A NORTH Cornwall town is set to be transformed into a paradise for art and culture as a poetry festival kicks off this weekend.

More than 20 award-winning and noted poets have started to arrive in Launceston from all over the country ahead of the inaugural Launceston Poetry Festival from May 29 to June 1, 2025.

Events kick off today (May 29) with an open mic event in The Byre. On top of this, there is art at Merchant House, alongside poetry prescriptions from the Poetry Pharmacy. On May 30, the Cornwall’s Lord Lieutenant, Edward Bolitho and award-winning novelist Patrick Gale will declare the main festival open, along with Launceston's new mayor Nicola Gilbert, and the rest of the programme begins.

Nicola Nuttall, director of the Charles Causley Trust, said : “It's thrilling to be able to welcome major names like Frank Skinner, Ella Frears, and Daljit Nagra to read in the heart of Launceston, as well as a host of other leading poets from Cornwall and around the world. We're delighted to offer so many first-rate community and family events too, as part of our incredible programme. It's all about Launceston, and Charles Causley's legacy to the town.”

Eagle House, the hotel made famous in Charles Causley's poetry, is playing host to some of the speakers over the long weekend, and will be serving cocktails of its Eagle One gin to festival goers, made in an in-house distillery from Cornish Spring Water. Launceston Castle, run by English Heritage, will host a picnic, on Sunday, June 1, in its grounds. As well as this, there are walks, open mic sessions, and workshops across all three days.