Poetry Cafe Refreshed at Smokey Joe’s in Bennington Street, Cheltenham, ran monthly on a Wednesday evening from August 2015 to February 2020, when it was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sharon Larkin arranged the programme of guest poets for each of the 54 events, and the evening was hosted by Roger Turner.
Here is a list of the 60 guest poets that performed at Poetry Cafe Refreshed:
2015
August – John Alwyine-Mosely
September – Tom Sastry
October – Nina Lewis
November – Avril Staple
December – Brenda Read Brown
2016
January – David Clarke
February – Sue Johnson, Bob Woodroofe, Joy Thomas
March – Paul Canon Harris
April – Matt Duggan
May – Rachael Clyne
June – Lesley Ingram
July – Ben Banyard
August – Patrick Osada
September – Deborah Harvey
October – Kathy Gee
November – Claire Walker
December – Anna Saunders
2017
January – David Calcutt
February – Stephen Daniels
March – Jennie Farley
April – Sam Loveless
May – Michael W Thomas
June – Stuart Nunn
July – David J Costello
August – Jeff and Dan Phelps
September – Angela Topping
October – Matthew Stewart
November – Kate Noakes
December – Ann Drysdale
2018
January – JPDL
February – Ash Dickinson
March – Gareth Writer Davies
April – Gillian Allnutt
May – Robert Walton
June – Keith Chandler
July – Ziggy Dicks, Jason Conway, Nick Lovell
August – Deborah Alma
September – Angi Holden
October – Sarah Leavesley-James
November – Pat Edwards
December – Peter Wyton
2019
January – Stephen Payne
February – Holly Magill and Brett Evans
March – Melanie Branton
April – Maggie Harris
May – Philip Rush
July – A F Harrold
August – Oz Hardwick
September – Julia Webb
October – Luke Palmer
November – Sarah L Dixon
December – Phil Kirby
2020
January – Jinny Fisher
February – David Briggs
Countless Open Mic poets during the 54 months of events!
It’s impossible to mention by name the scores of open mic poets who attended during the period ‘Refreshed’ was running. However, honorable mentions must be made to a handful of the ‘regulars’ including Michael Newman, Gill Wyatt, Catherine Baker and Annie Ellis who seldom missed an event.
Photos and e-posters to complete the record of Poetry Cafe Refreshed
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
On 10 August 2016, Poetry Café – Refreshed celebrated its first birthday. We were delighted to welcome Patrick Osada, who is on the management board of South magazine, as the guest poet on this special occasion.
Poetry Café Refreshed 