The Poetry Society

Hidden on one of Covent Garden's lesser-known streets, the Poetry Café (The Poetry Place) welcomes everyone, not only poets and poetry enthusiasts.

At lunchtime our superb cooks serve delicious vegetarian cuisine, and coffee and pastries are available throughout the afternoon. In the evening the atmosphere is busy and vibrant; we have poetry readings almost every night.

Some of the events take place every week, some monthly or bi-monthly and some are occasional or one-off. For newcomers, or those wishing to read, Poetry Unplugged is London's premier open mic session where people who have never read a poem in public can do so for the first time, or experienced poets can try out something new.

Whatever your tastes, and whether you join us regularly or only occasionally, we hope you enjoy your time at the Poetry Café. Please direct all enquiries and feedback to Ely Ahamed.

Become a Café Member

If you would like regular information about café events and prior knowledge of special events, or you would just like to use the café on a regular basis, then become a member of the café.

This service is free - you need to either sign our book in the cafe with your email address or join our email list via our contact page. We require two days to register you as a member of the café.

• Café main
• Calendar
• Regular events
• Exhibitions
• Poetry Surgeries
• Hire 
• Menu
• Endorsements
• Licensing
• Accessibility
• Where we are

Poetry Café (The Poetry Place)
22 Betterton Street
London WC2H 9BX

Email: Ely Ahamed
Telephone: 020 7420 9888

Opening times 

12 noon - 11pm Monday to Friday
7pm - 11pm Saturday

Closed on Sunday, and on occasion for private hire - please check the calendar before you visit.

News

May 2012Available to buy in the Poetry Café: Edward Lear-inspired tea-lights by Anna Perring, £10, Young Poets Network notebooks, £7, Poetry Review, £7.95. Discounts available for Poetry Society members on selected items.

May 2012
Poetry Surgery slots available with Katy Evans-Bush on 23 July.