The Poetry Society

Poetry Café

The Poetry Cafe is hidden away half way down a side street in Covent Garden. (Click on map to find us). At lunch time it is a place to meet your friends over a delicious vegetarian meal, freshly cooked each day, by one of our talented cooks. We welcome people who just like the place, the food and the ethos as much as poets and poetry enthusiasts.The Cafe is the Poetry Society's "public face"  where you can find out information about what we do and join the Society.

During the morning and afternoon the atmosphere is contemplative; you can sit and write while nursing a cappuccino and a brownie, read the extensive collection of poetry magazines in the basement or browse through fliers for competitions and events all over London and the south east. We also have a news clipping board to keep you up to date with poetry in the news.

In the evening the atmosphere is busy and vibrant; we have poetry readings almost every evening (except Sundays when we are closed). Some are weekly events , some monthly or bi-monthly and some occasional or one-off. Each event has its own audience and its own following of poets (see regular events). Poetry Unplugged is an open mic session where people who have never read a poem in public can do so for the first time, or experienced poets may try out something new. We encourage you to try various events to find which poetry community suits your work best. We also occasionally host poets of world reknown, particulary in a series called In Town Tonight which responds to the presence of great poets who happen to be in the city, by featuring them in the intimate atmosphere of the Poetry Cafe basement.

If you would like regular information about cafe events and prior knowledge of special events, or you would just like to use the cafe on a regular basis, become a member of the cafe. This is a free service - you need to either sign our book in the cafe with your email address or email poetrycafe@poetrysociety.org.uk with" join email list" in the subject line. We require two days to register you as a member of the cafe.

Accessibility

The Poetry Cafe offers a lift, an accessible toilet and a hearing induction loop.

Private Hire - Please check schedule

On occasion the Poetry Cafe is closed for private hire - please check the schedule before you visit to make sure it's open.  Interested in hiring? Contact the Manager for rates and availability.