BACK by popular demand for poetry lovers is Marlborough LitFest’s Poetry in the Pub.

Amateur and aspiring local poets get the chance to read their work aloud in an open mic session, held in The Green Dragon pub on Marlborough High Street on Sunday, October 4 at 1pm.

The event is once again hosted by local writer and poet, Alex Hickman. Poems submitted in advance to Alex at general@marlboroughlitfest.org will be read first. Or people can turn up on the day with poems. No tickets are required and drinks and sandwiches can be bought at the bar.

Acclaimed poet, playwright, editor, broadcaster, lecturer and current National Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke closes the LitFest on Sunday 4 October at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall, Marlborough College.

Considered one of the central figures in contemporary Welsh poetry, her work is studied by GCSE and A Level students in Britain. She is part of the GCSE Poetry Live Team who include Carol Ann Duffy and Simon Armitage – both of whom are LitFest alumni. Tickets cost £10.

Tickets and programme catalogues are available from The White Horse Bookshop, Marlborough High Street, or Pound Arts Tel: 01249 701628 / 01249 712618 (www.poundarts.org.uk/). For further information, visit www.marlboroughlitfest.org