The Poetry Society Celebrating our centenary

About Us

Our mission is to advance the study, use and enjoyment of poetry. 

A charitable organisation founded in 1909, we provide support, information and merchandise for specialists and the general public alike. We have nearly 4,000 members worldwide and we engage with and support diverse poetry audiences.

Through events, publications, café, promotions and prizes we ensure the highest artistic quality; we create a central position for poetry in the arts and continue to build new avenues to promote poets and poetry in Britain today.

Our education work provides development opportunities for poets, teachers, pupils, and emerging writers, creating a central position for poetry in education through our advocacy and links with national arts and government initiatives.

Staff

Director - Judith Palmer 
Editor of Poetry Review - Fiona Sampson 
Publishing Manager - Michael Sims
Press and Marketing Manager - Lisa Roberts
Office and Marketing Assistant - Alan Ward 
Membership Manager - Paul McGrane
Poetry Café Manager - Ely Ahamed
Finance Manager - Paul Ranford
Finance Assistant - Naomi Wood
Education Manager - Bea Colley
Deputy Education Manager - Angel Dahouk
Education Projects Co-Ordinator - Lucy Wood
Education Assistant - Holly Hopkins

Poetry Society staff at the National Poetry Competition prizegiving
March 2009, with Anne-Marie Fyfe, Chair

President

Jo Shapcott

Vice Presidents

Roger McGough
Hugo Williams
Sean O'Brien
Michael Longley
Ian McMillan
Benjamin Zephaniah
Gwyneth Lewis
Don Paterson
Simon Armitage
Anne Stevenson
Carol Ann Duffy

Honorary Members

Paul Muldoon
Lord Gavron
Seamus Heaney
Andrew Motion
Les Murray
Dr Alastair Niven
Norman Willis
Fleur Adcock
Joan Bakewell
Ruth Padel

Trustees

Robyn Bolam - Chair
Emma Bravo
Peter Carpenter
Alan Jenkins
Anne Jenkins
Wendy Jones
John Richmond
Jacqui Rowe
Jacob Sam-La Rose
John Simmons

Where we are

Nearest Underground: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line) Holborn (Piccadilly and Central lines)

From Covent Garden Underground station
Turn left out of the tube station to reach Longacre, then cross over at the zebra crossing (opposite Marks and Spencers). Turn right up Longacre. At the mini roundabout, use the zebra crossing (to your left) to cross over the top of Endell Street, then turn left down Endell Street.

Betterton Street is the second turning on the right (it is a one-way street with access from Endell Street). The Poetry Society (Number 22 Betterton Street) is less than 100 metres down on the left-hand side. It has a dark blue frontage. The Poetry Cafe next door is the Poetry Society's public space.

Map

There is a disabled parking bay opposite the building. There are two more disabled parking bays on Longacre outside French Connection.