LW
www.stewartflorsheim.com

30 July

5 Minutes of Fame presents The Terrible Poetry Night
Ever. Come and share bad (or funny) poetry with a friendly crowd in the mood for laughs, with live music. Hosted by Dale Lately.
Free 7.30pm at The Queen’s Head, 15 Denman St, London W1D 7HN

Sat 31

Dylan Thomas Centre Saturday Lunchtime Theatre 'Throw away your bed socks'. Using Dylan Thomas’ poems as a base, Adrian Metcalfe asks if it is better to be Mog Edwards than Eli Jenkins. £5 1pm at the Dylan Thomas Centre, Somerset Place, Swansea SA1
Tel: 01792 463980
Dylanthomas.lit@swansea.gov.uk
www.dylanthomas.com

Sat 31

Guided walk around the places where John Milton lived and worked in the City of London, led by Lance Pierson, who reads some of the poems Milton wrote there.
£8/£6 10.45am (2 hours) meeting at Mansion House Underground Station (Exit No 4)
Tel: 020 7731 6544
www.lancepierson.org

Sat 31 July & Sun 1 August

Keats in Hampstead a play by James Veitch exploring the love affair between John Keats and Fanny Brawne, performed in and around Keats House and garden. £8/£6 (includes admission to the house) Sat 31st July 3pm & 6pm; Sun 1st Aug 3pm at Keats House , Keats Grove,   London NW3
Tel: 020 7332 3868
keatshouse@cityoflondon.gov.uk
www.keatshouse.cityoflondon.gov.uk

August

Mon 2

Exiled Writers Ink Latin American women poets in Exile: songs and music of memory. Poets include Maria Eugenia Bravo (Chile), Consuelo Rivera (Chile), Sarita Cornejo (Chile), Sofia Buchuck (Peru), Isabel Ross Lopez (Spain) & Maria Alba (Spain). Live Music performance: Sofia Buchuck, Isabel Ross Lopez & Diego La verde on Colombian harp. Plus Shirin Azari (Iran) & Eric Ngalle Charles (Cameroon). Hosted by Mir Mahfuz Ali.
£4/£2 (members) 7.30pm at the Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2H
www.exiledwriters.co.uk

Tue 3

The Wordsworth Trust John Glenday & Linda Gregerson   £7/£8 (on door) 6.45pm in St Oswald's Church.     Post-reading supper at the Dale Lodge Hotel, Grasmere at 8.45pm. Set two-course menu, £17.00/£19.00 (including a glass of wine). The Wordsworth Museum & Art Gallery, Grasmere LA22 9SH
Tel: 015394 35544
www.wordsworth.org.uk

Thurs 5

Penned in the Margins presents Clare Pollard, Joe Dunthorne & Simon Barraclough. Free entry & refreshments. 7pm at Aubin & Wills, 188 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2RH. Please RSVP to
info@pennedinthemargins.co.uk
www.pennedinthemargins.co.uk

Sat 7

Dylan Thomas Centre Saturday Lunchtime Theatre: Fluellen Theatre Company presents 'The Tongue of the Wave', a glimpse into the life and work of Swansea’s other great poet Vernon Watkins. £5 1pm at the Dylan Thomas Centre, Somerset Place, Swansea SA1
Tel: 01792 463980
Dylanthomas.lit@swansea.gov.uk
www.dylanthomas.com

Sat 7 Aug–Sun 12 Sept

Keats House Sonnets in the Summertime Six weekends of readings with different sonnets each weekend. Free with an admission ticket to the house (valid for one year) 2pm & 4pm Sat & Sun at Keats House , Keats Grove,   London NW3
Tel: 020 7332 3868
keatshouse@cityoflondon.gov.uk
www.keatshouse.cityoflondon.gov.uk

Sat 14

Tue 17

The Blue Bus presents Adrian Clarke, Wayne Clements & another poet tba £5/£3 7.30pm in the upstairs room at The Lamb, 94 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London WC1

Tue 17

The Wordsworth Trust Glyn Maxwell & Meirion Jordan   £7/£8 (on door) 6.45pm in St Oswald's Church.     Post-reading supper at the Dale Lodge Hotel, Grasmere at 8.45pm. Set two-course menu, £17.00/£19.00 (including a glass of wine). The Wordsworth Museum & Art Gallery, Grasmere LA22 9SH
Tel: 015394 35544
www.wordsworth.org.uk

Wed 18

Sat 21

Wed 25

The Poetry Prom presents Seamus Heaney £6-£16 7.30pm at Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Saxmundham, Suffolk Booking & further info:
www.aldeburgh.co.uk
www.thepoetrytrust.org

Sat 28

Guided walk around Highgate to see the places where John Betjeman was born, brought up and went to school and to hear the poems he wrote about them, led by Lance Pierson £8/£6 10.45am (2hrs 15mins) starting at Kentish Town Station.
Tel: 020 7731 6544
www.lancepierson.org

Mon 30

Guided walk between Waterloo and Westminster Bridges to visit sites of poetic interest, led by Lance Pierson. Featured poets include Wordsworth, Burns, Donne, Shakespeare and more. £8/£6 2.30pm (2hrs) starting at Embankment Tube Station.
Tel: 020 7731 6544
www.lancepierson.org

Tue 31

The Wordsworth Trust Robin Robertson & Sinéad Morrissey   £7/£8 (on door) 6.45pm in St Oswald's Church.     Post-reading supper at the Dale Lodge Hotel, Grasmere at 8.45pm. Set two-course menu, £17.00/£19.00 (including a glass of wine). The Wordsworth Museum & Art Gallery, Grasmere LA22 9SH
Tel: 015394 35544
www.wordsworth.org.uk

September

Sat 11

Poet in the City presents Contemporary Lines, a series of New Audiences events with the Faber New Poets, presented by Jo Shapcott, David Harsent & Maurice Riordan. 'Maps' with Maurice Riordan, Annie Katchinska & Sam Riviere £4.50 3pm at St Pancras Room; 'Bodies' with Jo Shapcott, Fiona Benson, Jack Underwood & Joe Dunthorne £4.50 4.15pm at St Pancras Room; 'Communications' with David Harsent, Heather Phillipson & Toby Martinez de las Rivas £4.50 5.30pm St Pancras Room at Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1
Tel: 020 7014 2840
www.kingsplace.co.uk

Tue 14

The Blue Bus presents Ken Edwards & Harry Gilonis £5/£3 7.30pm in the upstairs room at The Lamb, 94 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London WC1

Tue 14

The Wordsworth Trust Philip Gross & Miriam Gamble £7/£8 (on door) 6.45pm in St Oswald's Church.     Post-reading supper at the Dale Lodge Hotel, Grasmere at 8.45pm. Set two-course menu, £17.00/£19.00 (including a glass of wine). The Wordsworth Museum & Art Gallery, Grasmere LA22 9SH
Tel: 015394 35544
www.wordsworth.org.uk

Wed 15
Waltham Forest poets featuring Pascale Petit, Jacqueline Gabbitas & Meryl Pugh. The first of a series of events showcasing local poets. Pascale will be giving an illustrated reading from her current collection 'What the Water Gave Me', based on the life and work of the artist Frida Kahlo.
£3 (includes a glass of wine) 7.30pm (doors open 7pm) in 1st floor Reference Room, Walthamstow Library, High Street, Walthamstow, London E17
Tel 07950 618 911
http://tinyurl.com/37yjceq

Thurs 16

Poet in the City Deciphering the Alhambra: Symmetry in the Alhambra, presented by Professor Stephen Hart of University College London, and hosted by the Instituto Cervantes, the official Spanish language and cultural organisation. English translations will be provided. Free 6.30pm at the Instituto Servantes, 102 Eaton Square London  SW1W
Tel: 020 7201 0753
info@cervantes.es
www.londres.cervantes.es

Fri 17 & Sun 19

Guided walk between Waterloo and Westminster Bridges to visit sites of poetic interest, led by Lance Pierson. Featured poets include Wordsworth, Burns, Donne, Shakespeare and more. £8/£6 2pm & 5.30pm (2 hours each) starting at Embankment Tube Station.
Tel: 020 7731 6544
www.lancepierson.org

Mon 20

Coffee-House Poetry at the Troubadour Showcase, new & established poetry voices £7/£6 8pm at The Troubadour, 263-267 Old Brompton Rd, London SW5 For further information contact Anne-Marie Fyfe at Coffee-House Poetry, PO Box 16210, London W4 1ZP
Tel: 020 8354 0660
CoffPoetry@aol.com
www.coffeehousepoetry.org
www.annemariefyfe.com

Thurs 23

Poetry and Music A dynamic evening of music and poetry performed by the Poetry Society's South West Stanza group consisting of fascinating works from established London poets to that of promising newcommers including Patrick Barron, Lara Charles, David Collins, Gail Golding, Tara Grainger, Chris Hardy, Kavita Jindal, Jane Mason, Frances Suprrier, Norman Staines & Vicki Stannard. Music: Little Machine. Hosted by Steve Halliwell.
Free 7.30pm at The Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2H
www.poetrysociety.org.uk

Mon 27

“John Milton in Verse and Voice” – a concert of music and poetry celebrating the life and poetry of John Milton. Featuring extracts from ‘Paradise Lost’ and ‘Samson Agonistes’ and music from Haydn and Handel. 7pm at St Peter’s, Vere Street, London W1G
Tel: 020 7399 9555
www.lancepierson.org

Tue 28

The Wordsworth Trust John Stammers & Annie Freud £7/£8 (on door) 6.45pm in St Oswald's Church.     Post-reading supper at the Dale Lodge Hotel, Grasmere at 8.45pm. Set two-course menu, £17.00/£19.00 (including a glass of wine). The Wordsworth Museum & Art Gallery, Grasmere LA22 9SH
Tel: 015394 35544
www.wordsworth.org.uk

Thurs 30

Poet in the City Deciphering the Alhambra: Fernando Valverde, presented by Professor Stephen Hart of University College London, and hosted by the Instituto Cervantes, the official Spanish language and cultural organisation. English translations will be provided. Free 6.30pm at the Instituto Servantes, 102 Eaton Square London  SW1W
Tel: 020 7201 0753
info@cervantes.es
www.londres.cervantes.es

October

Mon 4

Coffee-House Poetry at the Troubadour Rialto celebrates 25 years £7/£6 8pm at The Troubadour, 263-267 Old Brompton Rd, London SW5 For further information contact Anne-Marie Fyfe at Coffee-House Poetry, PO Box 16210, London W4 1ZP
Tel: 020 8354 0660
CoffPoetry@aol.com
www.coffeehousepoetry.org
www.annemariefyfe.com

Thurs 7

Pascale Petit reading 7.15pm at the Birmingham Book Festival.
Booking: 0121 303 2323
http://www.birminghambookfestival.org

Sun 10

Tue 12

The Blue Bus presents Robert Sheppard and another poet tba £5/£3 7.30pm in the upstairs room at The Lamb, 94 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London WC1

Tue 12

The Wordsworth Trust John Agard & Grace Nichols £7/£8 (on door) 6.45pm in St Oswald's Church.     Post-reading supper at the Dale Lodge Hotel, Grasmere at 8.45pm. Set two-course menu, £17.00/£19.00 (including a glass of wine). The Wordsworth Museum & Art Gallery, Grasmere LA22 9SH
Tel: 015394 35544
www.wordsworth.org.uk

Wed 13

POETRY LONDON AUTUMN 2010 LAUNCH
Free entry & wine 6.30pm at the Gallery, Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H

Mon 18

Coffee-House Poetry at the Troubadour Poems on the Underground £7/£6 8pm at The Troubadour, 263-267 Old Brompton Rd, London SW5 For further information contact Anne-Marie Fyfe at Coffee-House Poetry, PO Box 16210, London W4 1ZP
Tel: 020 8354 0660
CoffPoetry@aol.com
www.coffeehousepoetry.org
www.annemariefyfe.com

Tue 19

Pascale Petit reading £5/£3 1pm Manchester Literature Festival at the Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3JL
Booking: 0843 208 0500
www.manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk

Thurs 21

Pascale Petit gives an illustrated reading from What the Water Gave Me – Poems after Frida Kahlo 7pm at the Off the Shelf Festival Sheffield Further info:
www.offtheshelf.org.uk

Sun 24

Pascale Petit reading with Jo Shapcott 3.30pm at the Durham Book Festival. Further info:
www.bookfestival.org.uk

Thurs 28

Poet in the City Deciphering the Alhambra: Antonio Carvajal, presented by Professor Stephen Hart of University College London, and hosted by the Instituto Cervantes, the official Spanish language and cultural organisation. English translations will be provided. Free 6.30pm at the Instituto Servantes, 102 Eaton Square London  SW1W
Tel: 020 7201 0753
info@cervantes.es
www.londres.cervantes.es

Regular events

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

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

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

Festivals

This is where you can find details of poetry and other literary festivals listed in alphabetical order.

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

Earl's Court Festival

2–31 Juy, community and arts festival offering 40 events over the month, including poetry in local venues and in beautiful garden squares. Contact Rebecca Claydon
Tel: 020 7370 0042
rclaydon@honeyevents.co.uk
www.earlscourtfestival.co.uk

Deadlines

This is where you can check the submission deadlines of poetry and other literary competitions.

July

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

Mslexia Women's Poetry Competition 2010
First prize is £1000. Judge Vicki Feaver. Entry fee £5 for three poems, £10 for 6. Contact Women's Poetry Competition, Mslexia Publications Limited, PO Box 656, Freepost NEA5566, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1BR Info:
www.mslexia.co.uk
Closing date: 26 July 2010

Essex Poetry Festival 10th Open Poetry Competition
For poems of up to 40 lines. Sole adjudicator is Kathryn Simmonds. First prize £1000, second £500, third £250 and 3 runner-up prizes of £50. Entry fee is £6 per poem or £20 for 5 poems. Contact Essex Poetry Festival Competition,15 Seeleys, Old Harlow, Essex CM17 0AD Info:
www.essex-poetry-festival.co.uk
Closing date: 30 July 2010

Essex Young Poet Of The Year Competition 2010
This free entry competition is only open to children attending school or resident in Essex. Schools are invited to submit entries from their pupils. Individual entries also welcome. Categories: Four Age Groups: 7 and under, 11 and under, 14 and under, 16 and under. Prizes are book tokens for first, second and third places in each category. In addition (subject to funding) approximately 30 of the best entries will be published in a children's poetry anthology. Free copy of anthology to each winner and their school.
Tel: 01245 262020
www.essex-poetry-festival.co.uk/eyp.html
Closing date: 30 July 2010

Wasafiri New Writing Prize 2010
For anyone who has not published a complete book. Creative submissions in poetry, fiction or life writing. Prize £300 in each category. 3000 word limit. Judges are Susheila Nasta, Romesh Gunesekera, Moniza Alvi & Marina Warner. Entry fee is £5. Mark envelopes 'New Writing Prize'. Contact Wasafiri, The Open University in London, 1-11 Hawley Crescent, London NW1 8NP Info:
www.wasafiri.org
Closing date: 30 July 2010

Aldeburgh First Collection Prize
Open for submissions from publishers or individual poets. The prize is for the best first collection of poetry published in printed book form in the UK and Republic of Ireland between 1st August 2009 and 31st July 2010. Judges Michael Laskey (Chair), Neil Rollinson & Jo Shapcott. The winner will receive a cash prize of £3000, a week of 'protected' writing time, and an invitation to read at the subsequent Festival. Three bound or proof copies with a note of the date of publication can be sent to: Aldeburgh First Collection Prize, The Cut, 9 New Cut, Halesworth, Suffolk IP19 8BY Info:
www.thepoetrytrust.org
Closing date: 31 July 2010

Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2010
For poets aged 11-17 years old. Judges Jane Draycott & Luke Kennard. Fifteen overall winners aged 11-17, including up to three international winners, will have their poems printed in the winners' anthology. Fifteen 15-17 year old winners will attend a week-long residential course at one of the prestigious Arvon Centres. Five 11-14 year olds will win a short residency to their school by a leading poet. All 100 winners receive poetry books, a year's Youth Membership to the Poetry Society and the opportunity to contribute to YM magazine. The three schools who inspire the most entries will receive a special selection of books from Faber & Faber, Bloodaxe Books or Salt Publishing for their libraries. No entry fee. Contact Foyle Young Poets, The Poetry Society, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2H 9BX
Tel: 020 7420 9880
fyp@poetrysociety.org.uk
www.foyleyoungpoets.org
Closing date: 31 July 2010

John Betjeman Young People's Poetry Competition 2010
Open to 11-14 year-olds living in the British Isles. Entrants are limited to one poem each about their local surroundings or any aspect thereof, whether it be a house, a street, a garden, a park, a city or a wider landscape. The spirit behind the competition is to encourage young people to understand and appreciate the importance of place. The prize is £1,000 (£500 to the winner and £500 to the English department of his or her school). No entry fee. Contact The John Betjeman Young People's Poetry Competition c/o Justin Gowers,72 Vicars Hill, London SE13 7JL Further info:
www.betjemanpoetrycompetition.com
Closing date: 31 July 2010

Wells Festival of Literature Poetry and Short Story Competitions 2010
Poetry category is for poems of up to 40 lines on any subject, showing imagination, skill and originality. Short stories should be between 1800 and 2000 words. First prize £500. Entry fee £5 per poem or story. Contact Poetry Competition, 2 The Gardens, Sadler Street, Wells, Somerset BA5 2SF Info:
www.wlitf.co.uk
Closing date: 31 July 2010

August

The Arvon International Poetry Competition
Open to anyone aged 16 or over, from any country. Poems must be written in English, on any subject, and can be a maximum of 42 lines in length. Judges are Carol Ann Duffy, Elaine Feinstein & Sudeep Sen. First prize £7,500, second prize £2500, third prize £1000 & three commendations of £500. The winners of the 2010 competition will be announced at an award ceremony at Free Word in London on 21 October 2010. Entry fee £7 per individual poem entered. Enter and pay online at
www.arvonfoundaton.org
Closing date:16 August 2010

Young poets competition at the Museum of London
Latin isn’t dead. Prove it by writing a poem inspired by a Latin word or phrase.First prize digital e-book reader. Second and third prizes book vouchers worth £75 and £50.
Winners will be announced at the Gladiatorial Poetry Slam at the Museum of London on 28 September, 6.30–8.30pm. This free poetry event is part of Stories of the World, one of the major projects at the heart of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Winners will be contacted prior to the event.
Entry is free. All entries must be original and unpublished. You must be aged 14–24 to enter. Please include name, age and full contact details on your entry. One poem per entrant, maximum 400 words. Send your poems to
lsawyer@museumoflondon.org.uk
www.museumoflondon.org.uk
Closing date: 25 August 2010

Baskalier Publishing Poetry Anthology Competition
For two categories: Schools (age 11-16) and Open (age 16+). The theme for the competition is Extinction. You may interpret the theme however you wish, as long as it is science-based, e.g. extinction of animals, plants, volcanoes or fire. Poems must be a maximum of 40 lines (including white space between stanzas). Entry fee £2 per poem. Cheques payable to Karen Jones. Contact Poetry Competition, Baskalier Publishing, 85 Cavalier Road, Old Basing, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG24 7ER Info:
www.baskalierpublishing.com
Closing date: 31 August 2010

Nottingham Open Poetry Competition 2010
For poems of no more than 40 lines. Sole adjudicator John Siddique. First prize £300. Entry fee £3 per poem or £10 for four poems. Contact The Competition Secretary, 38 Harrow Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7DU
Closing date: 31 August 2010

Salopian Poetry Society's Annual Open Poetry Competition 2010
For poems of up to 40 lines. First prize £200. Adjudicator John Waddington-Feather F.R.S.A. Entry fee £3 per poem or four for £10 for non-members and £2 per poem for society members. Contact Irene Hoult, 5 Squires Close, Madeley, Telford, Shropshire TF7 5RU
Closing date: 31 August 2010

Tenby Arts Festival Writing Competition
For poetry of up to 40 lines, or short stories of up to 1500 words. First prize in each category is £150. Entry fee £4 per poem or short story, £6 for two poems, £8 for three poems. Contact Writing Competition, c/o The Swallows, Stammers Lane, Rushy Lake, Saundersfoot SA69 9PB Info:
www.tenbyartsfest.co.uk
Closing date: 31 August 2010

Torbay Open Poetry Competition 2010
For poems of up to 50 lines. First prize £800. Judge Wendy French. Entry fee £4 per poem or 3 poems for £10, 6 poems for £20. Contact The Administrator, c/o 6 The Mount, Furzeham, Brixham, Devon TQ5 8QY
Closing date: 31 August 2010

September

The Poetry Society Stanza Competition
Exclusive to Poetry Society members who are also members of a Poetry Society Stanza. 40 lines maximum. Max 2 poems per person. Judge Sheenagh Pugh. The winner will be published in Poetry News and on the Poetry Society website. The winner also receives a free Poetry Prescription or a year's Poetry Society Membership (or equivalent). 2 Runners-Up will be published on the website and featured in Poetry News. All 3 will receive a selection of poetry books. No entry fee. Contact: Stanza Competition, The Poetry Society, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2H 9BX
Tel: 020 8420 9881
membership@poetrysociety.org.uk
www.poetrysociety.org.uk
Closing date: 10 September 2010

Esoteric Poetry Competition
Sponsored by the Cambridge Centre for the study of Western Esotericism in conjunction with Heffer's bookshop Cambridge, and Waterloo Press. For poems of no more than eight lines. The Judges are Daniel Healy, Helen Ivory & Jon Woodson. First prize £300. Entry fee £3.10 for first poem. Contact Sophia Wellbeloved
esotericpoetry@googlemail.com
www.ccwe.wordpress.com
Closing date: 15 September 2010

October

Second Light Poetry Competition
Prizes in all categories. Judge Myra Schneider. Entry fee for long poems (over 50 lines) £6 per poem, for short poems (under 50 lines) £4, £8 for 3, £12 for 8. Cheque payable to Second Light. Send to Dilys Wood, 9 Green Dale Close, London SE22 8TG
www.secondlightlive.co.uk
Closing date: 1 October 2010

4th Annual Troubadour International Poetry Prize 2010
Judges Gwyneth Lewis & Maurice Riordan. Both judges will read all poems. 1st prize £1000, 2nd £500, 3rd £250, plus 20 at £20 each plus Spring 2011 Coffee-House Poetry Season Ticket plus prizewinners' Coffee-House Poetry reading with Maurice Riordan & Gwyneth Lewis for all winning poets on Monday 29th November 2010 at the Troubadour. Further details:
www.coffeehousepoetry.org/poems
Closing date: 15 October 2010

Hastings International Poetry Competition 2010
For poems of up to 50 lines. First prize £150. Adjudicator Josephine Austin. Entry fee £2 per poem. Contact Josphine Austin, The Snoring Cat, 194 Downs Road, Hastings TN34 2DZ
Closing date: 15 October 2010

National Poetry Competition 2010
Now in its 33rd year, the Poetry Society’s National Poetry Competition is one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious poetry competitions. The judges this year are poets George Szirtes, Deryn Rees-Jones & Sinéad Morrissey. The prizes are £5000 for the overall winner, £2000 for the second, £1000 for the third and seven commendations of £100. Winners' work published in the Poetry Society’s leading international journal, Poetry Review. For poems of up to 40 lines. Entry fee £6 for the first poem, £3 for subsequent poems. Contact The Poetry Society,  22 Betterton Street,  London, WC2H 9BX Further info:
www.poetrysociety.org.uk
Closing date: 31 October 2010

Sonnet or Not - Cannon Poets 2010 Competition
The theme is 'Sonnet or Not'. Entries should be 14 line poems that in some way reflect the sonnet form. For more information, see the website. Entry fee £4 for the first poem and £2.50 for each additional poem. Contact Cannon Poets 2010 Competition, 22 Margaret Grove, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9JH Info:
www.cannonpoets.co.uk
Closing date: 31 October 2010

November

Carillon Magazine Open Poetry Competition 2010
For poems of 15-30 lines. First prize £80. Entry fee £2 for one or three entries for £4. Contact Graham Rippon, 19 Godric Drive, Brinsworth, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S60 5AN Info:
www.carillonmag.org.uk
Closing date: 1 November 2010

Rubies in the Darkness Autumn Poetry Competition
Competition judge is poet and editor of 'Rubies in the Darkness' Peter Geoffrey Paul Thompson. Book prizes for top 3. Entry fee £3 per poem. Please make cheques payable to P.G. Thompson. Contact 41 Grantham Road, Manor Park, London E12 5LZ
Closing date: 1 November 2010