The Poetry Society’s popular Poetry Café, which stages a succession of poetry events each week, will be closing from 1 September and is likely to remain closed for the rest of the year, while work is carried out to improve its “access, capacity and design”. Write Out Loud understands that this work at the society’s HQ in Betterton Street, Covent Garden, London, will include replacing and relocating its lift, and shifting the stairs at the basement where poetry events are held as well.

On its website the Poetry Society says: “The Poetry Café is likely to remain closed throughout 2016 and will reopen early in 2017. Exact dates for reopening will be announced in due course once the work onsite is under way. Don’t worry though, you can still enjoy many of our regular promoters events in alternative venues whilst the café is being refurbished. We will continue to promote and detail events in the temporary locations so keep an eye on the website calendar for more information as it becomes available, or you can sign up to the Poetry Café mailing list if you’d like the information emailed to you directly.”