Raise the Bar

Raise the Bar The South West's leading live poetry night. Events, open mics, retreats + more.

Raise the Bar is a premier live events organisation and talent development platform, providing a space for artists of all kinds of background and lyrical styles to perform their work, and providing high quality YouTube packages of their poetry. We also invite outstanding and internationally renowned poets, as well as fantastic local talent, to perform at our live events.

🔥 New Open Mic coming your way! 🔥Join us on Tuesday 21st July for a beautiful night of live poetry, featuring two outsta...
17/06/2026

🔥 New Open Mic coming your way! 🔥

Join us on Tuesday 21st July for a beautiful night of live poetry, featuring two outstanding voices:

✨ Samatar Elmi () — award-winning writer, musician and educator whose acclaimed debut collection The Epic of Cader Idris was published by Bloomsbury. A poet, rapper and performer, Samatar’s work spans page, stage and music, with poems appearing in leading journals and anthologies across the UK and beyond.

✨ Yellatone () — poet, rapper and visual artist whose work draws on Drum & Bass and UK Rap influences. Fresh from completing his second studio album Square One Cycle, Yellatone brings a unique blend of poetry, lyricism and musical storytelling to the stage.

🎤 The mic is open to poets, storytellers, lyricists, rappers and wordsmiths of all kinds — whether it’s your first time or your hundredth. Come share your work, or settle in with a drink and experience some of the city’s finest voices.

📅 Tuesday 21 July 2026
📍 — 20 Clouds Hill Rd, Bristol BS5 7LA
⏰ Doors 7:00pm | Show 7:30–9:30pm (incl. interval)
🎟 PWYC £6 / £8 / £10 (£5 concessions) — tickets via link in bio

💡 Open mic sign-ups open Sunday 21 June at 10am
10 performers selected in advance, 4 drawn on the night
👉 Sign up via link in bio

✅ Wheelchair accessible
✅ Reserved open mic spaces for underrepresented voices
✅ Zero tolerance for hate or discrimination

✍️ Raise the Bar: Writing Workshop | Summer 2026 ✍️Our Summer writing workshop with is now fully booked! 💛A huge thank ...
16/06/2026

✍️ Raise the Bar: Writing Workshop | Summer 2026 ✍️

Our Summer writing workshop with is now fully booked! 💛

A huge thank you to everyone who grabbed a ticket — we can’t wait to gather again at for an afternoon of writing, conversation and creativity.

Led by poet and facilitator Saili Katebe, this workshop will bring together writers of all levels to generate new work through gentle prompts, discussion and creative exercises in a warm, welcoming environment.

If you missed out this time, keep an eye on our page for future workshops, retreats and opportunities from Raise the Bar.

📅 Saturday 18 July 2026
📍 — Reading Room
⏰ 12:00–2:00pm

16/06/2026

🔥 TONIGHT at Raise the Bar 🔥

Our June Open Mic lands at tonight — and there are just a few tickets left.

Featuring:

✨ Farah Chamma () — Palestinian poet and performer bringing her powerful ‘The Troubadour’ UK Tour to Bristol

✨ Pete the Temp — poet, beatboxer and former national slam champion known for his wild, joyful live performances

🎤 Plus open mic performances from some of Bristol’s finest poets, storytellers, rappers and lyricists.

📅 Tonight — Tuesday 16 June 2026
📍 
⏰ Doors 7pm | Show 7:30pm
🎟 Last tickets via link in bio

Come spend your evening with us 💛

We’re honoured to welcome Palestinian poet and performer to Raise the Bar this June, as part of her UK ‘The Troubadour’...
14/06/2026

We’re honoured to welcome Palestinian poet and performer to Raise the Bar this June, as part of her UK ‘The Troubadour’ Tour.

Farah’s work blends spoken word, theatre and live music into performances that are both fiercely political and deeply human — rooted in resistance, memory, tenderness and love. Performing internationally across Europe and the Middle East, she has built a reputation as one of the most compelling live voices on the contemporary spoken word scene.

One half of musical duo chamaeleon, Farah combines orality, rhythm and performance in ways that are urgent, inventive and unforgettable.

Joining her on the night:

✨ Pete the Temp — poet, beatboxer and former national slam champion known for his joyful, genre-defying live performances.

🎤 Hosted by Danny Carlo Pandolfi ()

📅 Tuesday 16 June 2026
📍 — Bristol
⏰ Doors 7pm | Show 7:30pm
🎟 last tickets - link in bio

🔥 Our next Open Mic is just around the corner! 🔥These photos are from last month’s beautiful Open Mic 💛On Tuesday 16th J...
05/06/2026

🔥 Our next Open Mic is just around the corner! 🔥

These photos are from last month’s beautiful Open Mic 💛

On Tuesday 16th June, we’re back at with two incredible feature acts:

✨ Farah Chamma () — Palestinian poet and performer bringing her powerful UK ‘The Troubadour’ Tour to Bristol

✨ Pete the Temp () — poet, beatboxer and former national slam champion known for his joyful, unforgettable live shows

🎤 Open mic spots available for poets, storytellers, rappers, lyricists and wordsmiths of all kinds.

📅 Tue 16 June 2026
📍
⏰ 7:30pm
🎟 Tickets + open mic sign-up via link in bio

We’d love to see you there.

✍️ Raise the Bar: Writing Workshop | Summer 2026 ✍️Our quarterly poetry workshop returns to — an affordable, welcoming ...
02/06/2026

✍️ Raise the Bar: Writing Workshop | Summer 2026 ✍️

Our quarterly poetry workshop returns to — an affordable, welcoming space for writers of all levels to generate new work, explore contemporary poetry and connect with other poets in the community.

Our Summer workshop will be led by poet and facilitator Saili Katebe ().

Saili Katebe is a Zambian-born writer, performer and workshop facilitator whose work celebrates the musicality of language and the power of storytelling to connect people. A former poet-in-residence aboard SS Great Britain, his work has featured on BBC Arts and BBC Radio Bristol, with performances spanning stages across the UK — including as a finalist in the BBC Edinburgh Festival Fringe Slam.

Through gentle writing prompts, discussion and creative exercises, this session is designed for both complete beginners and experienced/published writers alike.

✨ Just 15 places available
✨ £5 tickets
✨ Advance booking essential

📅 Saturday 17 July 2026
📍 Arnolfini (Reading Room), Bristol
⏰ 12:00–2:00pm
🎟 Tickets via link in bio

🖋️ Weekend Writing Retreat with Pascale Petit & Cecilia Knapp 🖋️Applications close TOMORROW for Raise the Bar’s post-eme...
30/05/2026

🖋️ Weekend Writing Retreat with Pascale Petit & Cecilia Knapp 🖋️

Applications close TOMORROW for Raise the Bar’s post-emerging writing retreat — a full weekend of poetry, craft, conversation and creative development in the beautiful surroundings of Barley Wood House.

✨ Pascale Petit () — award-winning poet and author of nine collections, four shortlisted for the TS Eliot Prize. Her latest collection Beast was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation, and Mama Amazonica won both the RSL Ondaatje Prize and the inaugural Laurel Prize for eco-poetry.

✨ Cecilia Knapp () — poet, novelist and former Young People’s Laureate for London, shortlisted for the Forward Prize and author of the acclaimed collection Peach Pig and novel Little Boxes.

Designed for post-emerging poets, this retreat is for writers looking to refresh their practice, deepen their craft and continue building sustainable creative careers in a supportive, inspiring environment.

Expect:

🖋️ Advanced writing workshops + craft discussions
🔥 Space to generate new work and deepen your practice
🌱 1–1 tutoring with facilitators
🎤 Fireside open mic + creative community
🌳 Time to write, rest and explore beautiful grounds
🥗 Full vegan catering + accommodation included

Raise the Bar retreats are known for their warm, welcoming and family atmosphere — a space to connect, experiment and grow alongside fellow poets.

📅 Fri 13 – Sun 15 Nov 2026
📍 Barley Wood House, Wrington, Bristol
💛 Bursary spaces + travel bursaries available

Applications close TOMORROW (31 May, 9pm).

Apply via link in bio.

Our retreats and artist development programme are supported by .

🌿 Weekend Writing Retreat with Salena Godden & Safiya Kamaria 🌿Applications close tomorrow for our Autumn 2026 residenti...
30/05/2026

🌿 Weekend Writing Retreat with Salena Godden & Safiya Kamaria 🌿

Applications close tomorrow for our Autumn 2026 residential writing retreat at Barley Wood House — a full weekend of poetry, creativity, community and artistic development with two extraordinary writers and facilitators.

✨ Salena Godden () — award-winning novelist, poet and broadcaster, author of the acclaimed Mrs Death Misses Death and Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Her work blends urgency, imagination and radical tenderness in unforgettable ways.

✨ Safiya Kamaria () — award-winning poet, choreopoet and inventive live performer whose acclaimed collection Cane, Corn & Gully was shortlisted for both the Rathbones Folio Prize and the Forward Prize for Best First Collection.

Designed for emerging and developing poets, this retreat is for writers looking to refresh, create new work, build confidence and deepen both craft and career skills in a warm, supportive environment.

Expect:

✍️ Writing workshops, creative prompts and lively discussions
🔥 1-1 tutoring with facilitators
🌱 Space to develop your voice, confidence and creative practice
🎤 Fireside open mic with fellow attendees
🤝 A welcoming, supportive creative community
🍃 Time to read, write and explore 11 acres of beautiful gardens and woodland
🥗 Full vegan catering + accommodation included
Raise the Bar retreats are known for their warm, welcoming and family atmosphere — a space to experiment, grow and connect with other writers.

📅 Fri 6 – Sun 8 November 2026
📍 Barley Wood House, Bristol
💛 Bursary spaces + travel bursaries available
⏳ Applications close TOMORROW (31 May)

Places are limited. Apply via link in bio.

Our retreats and artist development programme are supported by

🌿 Here’s what 2025 attendees thought about Raise the Bar’s writing retreats 🌿Warm, inspiring, confidence-building, creat...
29/05/2026

🌿 Here’s what 2025 attendees thought about Raise the Bar’s writing retreats 🌿

Warm, inspiring, confidence-building, creatively energising — our retreats are designed to help poets and writers deepen their craft, build community and reconnect with their creativity in a welcoming, supportive environment.

✨ Our 2026 retreats are now live — featuring internationally acclaimed poets, performers and facilitators across writing, performance and professional development.

From full-day writing and performance retreats to catered residential weekends, there are opportunities for poets and writers at different stages of their journey.

⏳ Applications close this Sunday (31 May) — don’t miss your chance to join us.

💛 Bursary spaces + travel bursaries available
📍 Retreats across Bristol & the South West
🎟 Apply via link in bio

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