Peter Barlow’s Cigarette open mic special at Gullivers

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor
Poet Rachel Sills, co-organiser of Peter Barlow’s Cigarette.
Poet Rachel Sills, co-organiser of Peter Barlow’s Cigarette.

Poet Rachel Sills, co-organiser of Peter Barlow’s Cigarette. at Gullivers, Manchester 14 March 2018 Entrance is free

Sign up (or just turn up!) to read at this special second-edition one-off Peter Barlow’s Cigarette open mic event to raise funds – everyone is welcome. They say: “Bring us your new poems, your old favourites, your wild forays against the darkness, your gentlest serenades, or whatever else you please to bless us with. If anyone feels like bringing a poem for the late Mark E Smith, that’s very welcome, though by no means a condition of entry.” It’s £2 on the door (or pay as you can afford) and proceeds will go towards the regular Saturday-afternoon showcases of great poetry talent, letting the organisers contribute to travel costs for those from further afield.

Poet Rachel Sills, co-organiser of Peter Barlow’s Cigarette. at Gullivers, Manchester 14 March 2018 Entrance is free

Where to go near Peter Barlow’s Cigarette open mic special at Gullivers

Chakalaka
Manchester
Restaurant
Chakalaka

The very best of South African cuisine in an intimate, friendly space in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

Castle Hotel pub in Manchester
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Castle Hotel

A pub with a 200 year-long history on Oldham Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, the Castle Hotel has a musical past.

Manchester
Shop
Bags of Flavour

Bags of Flavour is the Northern Quarter’s answer to high end vintage with high quality exclusive garments and accessories.

Manchester
Shop
RPB

Otherwise known as Ross Parlane’s Barber Shop, RPB is a barber shop in the middle of Manchester’s bustling Northern Quarter.

Behind Closed Doors Booth
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Behind Closed Doors

A hidden den of debauchery and indulgence. A fresh take on a basement cocktail bar in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

City Centre
Restaurant
Rewind NQ

A quirky bar, paying homage to the unfortunately deceased Blockbusters video rental stores, with aptly named cocktails and a great atmosphere.

Beermoth shop in Manchester's Northern Quarter.
Manchester
Shop
Beermoth

Beermoth on Manchester’s Tib Street stocks specialist beers, chosen with a quietly confident knowledge.

Image of Soup Kitchen in Manchester's Northern Quarter
Manchester
Music venue
Soup

Soup Kitchen is a superb communal cafe by day and an excellent live music venue by night. The perfect choice for lunch or a great night out.

Photo of Koffee Pot in Manchester's Northern Quarter
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Koffee Pot

This rock n’ roll greasy spoon on Stevenson Square in Manchester’s Northern Quarter is the place to be weekend mornings.

What's on: Literature

Okechukwu Nzelu
LiteratureHuddersfield
Polari at Huddersfield Literature Festival

Huddersfield Literature Festival is back with a packed programme this May, and this Polari-themed special caught our eye, featuring writers including Okechukwu Nzelu and Rosie Garland.

from £10.00

Culture Guides

portrait of Lorsung in a dark shirt with dark hair and dark round glasses
Literature Events in the North

We've got laughs and we've got leftfield on the live literature radar this month. Something for everyone, from poets playing with form to short story writers looking long.

Sextile
Music in the North

Open air clubs, new festivals and long-awaited gigs. The North West's live music scene is heating up this spring. 

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Eclectic as ever. You'll find inventive reworkings, world-class contemporary dance and Greater Manchester's inaugural Improv Festival in our guide.

Classical Music in the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.

Laura Ellen Bacon, Into Being, 2025. Photo © India Hobson, courtesy Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Exhibitions in the North

Willow weaving, textile collages, digital arts and ecology - all this and more in our exhibition top picks this month

Three men sit next to each other. One's head is bandaged, one holds a torch and one wears a sleepmask.
Cinema in the North

Live scores, midnight movies and the latest from Wes Anderson are just some of our upcoming film highlights.