There’s so much to get involved in!
There’s a wealth of amazing poetry events happening every month in Newcastle and nearby cities, the North East really is full of culture and talent!
But sometimes, finding out about them is a matter of word-of-mouth. So here’s a list of the regular ones I know about.
I originally gathered all this info for my own reference, but now I have my own website, I thought I’d make it publicly available. Hopefully it’s useful to someone out there 😊
All of these events are based Newcastle Upon Tyne and environs; I’d love to tell you about performance poetry further afield, but I can only share what I know about!
Unless noted otherwise, performance slots are unpaid.
Art by Charlie Care, used with permission.
Get yourself a copy here!
The information on this page is not live, but where possible I have linked to accounts and pages managed by event organisers. Timings can change, so I recommend checking their feed for the latest info! If do you see any information here that is out of date/incorrect or have an event of your own to add, let me know at hello@lewisbrownpoet.com!
The Cooking Pot
Where? Baba Yaga’s House in Whitley Bay
Nearest station? Whitley Bay metro, ~5 minute walk
When? 1st Monday of each month
What time? Doors open at 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start.
How does it work? Performers can sign up on the night for a 5 minute slot with the host, Jenny Thompson.
Entry is free, the venue serves food, alcohol and soft drinks.
Open Mic at Elder Beer
Where? Elder Beer in Heaton, Newcastle
Nearest station? Chillingham Road metro, ~10 minute walk
When? 1st Monday of each month
What time? 7pm
How does it work? Sign up on the night, no strict timings. Performers often read work by their favourite poets as well. Host is Sam Telford.
Entry is free, the venue serves alcohol and soft drinks.
Inky Lab
Where? The Engine Room in North Shields, Newcastle
When? 1st Tuesday of each month
Nearest station? Tynemouth metro, ~10 minute walk
What time? Doors open at 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start.
How does it work? Sign up on the night, no strict timings. Host is Gareth Bartaby.
Entry is free, the venue serves alcohol and soft drinks.
Poetry Jam
Where? Waddington Street Centre, Durham
When? 1st Thursday of each month
Nearest station? Durham train station
What time? Doors open at 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start.
How does it work? Open-floor format, which means anyone can get up when they want and read one poem at a time. Host is Steve Urwin.
Entry is free. The venue sells hot drinks, soft drinks and snacks but there is no bar.
Yellow Line Poetry
Where? The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay metro station
When? 2nd Tuesday of each month
Nearest station? Whitley Bay metro station, it’s right inside!
What time? Runs from 7-10pm
How does it work? Sign up on the night, timings usually 5-10 minutes. Host is Haley.
Entry is free. The venue serves alcohol and soft drinks.
Born Lippy
Where? Cobalt Studios, Newcastle
When? 2nd Wednesday of each month
Nearest station? Manors metro, ~10 minute walk
What time? 7pm
How does it work? Event is a celebration of all things wordy, including comedy, hip-hop and spoken word. Limited slots are available in-advance on the night for the open mic poetry slam. Each performer gets 3 minutes, then another 3 if they get through to the second round. The winner of the slam gets a 15-minute paid set at a future Born Lippy. Host is Donald Jenkins.
Entry is £7-12, tickets available online beforehand (higher price includes pre-show writing workshop from 4-6pm). Slam performers get 50% off the entry prince. The venue serves alcohol and soft drinks.
King Ink
Where? Pop Recs in Sunderland
When? 2nd Thursday of each month
Nearest station? Sunderland metro, ~5 minute walk
What time? Doors at 6pm for an hour of chat and podcast recordings, poetry starts at 7pm.
How does it work? Sign up on the night for a 5 minute slot. Hosts are Helen and James.
Entry is free. The venue serves alcohol and soft drinks.
Voice Notes
Where? Barista Boho cafe in North Shields
When? 2nd Saturday of each moth
Nearest station? North Shields, ~5 minute walk
What time? 7pm
How does it work? Sign-up on the night for an open-mic slot. Music and comedy as well as poetry. Host is Earl John Charlton.
Event is a fundraiser. The venue serves food, hot drinks and soft drinks.
Everything GoesShows / Kaleidoscope ‘n’ Mic
Where? The Central Bar, Gateshead
When? 3rd Monday of each month
Nearest station? Gateshead metro, ~5 minute walk
What time? 7.30pm-9.30pm
How does it work? “An ever-evolving open mic night welcoming poetry, comedy, karaoke and spontaneous creative ideas. No two shows are ever the same as the audience shapes the night‘s direction. Tickets available online beforehand, for free or pay-what-you-feel. Walk-ins welcome too.”
The venue serves alcohol and soft drinks.
Under the Arches
Where? Alfie & Fin’s inside The Land of Green Ginger, Tynemouth
When? 3rd Tuesday of each month CURRENTLY ON HOLD
Nearest station? Tynemouth, ~5 minute walk
What time? 7.30pm
How does it work? Sign-up in advance or on the night, performers get 5 minutes. Host is Penny Blackburn.
Entry is pay-what-you-want, with the proceeds going to headline performers and/or charity. The venue serves alcohol and soft drinks.
Read Them Your Writes
Where? Tyneside Irish Centre, Newcastle city centre
When? 3rd Thursday of each month
Nearest station? Monument / St. James, ~2 minute walk
What time? 7.30pm-9.30pm
How does it work? Scratch night meets literary salon. Limited slots available each night. Host is Adam Sharp, in association with New Writing North.
Tickets available online, with different price tiers. Venue serves alcohol and soft drinks.
Words on the Wall
Where? The Coach & Horses, Hexham
When? 3rd Saturday of February, June and October
Nearest station? Hexham rail station
What time? Doors 2.30pm for a 3pm start
How does it work? Two headline poets plus open mic. Sign up on the day with host Joe Williams. Open mic slot is usually 4 minutes. Free/PAYF entry. Fully licensed and fully accessible venue, food also available.
Wallsend Writers
Where? The Philanthropist Bar & Lounge, Wallsend, Newcastle
When? 4th Monday of each month
Nearest station? Wallsend metro station, ~5 minutes.
What time? 7pm signup for a 7.30pm start
How does it work? Sign up on the night. Host is Andrew Mears.
Entry is free. The venue serves alcohol and soft drinks.
The Stanza
Where? The Klurb at North Shields and District Catholic Men’s Club in North Shields
When? Last Wednesday of each month
Nearest station? North Shields, ~5 minute walk
What time? Doors open at 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start.
How does it work? Sign-up in advance or on the night, performers get 5 minutes. Host is Mandy Maxwell.
Entry is free. The venue serves alcohol and soft drinks.
Out of Your Head
Where? The Cumberland Arms overlooking Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle
When? Last Thursday of each month
Nearest station? Byker, ~5 minute walk
What time? 6.30pm
How does it work? Sign-up on the night for the open mic, performers get 5 minutes. Poets can also submit a recorded poetry to the monthly themed call-out for a chance to get a 15-minute paid slot (see their feed for details). Host is Amy Langdown.
Tickets are £6 (concessions available), booked online or on the night.
The venue serves alcohol, soft drinks and hot drinks.
Quillseekers
Where? Forum Cinema bar, Hexham
Nearest station? Hexham train station
When? last Friday of the month
What time? 8pm
How does it work? Entry is free or PAYF which goes to the headliner. Event is in two halves. Open mic slots can be signed up for in advance or on the day. Host is Caitlin Kendall.
The venue serves alcoholic and soft drinks and snacks. It’s an accessible venue.