HIP POETRY PREVIEW: Poet Town
The Poetry of Hastings & Thereabouts
Published by Moth Light Press, 10th September 2025
RRP: £12.99 paperback, £15.99 photo edition
PREVIEW BY PETE DONOHUE
It’s almost upon us – the much-anticipated publication of the biggest ever literary recognition of the poetic energies of Hastings. Poet Town spotlights and celebrates the inspirational works of a broad range of local, and locally connected, poets spanning two centuries. Along with the likes of Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear and Christina Rossetti it focuses on the work of more than 50 contemporary writers, each with their own take on our beloved seaside town.
The fascinating poetic links to this historic place are shared in an introduction by the editor, Richard Newham-Sullivan. Newham-Sullivan, who is from Hastings, was inspired to create the anthology by the sheer volume of poetic output from the town. He tells HIP: “It’s the only coastal town where there are more poets than seagulls. Alongside the best-sellers and well-known names, there are many hidden gems in this book, exciting new poets to discover.”
One featured poet, Tim Rich, comments: “Poet Town is a bold idea that has captured the imagination. It has the potential to inspire writers across the country to celebrate and share the poetry happening in their own towns, villages or cities.” Joelle Taylor describes the anthology as: “A song to belonging, to the home towns that never leave us. Tender, uplifting, irreverent, and glorious.” Luke Wright adds: “These poems hit you in the eye like an arrow. At turns funny, melancholy and celebratory – there’s all of life in these pages.”
Poet Town is not your typical local poetry anthology as the most cursory glance at the contents makes clear. Among those included are bestselling and prize-winning authors (Iain Sinclair, Salena Godden, AK Benedict, Orna Ross, Penny Pepper), a million-selling children’s poet (Brian Moses) a legend of British TV comedy (Henry Normal, writer and producer for hit shows like The Royle Family and Gavin and Stacy), a former band mate of Eric Clapton (the British Beat poet and songwriter Pete Brown), a renowned cartoonist (Martin Honeysett) and classic poets known and loved the world over.
These stars of page and screen have joined forces with fresh talent to celebrate the poetic legacy of Hastings – our seaside town known for its fish and chips, its towering castle, and its thriving artistic and cultural scene. Salena Godden, renowned poet, author and regular on BBC Radio 4, has written the foreword to the book. She says: “Poet Town is a book where some truth is shared, some magical inspiration is found and all the weather is weathered. These poems are from here, they are deep and salty, they are lurking in the crash of sea water around the legs of the pier, as much as they are wafting in the salt and vinegar on your fish and chips.”
Poet Town: The Poetry of Hastings & Thereabouts will be launched at the Hastings Book Festival, running from 12 to 21 September 2025. The book will be available from all good online book retailers and locally in Hastings Waterstones and elsewhere. The Photo Edition features a selection of full-colour photos of some of the poets at beloved spots around Hastings, by local photographer Maxine Silver. An exhibition of Maxine Silver’s photos of the poets will feature in events to mark the launch of the book.
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