Costa's Liverpool Bold Street hosts poetry events and readings on the second Monday and fourth Thursday of each month for the remainder of 2008 to celebrate Liverpool's European Capital of Culture status.
The Costa Liverpool Poetry Cafe venture is the brain child of Alex Scott-Samuel, a passionate poetry enthusiast and public health researcher at Liverpool University.
"Ever since we became the European capital of culture, I've been keen to badge Liverpool as England's poetry city," comments Alex. "Liverpool already has a thriving poetry scene but no focal venue for poetry events. Costa's link with poetry through its sponsorship of the Costa Book Awards and the Costa Poetry Award, coupled with its number of stores throughout the city, made it the obvious partner for the poetry cafe idea."
The Costa Liverpool Poetry Cafe concept has been modelled on the Poetry Society's poetry cafe in Covent Garden, London.
A programme of events ranging from readings, discussions and open mic sessions is currently being developed and already includes events with well-known local poets Gladys-Mary Coles, Aileen La Tourette, John Redmond and Deryn Rees-Jones.
It is hoped the poetry cafe will also attract authors and poets, such as Roger McGough and Brian Patten, already coming to Liverpool to participate in Capital of Culture events.
Alex Scott-Samuel is working with poetry groups and societies throughout Liverpool to develop themes and content for events. The project has had strong support from the city's libraries who will also be involved in generating content and ideas for events.
For more information, see local publicity or visit the Bold Street Costa store.
Jean Sprackland, winner of the 2007 Costa Poetry Award, reading in May 2008:
