Jo Bell at The Portico Library

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

Book now

Jo Bell on Boater - Manchester Book Launch Event

The Portico Library, Chinatown
31 July 2025
Date
Time
Session Features
12:00 am

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Cover of a book with a canal boat on it saying boater by Jo Bell
Jo Bell
Book now

Poet and now memoirist Jo Bell invites you to join her “for a friendly evening in one of Britain’s most special places, the magnificent, secret Mancunian treasure that is The Portico Library“.

Usually found on a mooring somewhere in Cheshire, Jo Bell will be talking about her new “smart, funny” memoir Boater (just out with HarperCollins), as well as reading a little from it and answering questions from the audience. An award-winning poet, Jo Bell’s collections include Kith and Navigation, and as well as being the UK’s inaugural Canal Laureate, she was director of National Poetry Day.

Right now, you’re encouraged to step aboard Boater, the memoir of a mesmerising narrowboat voyage along the tranquil waterways of England, meeting extraordinary people in an extraordinary environment. After decades of calm aboard England’s historic canals – always at home, always on the move – a turbulent relationship finds the archaeologist-turned-poet embark on a year-long odyssey navigating the country’s canals, not to mention the treacherous Bristol Channel.

Boater is both her story and the story of the living waterways – told with Jo Bell’s usual wit and wisdom as well as a deep insight into a culture found on the other side of the map. Join her as she navigates shallow waters and deep trouble, and welcomes readers onboard a remarkable voyage through the past, present and future of our canals and the communities they support. It’s a journey that’s taught her about human nature, including her own; about rope and Brasso and bravery; about locks and her neighbours, the ducks (“Duck of the Day” is a regular feature on Jo’s socials). Boater describes an alternative nation within a nation, a place of different maps and deep history, and home to people who live and work in a world quite separate from the land a few feet away on the banks. As she says: ‘It’s not a lifestyle. It’s a life.’

Books will be on sale at the event. Tickets are £6 plus Eventbrite booking fee (£7.21 in total).

If you can’t make Manchester, but you’re in Nottingham, head to Five Leaves Bookshop to hear from Jo on 6 August.

What's on at The Portico Library

Where to go near Jo Bell at The Portico Library

City Centre
Restaurant
Blinker

Elegant cocktail bar in the centre of Manchester, with a relaxed atmosphere and wonderfully friendly staff.

moose coffee manchester creative tourist
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Moose Coffee Manchester

Moose Coffee celebrates ‘the best meal of the day’ (brunch) in American style, with stack pancakes, potato hash, Huevos Rancheros and eggs any way. There’s always a queue.

Home-X
Manchester
Restaurant
Home-X

Home-X is the online spin-off of renowned Scottish-Italian chef Nico Simeone’s Six By Nico restaurant. This is geared around kit meals to cook at home.

Manchester
Restaurant
Pho Manchester

Pho does a fine line in pho, the noodle soup that’s a staple of Vietnamese street cuisine.

Manchester
Shop
Siam Smiles

Now based at the Great Northern, Siam Smiles is a food stop that’s hot on everyone’s lips.

Chinatown
Restaurant
Manchester Art Gallery Cafe

Summery bakes, seasonal salads and fresh light meals at Manchester Art Gallery’s in-house café, courtesy of highly-regarded Head Chef Matthew Taylor.

hunan chinese restaurant manchester
Chinatown
Restaurant
Hunan Restaurant

Hunan, a Chinese restaurant in Manchester’s Chinatown, may be a bit off the beaten track – but it’s all the better for that.

What's on: Literature

LiteratureLeeds
Lisa Jewell at the Old Woollen

“Twisty page-turners. Domestic dramas. Bone-chilling suspense.” That’s how #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell is described by her publisher Simon & Schuster on their home page for her.

From £18.00
Jenn Ashworth at Blackwell's Manchester
LiteratureManchester
Jenn Ashworth at Blackwells

Jenn Ashworth is back at Blackwells bookshop for the Manchester launch of her latest work, reading extracts and chatting to Helen Mort about how The Parallel Path came about.

From £4.00
LiteratureLeeds
Chemistry at The Chemic

Leeds live literature regular Chemistry offers an exciting mix of open mic acts and invited poets – this month the headliners include Rosie Garland.

Free entry
Poet Mike Garry. Photo Paul Wolfgang Webster
LiteratureManchester
Word Central at Central Library

Word Central is a long-standing live literature favourite at Central Library and features open mic performers and a special guest, brought to you by Manchester Libraries and Flapjack Press.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre in the North

Summer signals theatre festivals, world premieres and open-air spectacle - from MIF25 to comedy, outdoor circus and beyond, here’s what we’re looking forward to.

European Poetry Festival European Camarade
Literature Events in the North

From tongue-twisters to twisty page-turners, we have all kinds of spoken word surprises in the latest literature round-up.

Cloudwater Production One
Tours and Activities in the North

Go forth with wild abandon to dance the pavements, dabble with the paint and down the pints in this month's tours and activities guide.

Star Nhà Ease
Cinema in the North

July's cinema highlights include spotlights on international cinema, a new cult classic, plus a visit from one of our favourite directors.

Exhibitions in the North

Captivating, urgent and intimate - we bring you our top exhibition picks, with even more art festivals, artist-led shows and new venues.

Helena Hauff
Music in the North

Shape-shifting bands, scorched-earth techno, and off-grid festivals. Our latest music picks catch the live scene at its most urgent, inventive and alive.