Peter Barlow’s Cigarette & Carcanet present… at The Pen & Pencil

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor
Poet Jee Leong Koh
Poet Jee Leong Koh.

Peter Barlow's Cigarette & Carcanet present ~ Jay Gao & Jee Leong Koh at The Pen and Pencil, Manchester 21 August 2022 Entrance is free — Visit now

Two of our favourite Manchester institutions – Peter Barlow’s Cigarette and Carcanet Press – are teaming up to present an afternoon of alternative poetries with a summer special in the Northern Quarter welcoming two Carcanet poets Jay Gao and Jee Leong Koh, among others to be announced.

Two of our favourite Manchester institutions – Peter Barlow’s Cigarette and Carcanet Press – are teaming up to present an afternoon of alternative poetries.

Jay Gao is a poet, fiction writer and Contributing Editor at The White Review, and his writing has appeared in Granta, The Guardian, The Poetry Review and 3:AM Magazine. Originally from Edinburgh, he now lives in the States, where he earned his MFA at Brown University and is an incoming PhD student at Columbia University in New York City. His debut poetry collection Imperium is just out with Carcanet Press and he is the author of three poetry pamphlets: Wedding Beasts (2019), shortlisted for the Saltire-Calum MacDonald Award, Katabasis (2020), a winner of a New Poets Prize, and TRAVESTY58, just out. More on Jay Gao’s launch event for Imperium here.

Jee Leong Koh is the author of two Carcanet collections: Inspector Inspector, just out, and Steep Tea, named a Best Book of the Year by the Financial Times and a finalist by Lambda Literary. He has published four other books of poetry, a volume of essays, a collection of zuihitsu, and a hybrid work of fiction. Originally from Singapore, he lives in New York City, where he heads the literary non-profit Singapore Unbound and the independent press Gaudy Boy. More on Jee Leong Koh’s launch event for Inspector Inspector here.

The event will be livestreamed – book a ticket and a Zoom link will be sent out in the lead-up to the event.

Peter Barlow's Cigarette & Carcanet present ~ Jay Gao & Jee Leong Koh at The Pen and Pencil, Manchester 21 August 2022 Entrance is free Visit now

Where to go near Peter Barlow’s Cigarette & Carcanet present… at The Pen & Pencil

Manchester
Bar or Pub
El Capo

El Capo is another addition to the Northern Quarter’s sprawl towards Manchester’s Piccadilly Basin. Between Kosmonaut and The Whisky Jar on Tariff Street.

Manchester
Hilton House

Built in the late 60’s, Hilton House is a thriving contemporary office space and a beacon for local creatives.

The Whiskey Jar
Manchester
Bar or Pub
The Whiskey Jar

Warehouse-chic bar and events venue in Manchester’s Piccadilly, on the edge of the Northern Quarter.

Manchester
Restaurant
Northern Monk Refectory

Formerly known as Kosmonaut, this bar reopened on in 2018 as Leeds brewer Northern Monk’s first North-West venue. Expect real ale with a variety of cask and keg lines.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Kosmonaut: Loka Polly Tap Takeover

Based in the Northern Quarter, Kosmonaut is a haven for middle-class millennials searching for their own little Williamsburg. Decked-out with the now-standard exposed brickwork and repurposed furniture, it has three large rooms, each with their own bar.

The Feel Good Club exterior
Manchester
Event venue
Feel Good Club

Our flagship Feel Good Club in Manchester, open 7 days a week, providing a beautiful friendly environment for coffee, brunch, lunch, cocktails and beers with an amazing selection of non alcoholic beverages too.

Takk cafe in Manchester.
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
TAKK

An Icelandic coffee bar on the edge of the Northern Quarter

Manchester
Restaurant
Pelican Bar NQ

This Northern Quarter modern microbrewery offers a vast selection of beers, pizza and live-music.

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Ezra & Gil

One of our favourite spots for caffeine in Manchester. A spacious, stripped back location serving up great coffee a delicious menu of fresh cooked food. The counter is always full with a tempting selection of cakes and sweets, resistance is futile. By the way, Ezra means ‘Helper’ and Gil means ‘Happiness’.

Manchester
Restaurant
Tariff & Dale

Tariff & Dale is a bar and kitchen in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, taking its name from its location on the corners of both Tariff Street and Dale Street.

Beatnikz Republic
Manchester
Restaurant
Beatnikz Republic

Beatnikz Republic Brewing Company is a microbrewery based in Manchester which has focused on innovative and high-quality beer since 2017.

What's on: Literature

LIVEwire
Until
LiteratureManchester
LIVEwire at The Edge

Following sold-out shows in 2019 and 2021, LIVEwire is back at The Edge this March, and again in June, with an electric line-up.

from £13.00
2024 Northern Publishers' Fair
LiteratureManchester
Northern Publishers’ Fair 2024 at Central Library

Join readers and writers alike at this free event celebrating independent publishing. Peruse books from 16 publishers across genres including literary fiction, genre fiction, middle-grade and children’s, poetry and memoir.

free entry
Carrie Etter
LiteratureManchester
Poets & Players at Burgess Foundation

It’s the second Poets & Players of 2024, back at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation with an afternoon of words and music, featuring readings by Peter Sansom, Carrie Etter and Anita Pati.

free entry
Jason Allen-Paisant
LiteratureManchester
Jason Allen-Paisant at Manchester Poetry Library

Head to Manchester Poetry Library for the first of three events in its brand-new spring/summer poetry reading series – which not only features prize-winning poets but is also completely free.

free entry

Culture Guides

Festival-goers at Green Island
Music in Manchester and the North

Gazing longingly towards the good times that will accompany the surely imminent sun, we take a look at the best music festivals coming up in Manchester and Salford.