Liverpool’s thriving poetry scene is once again stepping into the spotlight this October as Give Poetry A Chance presents the fourth edition of Poetry on the Fringe, part of the Liverpool Fringe Festival 2025. The much-loved evening of spoken word takes place upstairs at The Ship & Mitre on Dale Street, Wednesday 8 October, promising a free night of verse, rhythm and reflection in one of the city’s best-loved pubs.
Since its founding in 2019, Give Poetry A Chance has become a vital hub for Liverpool’s wordsmiths. What began as a simple idea to give poets a platform has grown into a community with monthly events, published anthologies, and collaborations across the city. Its mission has always been clear: to champion local voices and make poetry accessible to everyone, whether seasoned performer or first-time listener.
This year’s Poetry on the Fringe carries that ethos proudly. The bill features 12 poets, a mix of familiar favourites and emerging talents: Angie, Anthony, Brian Hutchinson, Ian Martin, Mediocre Poems, Megs Kathleen, Naami J Soya, Peter Curran, Saffron Francis, Saint Vesapaluus, Sally Porter, and Samira Persia Kamali. It’s a line-up that reflects the range and energy of Liverpool’s contemporary poetry scene — from sharp social commentary to playful storytelling and heartfelt confessionals.
Guiding the night will be three well-known names on the circuit: Laura Ferries, Louise Evans and Dan Cullinan. All three feature in the Liverpool Noise 2026 Poetry Project “52 4 26”, where Liverpool Noise publish a poem from a Merseyside poet weekly throughout 2026. Their collective experience as hosts and performers ensures the evening flows with warmth, humour and just the right touch of improvisation. Cullinan, who launched Give Poetry A Chance six years ago, has often spoken of poetry as “a way of bringing people together” — and this event is a perfect expression of that belief.
The atmosphere at Poetry on the Fringe is one of its greatest draws. The Ship & Mitre’s upstairs room has become a regular home for spoken word in the city, intimate enough for the audience to feel close to the performers yet lively enough to capture the buzz of the Fringe. Doors open at 7pm with performances starting at 7.30pm, and entry is completely free.
All poet slots are already booked, but the invitation to the audience is wide open: come along, grab a drink, and celebrate the creativity bubbling through Liverpool’s poetry scene. With the Liverpool Fringe running from 30 September to 11 October, this evening is set to be one of its highlights — a reminder that, in this city, poetry really does get a chance. Don’t miss it.
