I would like to be the air that inhabits you for a moment

Dear Friends,
It’s a season of sharp winds and unsettled times, yet we keep noticing the quiet courage of people showing up anyway. As winter lingers and the world feels bruised by noise and uncertainty, we’ve been taking comfort in the small, defiant signs of life pushing through the cold. Snowdrops on damp verges, doors being opened, hands still reaching out and we’re reminded that hope often arrives without fanfare. We’ve been thinking too about shelter. About places, people and gestures that offer a pause from the storm. Our York shop is our small attempt at that. A space shaped by care, belief and the stubborn hope of early spring.

Our bookshop on Coney Street is beginning to take shape, and the vision we’ve held for so long is starting to feel real. We’re especially thrilled with the shop’s new sign, painted with care by local artist  Paul Banks - a small but beautiful detail that captures the spirit of the space. Bringing this shop to life has been a huge undertaking for our small team, and we can’t wait to open the doors and warmly welcome you into this place for words, connection, hope and joy.

 

In other news this week, our own Deb Alma spoke on an inspiring panel at the Nurture Network for Entrepreneurs, sharing thoughts on creativity, running a small business, and the ways poetry can guide us through the challenges of daily life. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with other entrepreneurs, share experiences, and learn from each other.

Marie-Claire Frederick, founder of Nurture Network, has created such a warm, supportive and collaborative space for women in business. If you're interested in entrepreneurship, you can learn more about Nurture Network here, and more about Marie-Claire's journey here. We were very proud to play a small part in it.



Back in Bishops Castle, we're gearing up for the Arts Festival. We’re thrilled to be hosting a variety of events including, an open mic session, mindful writing workshops, and a workshop blending poetry and illustration. It’s always a joy to see the local community come together around art, ideas, and storytelling, and we hope you’ll join us to experience a little of that creativity and connection.

Please do have a look at the full line up in our events section below. Tickets usually sell out, so don't hesitate to book if there’s something you’d love to join.

 

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, it can be a good moment to pause and think about love in all its forms. Whether you’re celebrating a partner, a friend, or choosing to treat yourself, poetry can be a thoughtful way to mark the occasion. Browse our approved treatments for the season below, and explore further literary remedies in our Words for Love cabinet of curiosities. 

I would like to be the air
that inhabits you for a moment
only. I would like to be that unnoticed
& that necessary.
Margaret Atwood

Extract found in our Love poetry pills. You can read the full poem here.

 
 
 

For tender hearts, our Broken Heart pills offer comfort and companionship through words. Compassion is a gentle prescription for self-kindness - a reminder to speak to yourself with the same care you’d offer someone you love.
 

You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Derek Walcott

Extract found in our Compassion poetry pills. You can read the full poem here.

 

Further reading...
 
 
 

A gentle workshop to reconnect you with your inner voice

This workshop is part of the Bishop’s Castle Arts Festival and takes place in the space above the bookshop.

A playful poetry workshop for budding young writers

Catch The Poetry Bug
Wednesday 18th February 2026 2-3.30pm
Bishops Castle
 

A welcoming open mic night with special guests

Verbatim Poetry Open Mic
hosted by Pat Edwards
Wednesday 18th February 2026, 7.30-9pm
Poetry Pharmacy Lab, Bishops Castle
Drop in

Write, share, and explore the art of haiku

Poet and writer David Bingham leads a workshop exploring the history of haiku and guiding participants to create their own contemporary pieces for the Arts Festival.

Join David for Haiku Moments, a hands-on session where you will learn about the Japanese origins of haiku and the key features of contemporary haiku written in English.

Participants will have the opportunity to write their own haiku and share their creations with the group. The workshop will also cover ways to continue your haiku practice, including submitting work for publication and getting involved in local and national haiku activities.

Explore the boundaries of place, time, and
thought through poetry

Join Jan Westwood for a guided exploration of poems that explore borders - whether of place, time, season, or states of mind - as part of the Bishop’s Castle Arts Festival. You’ll encounter a rich range of poems from past and present, written by diverse voices from different backgrounds.

Jan has over 40 years’ experience teaching English and has had her own poems published in a variety of anthologies. She holds an MA in English Literature and chairs poetry groups both in person and online.

Ticket price includes tea or coffee and cake, making this a warm and welcoming space to enjoy poetry and conversation.

A gentle, seasonal workshop to reconnect
your writing with the world around you

Join award-winning poet Rhiannon Hooson for this workshop inspired by the natural world, its seasonal shifts and transitions. As winter softens and signs of spring begin to appear, we will look at ways of grounding ourselves and our writing through use of that most mindful tool in the writer's kit: noticing. Designed in conjunction with her popular online Wild Words courses, this workshop bridges the gap between the Winter course and the Spring course.

While there's no need for any previous experience with the online courses, for those who have participated, this workshop offers an opportunity for in-person seasonal creativity with your peers! Join us for a morning of mindful creativity and quiet inspiration.

A creative workshop blending poetry, drawing, and character design with fantastic local artist, Liv Bargman

Join local illustrator Liv Bargman in this creative workshop for Bishop’s Castle Arts Festival to explore the whimsical world of nonsense poetry through imaginative illustration and playful visual storytelling.

Drawing inspiration from iconic poets such as Edward Lear, Spike Milligan, Ogden Nash, and Hilaire Belloc, the session will blend poetry, drawing, and character design. Liv will share her signature approach to character creation in a fun and accessible format, suitable for adults.

Participants will create fantastical characters using a playful prompt system inspired by the transmundane—things that exist beyond the physical or visible world. We’ll then explore visual interpretation of nonsense poetry through hand-drawn typography and illustration.

Explore the poetry of bells

Touch Paper Poetry Writing Workshop
with Pat Edwards
Sunday 22nd February 2026, 12.30-2.30pm
Drop in

 
From alarm bells, through hand bells, cycle bells, bell-shaped flowers, and even pub names, the shape and sound of bells evokes memories and has inspired writers. Come and explore this evocative theme through exemplar poems, discussion and writing prompts.

£10 on the day. Refreshments and resource booklet included in ticket price.

Join best selling performance poet Isabella Dorta to celebrate her latest collection of coming of age, coming out poetry

Join us to raise a glass to celebrate the launch of Isabella's latest - and favourite - collection, I Don't Think I'm Straight, the chronological tale of figuring out your sexuality and gender expression. It’s a coming of age, coming out story told through poetry, designed for readers on both sides of the closet door.

Come along to meet Isabella, get your signed copy of the book and be part of a small Q&A, and reading from the book. Ticket price includes a glass of bubbles and £5 off the book on the night.

Spend the night in the Poetry Pharmacy!

Join poet Jo Bell and artist Bean Sawyer for an unforgettable all-night poetry workshop that blends writing with visual art and creative camaraderie. The Poetry Pharmacy will become our poetry snug for the evening, with midnight treats, warm drinks, and comfortable spots to snooze.

Throughout the night, Jo will guide you through poetic prompts, while Bean offers foraged wordplay and hands-on crafting. There will also be space for quiet reflection, storytelling, and dreaming.

Whether you're long-established or poetry-curious, expect laughter, insight, and a flurry of inspiration. Come with a notebook, leave with a constellation of new ideas, connections, and memories of a dawn filled with potential.

10pm–7am, with time for snoozing and resting. Spaces are limited, so book early.