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Poetry Cafe

 
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Address: 22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden,  WC2H 9BX
Telephone: 020 7420 9887/8
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Nearby: Hotels, Events, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Shopping, Education, Leisure, Pubs, Nightlife, Business
Poetry Cafe is in the London Borough of Camden
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Poetry CafeFriendly café/bar/restaurant with live poetry performances.

Quaff coffee in the company of artists, lyricists, poets and performers as the delicate strains of sonnets and similes, quatrains and couplets, ballads and blank verses float through the air. Hidden away on an unassuming Covent Garden side street, this cosy hideaway offers customers a gentle introduction to poetry combined with a tasty, warming afternoon tea. Toast, cakes and a selection of leaf and herbal infusions can be munched on in a delightful atmosphere of unassuming creativity. Managed by the Poetry Society, this café/bar/restaurant also doubles up as a performance space with a varied programme that includes the odd floor-spot - so if you’re feeling inspired by your cup of Darjeeling to pen an ode to ‘Tea’ here’s the place to recite it. On Saturday evenings they hold a regular event in the Cellar highlighting the best in poetry and performance so why not follow-up afternoon tea with some of their excellent vegetarian food and then an hour or so discovering the best new and existing talent on the scene. A warm and welcoming, funky and friendly environment this isn’t one of those exclusive, high-brow joints. You don’t need to be a poet or even a liker of poetry to appreciate its charm - come and read the paper, contemplate life or simply sit back and sup - but here’s betting you’ll be writing sonnets before the teapot’s dry.

Best for:
Cosy hideaway, poetry, papers and performances, tea and toast.

Did you know?
A hymn written between 658 and 680 dedicated to the Creation is said to be the earliest known English poem.

Visiting Poetry Cafe

 
 

Travel

 
Underground Stations
Covent Garden Tube (3 minutes)
Holborn Tube (6 minutes)
Railway Stations
Charing Cross Railway Station (12 minutes)
City Thameslink Station (21 minutes)
Docklands Light Railway
Bank (35 minutes)
 
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Opening Times

Mon to Fri 11:00-23:00, Sat 18:30-23:00
 
 

Car Parks

 
Drury Lane NCP (2 minutes)
Holborn NCP (2 minutes)
 
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London Location Map of Poetry Cafe

Betterton Street
 
Printable map of Poetry Cafe
 
Further articles featuring Poetry Cafe on LondonTown.com
Amorous Gifts  (Published January 2008)
Poetry Cafe | Poetry Library You don’t have to spend a fortune lavishing your loved one with expensive gifts on Valentine’s Day, sometimes the simple things are...  More
 
 
 

Alternative Cafes and Delis

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Progreso
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London Dining / Cafes and Delis

Progreso

Downstairs,  Thomas Neal’s Centre, 35 Earlham Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H Map
3 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
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27 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H Map
3 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
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Alternative Local Dining

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Rock & Sole Plaice
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London Dining / Fish and Seafood

Rock & Sole Plaice

47 Endell Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H Map
2 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
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Sarastro
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London Dining / Turkish Cuisine

Sarastro

126 Drury Lane, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2B Map
2 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
Ornate, opera-themed Turkish restaurant with singing waiters and unique opera-box style seating. One of Theatreland’s favourite restaurants, Sarastro must also rank highly as one of ... More
 
 
 
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High Holborn Hall
London Hotels / Hostel

High Holborn Hall

178 High Holborn London,  WC1V Map
2 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
This impressive building, set at the top of Theatreland’s Drury Lane, puts you right in the midst of London's West End. With 494 beds it ... More
 
 
 
Kingsway Hall Hotel
London Hotels / Mid Range Chain Hotel

Kingsway Hall Hotel

Great Queen Street, London,  WC2B Map
3 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
Well-equipped, comfortable rooms await guests to this elegantly modern hotel in the heart of Theatreland. Set yourself up for the day with a hearty breakfast ... More
 
 
 
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Local Events on today or on tomorrow or on a particular date

Near Poetry Cafe
 
London Events / Theatre
Best
8th October 2009 until 28th November 2009
The Donmar Warehouse, 41 Earlham Street, Seven Dials,  WC2H Map
3 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
The brilliant Donmar Warehouse is delving into the 17th century to breathe new life into this classic, poetic work by Spanish playwright Pedro Calderon de ... More
 
 
 
London Events / Dance
Best
23rd October 2009 until 23rd January 2010
Royal Opera House, Bow Street,  WC2E Map
3 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
In 1946 the Vic-Wells Ballet, soon to become The Royal Ballet, performed a new production of The Sleeping Beauty to mark its move to the ... More
 
 
 
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Local Entertainment

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Show Theatre Distance Tickets from
War Horse New London Theatre 1 minutes £53.40
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Local Sights and Attractions

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London Sights and Attractions / Art Galleries
Best
135 Flitcroft Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H Map
5 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
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London Sights and Attractions / Museums

The Cartoon Museum

35 Little Russell Street, Bloomsbury,  London,  WC1A Map
5 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
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Local Shopping

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Aveda
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London Shopping / Hair and Grooming

Aveda

Urban Retreat and Chakra Rooms 174 High Holborn, Covent Garden,  London,  WC1V Map
2 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
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Birkenstock
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London Shopping / Shoes

Birkenstock

70 Neal Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H Map
2 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
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Local Education

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English [Out There!]
Best
London Education / English Language Courses

English [Out There!]

10 Coptic Street, Bloomsbury,  London,  WC1A Map
4 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
English [Out There!] takes a very hands-on approach to learning English. The course places an emphasis on using what you have learned. Students are taken ... More
 
 
 
Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design
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London Education / Universities and Colleges

Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design

Southampton Row, Bloomsbury,  London,  WC1B Map
7 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
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The Hospital Club
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The Hospital Club

24 Endell Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H Map
1 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
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The Sanctuary

12 Floral Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2E Map
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The Cove

1 The Piazza, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2E Map
5 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
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Lamb & Flag
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Lamb & Flag

33 Rose Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2E Map
6 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
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Local Nightlife

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Madame Jojo's
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London Nightlife / Nightclubs

Madame Jojo's

8-10 Brewer Street, Soho,  London,  W1F Map
11 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
This was once a sleazy Soho strip club, as the name suggests, and it really shows. Deep reds are the dominant colour, with mirrors, booths and velvet curtains ... More
 
 
 
London Nightlife / Nightclubs
18a West Central Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC1A Map
3 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
For many, the real damage of this bleeding recession came when iconic club The End and its upstairs bar AKA closed its doors to business. ... More
 
 
 
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London Private Hire Venues

Near Poetry Cafe
 
The Hospital
London Business / Venue Hire

The Hospital

24 Endell Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H Map
1 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
Before it was a swanky private members' club - complete with bar and dining rooms, cinema, TV and recording studios - The Hospital was exactly ... More
 
 
 
London Business / Venue Hire
24 Endell Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H Map
1 minutes walk from Poetry Cafe
... More
 
 
 
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22
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