WEST ANGLIA / EAST MIDLANDS REAL WORLD POETRY EVENTS – MAY 2023

Here’s the list of local events in May 2023. If I’ve missed anything you think should be included or needs correcting – please let me know.
Details are to the best of my knowledge at time of writing or amending during the month, please check event with hosts before attending in case of restrictions/changes.
Keep checking throughout May in case I’ve been able to add anything else, otherwise June’s list will follow in due course.

For end of April 2023 events – https://scottcoe.co.uk/west-anglia-east-midlands-real-world-poetry-events-april-2023/

Tuesday 2nd May 19:30
Grantham.
Open Mic with host Mike Alderson, at The Lord Harrowby, 65 Dudley Road, NG31 9AB (w3w = ///pets.puzzle.sounds)
Bring your own or favourite classics/modern poems. Everyone welcome, free entry – * PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE SADLY NO DISABLED FACILITIES*
Regular event – First Tuesday of every month.
See Stamford Poetry’s Facebook page for more details of this and other events

Tuesday 2nd May 19:30
Leicester.
Pinggg…K! The Y Theatre, 7 East Street, LE1 6EY (w3w = ///edgy.soil.camp)
Once a month (first Tuesday) free spoken word
See Y Theatre’s website for further details

Tuesday 2nd May 19:30
Melton Mowbray.
Open Mic Poetry Night. The Anne of Cleves, 12 Burton Street, LE13 1AE (w3w = ///putty.steps.field)
Everyone welcome, free entry.
Regular event – First Tuesday of every month.
See The Anne of Cleves’ website for more details of this and other events

Tuesday 2nd May 20:00
Bedford.
Ouse Muse. Eagle Bookshop, 16-20 St Peters Street, MK40 2NN (w3w = ///wisdom.plug.shiny)
Featured artists plus open mic.
Further details on Ouse Muse’s Facebook page

Wednesday 3rd May 19:00
Lincoln.
Uncaged. The Birdcage, 54 Baggholme Road, LN2 5BQ (w3w = ///gifted.studio.caves)
Regular event – First Wednesday of every month.
See Outspoken Poets’s Facebook page for this and other events

Wednesday 3rd May 19:00
Nottingham.
Poetry from Helen Jukes, with Helena Hunter & Annie Cross. Five Leaves Bookshop, 14a Long Row, NG1 2DH (w3w = ///mini.tonic.bubble)
See Five Leaves website for more details of this and other events

Wednesday 3rd May 19:00
Wisbech.
Wisbech Stanza. Hosted by Kim Allen, former Fenland Poet Laureate.
Regular event – First Wednesday of every month.
Contact wisbechstanzagroup@gmail.com to sign up and further event details.

Thursday 4th May 19:30
Coventry.
Fire & Dust. Cafe Morso, 16 Corporation Street, CV1 1GF (w3w = ///types.artist.banana)
Featured artists plus open mic.
Just turn up to watch, but recommend ticket to book open mic slot.
Regular event – First Thursday of every month.
See Eventbrite for more details

Thursday 4th May 19:30
Leicester.
Run Your Tongue. Donald Watson’s Vegan Bar, 94 Granby Street, LE1 1DJ (w3w = ///joke.scale.leaves)
Featured artists, plus open mic (Poets, singers and storytellers are all welcome)
See Eventbrite for more details

Thursday 4th May 19:30
Nottingham.
Live From The Poets Corner. The Playwright, 38 Shakespeare Street, NG1 4FQ (w3w = ///error.sugars.goods)
Poetry Open Mic.
See Notts Poetry’s Instagram Page for more details

Saturday 6th May 11:00
Nottingham.
Paper Cranes Poets Collective. The National Justice Museum, High Pavement, NG1 1HN (w3w = ///feast.stove.guilty)
Creative conversations and writing poems and stories.
See The National Justice Museum’s website for details

Sunday 7th May 19:00
Bedford.
Read Poets Society. Eagle Bookshop, 16-20 St Peters Street, MK40 2NN (w3w = ///wisdom.plug.shiny)
An evening of poetry and prose.
See The Place Theatre’s website for this and other Read Poets Society events

Tuesday 9th May 18:00
Derby.
Real Talk Spoken Word. Bunk, 9 Sadler Gate, DE1 3NF (w3w = ///budget.drama.loft)
Featured artists plus Open Mic
See Real Talk Spoken Word’s Instagram Page for further details

Tuesday 9th May 19:00
Nottingham.
Poetry with Lucy Mercer, Neil Osborne & Sheena Baharudin. Five Leaves Bookshop, 14a Long Row, NG1 2DH (w3w = ///mini.tonic.bubble)
See Five Leaves website for more details of this and other events

Tuesday 9th May 19:30
St Ives (Cambridgeshire).
Open Mic in the Riverport Cafe at St Ives Corn Exchange, The Pavement, PE27 5AD (w3w = ///yesterday.meanders.recorders)
Poetry & Folk music – Bring your own or favourite classics/modern poems. Everyone welcome, Entry fee varies. Often between £2 – £4 (cash only).
Regular event – Second Tuesday of every month.
http://www.thecornexchange.org.uk

Wednesday 10th May 19:30
Market Deeping.
Open Mic at The Iron Horse Ranch, High Street, PE6 8EB (w3w = ///beefed.inflates.fried)
Music & Spoken Word. Everyone welcome, free entry. See website for this and future events
www.ironhorseranchhouse.co.uk/whats-on/

Wednesday 10th May 19:30
Nottingham.
SMUT! The Verbal Burlesque. The Playwright, 38 Shakespeare Street, NG1 4FQ (w3w = ///error.sugars.goods)
A night of poetry and storytelling in Nottingham celebrating human sexuality. Open Mic.
See Facebook event for further details

Wednesday 10th May 20:00
Cherry Willingham.
Open Mic Night. The Wishing Well, 15 The Parade, Cherry Willingham, LN3 4JL (w3w = ///blast.nudge.milk)
Open Mic with host Gaz Clitheroe. Music, Comedy, Poetry & Spoken Word all welcome.
Regular event – See Gaz Clitheroe’s Facebook page for this and other events.

Thursday 11th May 14:00
Huntingdon.
Open Mic Poetry Event. Commemoration Hall, 39 High Street, PE29 3AQ (w3w = ///escalated.tank.landowner)
Free entry. See Eventbrite for more details.

Friday 12th May 19:00
Nottingham.
Read ‘em and Weep. Chaos Magic, Floor 2 Backlit Gallery, Ashley Street, NG3 1JG (w3w = ///famous.icons.horns)
An evening of poetry and spoken word showcasing a line up of Nottingham-based poets and artists.
See Eventbrite for more details

Saturday 13th May 10:30
Stamford.
Poetry at Walkers. Walkers Bookshop, High Street, PE9 2AL (w3w = ///mostly.finest.bunk)
On the sofa’s upstairs at Walkers.
Monthly event. Bring your favourite poems – classics or modern. Everyone welcome. Free entry.
See Walkers Bookshop’s website for this and other events

Saturday 13th May 19:00
Nottingham.
Duck on Bike Book Launch. The Carousel, 25 Hockley, NG1 1FH (w3w = ///bless.jelly.valid)
Celebrate the poetry of Bridie Squires, collected in print form
See Eventbrite for more details

Saturday 13th May 20:00
Kenilworth.
Tree House Sessions. Tree House Bookshop, 4 The Square, CV8 1EB (w3w = ///video.appear.clay)
Open mic for music and spoken word.
Second Saturday of every month
See Tree House Bookshop’s website for more details of this and other events

Sunday 14th May 15:30
Derby.
One Sunday In May. The Victoria Inn, 12 Midland Place, DE1 2RR (w3w = ///park.vibrates.phones)
A day of Spoken Word and Music with all monies going to Padley Group to support Local Homeless and Food banks
See Eventbrite for more details

Monday 15th May 19:00
Stamford.
Playing With Words. MindSpace, 39 Broad Street, PE9 1PX (w3w = ///themes.bonus.snow)
Fun word games, poetry and writing prompts with former Stamford Poet Laureate Scott Coe. Everyone welcome. Free entry.
Third Monday of every month.
This is a free event but encourage you to bring donations towards hot drinks.
Places are limited. Please see the MindSpace website to book

Monday 15th May 19:45
Lincoln.
Guild Session. St Mary’s Guildhall, 2-18 Sibthorp St, LN5 7SH (w3w = ///nights.visits.speaks)
An evening of amazing music and poetry in a beautiful 12th century building in the centre of Lincoln.
Third Monday of every month.
See The Guild Session’s Facebook page for this and other events.

Tuesday 16th May 19:30
Bury St Edmunds.
Poetry Aloud. Live at upstairs at Oakes Barn. St Andrew’s St South, IP33 3PH (w3w = ///booklets.operation.inflict)
Poetry Aloud Open Mic sessions are hybrid Live / Zoom meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of each month except December.
See Poetry Aloud’s Instagram Page for further details

Wednesday 17th May 19:00
Ely.
Fen Speak. Babylon Gallery, Waterside, CB7 4AU (w3w = ///dark.bonfires.rush)
Poetry & spoken word open mic.
Free entry – donations welcome. Cash bar.
See Fen Speak’s Facebook page for further details.

Thursday 11th May 14:00
Huntingdon.
Adult Poetry Workshop. Commemoration Hall, 39 High Street, PE29 3AQ (w3w = ///escalated.tank.landowner)
Free entry. See Eventbrite for more details.

Thursday 18th May 20:00
Kenilworth.
PGR. Tree House Bookshop, 4 The Square, CV8 1EB (w3w = ///video.appear.clay)
Featured artist plus open mic slots, hosted by Kim and John Watson.
Third Thursday of every month
See Tree House Bookshop’s website for more details of this and other events

Friday 19th May 19:00
Leicester.
Some Antics. Grays Coffee Shop, 31 Rutland Street, LE1 1RE (w3w = ///judge.judges.legal)
Featured artists plus Spoken Word Slam & Open Mic. Everyone welcome. Monthly event.
See Some Antics Facebook page for event post with cost and to sign up for slots. Also for future dates.

Friday 19th April 19:30
Stamford.
Rowan McCabe: Door-to-Door Poetry. Stamford Theatre, Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary’s Street, PE9 2DL (w3w = ///fame.slowly.surely)
See Stamford Arts Centre website for this and other events
See Rowan’s website for other tour dates

Saturday 20th May 09:30
Oadby (Leicester).
Poetry Writing Workshop with Tim Relf. Beaumont Hall, Botanic Garden, Stoughton Drive South, Oadby, LE2 2NA (w3w = ///book.remain.lodge)
With the Botanic Garden’s Poet in residence Tim Relf.
See Leicester Unversity’s website for details, costs, and to book

Saturday 20th May 14:00
Helpston.
Spring Gathering at John Clare’s Grave
Helpston Churchyard, Church Ln, PE6 7DT (w3w = ///daydream.rarely.suspect)
See Facebook event for further details

Saturday 20th May 19:00
Lincoln.
The Green Road Spoken Word. Lincoln A.O.D.S, 33 Tentercroft Street, LN5 7DB (w3w = ///ducks.amuse.adults)
£1 entry fee to non-members. Pre-book an open mic slot – see The Green Room Spoken Word Fellowship Facebook page for this and future events

Monday 22nd May 18:30
Coventry.
WordPlay Poetry Nights 2023. Belgrade Theatre, Corporation Street, CV1 1GS (w3w = ///translated.precautions.sticky)
Headline guest poets, open-mic and writing prompts in a regular series at The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry. Four Mondays across the year.
See Eventbrite for more details.

Monday 22nd May 19:00
Spalding.
White Horse Writers sessions. The Red Lion, Market Place, PE11 1SU (w3w = ///moves.acted.ending)
Group writing sessions: Fiction, Poetry, Prose, etc.
See White Horse Writers’ Facebook page for this and other events

Tuesday 23rd May 19:30
Leicester.
Rough Draft. The Y Theatre, 7 East Street, LE1 6EY (w3w = ///edgy.soil.camp)
Once a month (forth Tuesday) we hold our scratch nights, each artists getting fifteen minutes to share their work, be that script in hand or something more polished.
From gut-wrenching theatre to side-splitting comedy, melodic music to punchy poetry, and all those arty bits in between.
See Y Theatre’s website for further details

Wednesday 24th May 19:00
Nottingham.
Poetry from Alan Jenkins, with Adrian Buckner & Tuesday Shannon. Five Leaves Bookshop, 14a Long Row, NG1 2DH (w3w = ///mini.tonic.bubble)
See Five Leaves website for more details of this and other events

Thursday 25th May 17:00
Northampton.
Meet the Author and Poetry Performance Social Evening. Waterside Bar and Restaurant, University of Northampton, NN1 5PH (w3w = ///patrol.buyers.books)
With Derron Wallace, Ankita Saxena, and Nomadic Libaax.
See Eventbrite for more details

Thursday 25th May 19:30
Cambridge.
Desperate Fleas. The Blue Moon. 2 Norfolk St, CB1 2LF (w3w = ///files.gloves.poet)
Mixed open mic: Comedy, Music, Spoken Word
Please be aware, the building is wheelchair accessible but unfortunately we do not have disabled toilets
See The Blue Moon’s website for this and other events

Thursday 25th May 19:30
Leicester.
Word!. Attenborough Arts Centre, University of Leicester, Lancaster Road, LE1 7HA (w3w = ///melt.sharp.sticks)
With featured artists.
See Word Poetry’s website for this and other events

Friday 26th May 18:00
Nottingham.
Sobar Social. 22/24 Friar Lane, NG1 6DQ (w3w = ///loaded.honest.fumes)
Last Friday of every month. Poetry, Spoken word, Comedy and music.
See Cafe Sobar’s Instagram Page for more details

Friday 26th May 19:00
Nottingham.
Poetry from Jane Bluett, with Rich Goodson. Five Leaves Bookshop, 14a Long Row, NG1 2DH (w3w = ///mini.tonic.bubble)
See Five Leaves website for more details of this and other events

Friday 26th May 18:00
Leicester.
Festival 2Funky Presents Some Antics Poetry Workshop. 2FunkyMusic Cafe, 23A New Park Street, LE3 5NH (w3w = ///silly.knee.heats)
See Skiddle event for more details

Friday 26th May 19:00
Leicester.
Festival 2Funky Presents Some Antics Poetry Workshop. 2FunkyMusic Cafe, 23A New Park Street, LE3 5NH (w3w = ///silly.knee.heats)
See Skiddle event for more details

Saturday 27th May 18:30
Nottingham.
World Jam’s Musical Multilingual Poetry Open Mic. Five Leaves Bookshop, 14a Long Row, NG1 2DH (w3w = ///mini.tonic.bubble)
See World Jam’s Facebook page for further details

Sunday 28th May 13:00
Coventry.
Positive Images Poetry Workshops. Central Library, Smithford Way, CV1 1FY (w3w = ///laptop.ruler.fries)
Free workshops with Coventry Poet Laureate Emilie Lauren Jones
Usually the last Sunday of every month. Email: emilielaurenwriter@gmail.com for info

Tuesday 30th May 19:00
Nottingham.
Poetry from Charlotte Eichler, Elvire Roberts & Carol Rowntree-Jones. Five Leaves Bookshop, 14a Long Row, NG1 2DH (w3w = ///mini.tonic.bubble)
See Five Leaves website for more details of this and other events

Tuesday 30th May 19:30
Bedford.
Rowan McCabe: Door-to-Door Poetry. The Place Theatre, Bradgate Street, MK40 3DE (w3w = ///poem.decks.oppose)
See The Place Theatre’s website for this and other events
See Rowan’s website for other tour dates

Wednesday 31st May 19:30
Stamford.
Pint of Poetry. The Gallery Bar at the Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary’s Street, PE9 2DL (w3w = ///fame.slowly.surely)
Open mic Poetry & Spoken Word. Everyone welcome, free entry.
Regular event – Last Wednesday of every month.
See Stamford Arts Centre website for this and other events