The Word featuring Lara Williams

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor
Writer Lara Williams
Lara Williams

The Word featuring Lara Williams at Home Community Café, Didsbury 15 September 2016 Entrance is free

Manchester-based author Lara Williams is just back from Edinburgh International Book Festival, where she’s been plugging her debut short story collection Treats, published by Scottish press Freight earlier this year. “A seriously impressive writer”, according to Huffington Post, Lara will be reading from this critically acclaimed tome, and also perhaps her novel-in-progress, at the latest outing of erratically regular suburban spoken word showcase The Word, hosted by the inimitable Fat Roland.

Described as “a break-up album of tales covering relationships, the tyranny of choice, and self navigation”, and shortlisted for a Saboteur Award, Treats is great on the page – and just as good off. Also expect on stage up to ten open mic performers, including both up-and-coming and established writers. With free entry and BYOB, The Word is a cheap-as-chips chance to dip your toe into the live literature scene. And if you miss Lara this time round, you can catch her on 6 October at the launch of Manchester Writing School’s Gregory Norminton’s latest offering, The Ghost Who Bled (International Anthony Burgess Foundation, 7pm, free).

The Word featuring Lara Williams at Home Community Café, Didsbury 15 September 2016 Entrance is free

Where to go near The Word featuring Lara Williams

Didsbury
The Art of Tea

Nestled in the leafy side streets of Didsbury high street, The Art of Tea is the perfect place to grab a heart warming brew and read a book.

Didsbury
Restaurant
Rudy’s Didsbury

Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza serve up world-famous pizza at multiple UK branches, including this new Didsbury branch.

Cheese and Win platter by Cheese Hamlet
Didsbury
Shop
Cheese Hamlet

Head to the Cheese Hamlet in West Didsbury for a huge range of cheese, must have deli items, and preserves.

Didsbury
Restaurant
The Wishing Well

A new gastro pub in Didsbury Village, specialising in hearty meals and high-quality drinks. 

Albert's Restaurant & Bar
Didsbury
Restaurant
Albert’s Restaurant & Bar

Albert’s Restaurant & Bar is the right kind of small chain where you know you’ll always enjoy a high-level experience. The Didsbury branch is no exception.

Manchester
Park
Fletcher Moss Botanical Garden

Fletcher Moss Park in Didsbury Village incorporates the Alpine House and Parsonage Gardens, and eventually leads down to the River Mersey via boardwalks through Stenner Woods.

The gold sign for Saison
Burton Road, West Didsbury
Bar or Pub
Saison

Formerly known as The Violet Hour, this bar has been revamped to become Saison, with a menu of seasonal small plates and an impressive beer selection.

What's on: Literature

Katharine Towers
LiteratureManchester
Poets & Players at Burgess Foundation

Poets & Players is a must-go for lovers of words and music, presenting poets established and emerging, with the latest readers Katharine Towers, Sascha Akhtar and Victoria Gatehouse.

free entry
Tom Branfoot. Photo Eleanor Hall, Museum of the Home
LiteratureWest Yorkshire
Poetry at the Dusty Miller

Poetry at the Dusty Miller is a now regular night with invited readers, organised by Carcanet-published Carola Luther and Judith Willson in the Coiners’ Room in the Mytholmroyd pub.

free entry

Culture Guides

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. 

A woman sits in a car with hands holding the steering wheel.
Cinema in the North

Vintage Alfred Hitchcock and a family friendly film festival are amongst our highlights this May.

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

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Tours and Activities in the North

We've got many a good time in store this month as we round up the best walking tours, cultural classes and makers markets in the land.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Dynamic dance, party-performance, high-energy stand-up and a site-specific show set in a pub. All this and more in our newest theatre guide.

Okechukwu Nzelu
Literature Events in the North

If it's inspiring, inclusive events and avant-garde, experimental afternoons you're after, look no further than live literature this spring – we've got you covered.