WELCOME TO CAT STRINGFELLOW POETRY
Cat Stringfellow
Newsflash!
Hot Mess Mansfield is proud to be taking part in 2026 in The Full Shebang (a family-friendly festival based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, UK) What's On - First Art and Nottingham Comedy Festival! Line Up Please click on the links for details, dates and times).
- Multiple Dates
BIO
Cat Stringfellow (she/her) is a Nottinghamshire lass born and bred, and yes, she has a Robin Hood kink (as do swathes of Notts folk, whether they like to admit it or not). Her poetry takes on themes of moments in time, our inner mental lives and the natural world. Influenced by her love of science fiction, she is a verified user of unnecessarily BIG WORDS! In March and May 2026, she was featured on BBC Uploads and later that year, had two poems in the summer/autumn issue 49 of The Dark Horse poetry magazine. She is a regular performer of poetry and monologues at open mics in the Midlands, south Yorkshire and occasionally farther afield. She is the prime mover behind, and host of, the open mic spoken word night Hot Mess Mansfield.
For information about Cat as a private English tutor, visit the website:
The English Student Plus – Learn English with Cat
Cat Stringfellow supports Redwings Horse Sanctuary:
Hot Mess Mansfield - Spoken Word Open Mic
Hot Mess Mansfield is my baby. I moved to the Mansfield area in 2020 and started to cast about for a local, regular event where I could share my writing. So - as a host of open mic hosts told me before I started - you look around and say to yourself, "Well - if no-one else is making that happen, it looks like it's going to be me!"
Hot Mess is a space for people to share any kind of spoken word - poetry, story-telling, rap, monologues, readings from their books or pamphlets... We've even had some improvised poetry and musical interludes! We are based in the back room of Ye Olde Ramme Inn on Church Street (close to both the bus and train station) in a great performance space with mic, stage and lights. Performers usually have a three poem/5 minute slot. We occasionally have headliners/featured poets at which point, this usually free event becomes a "pay what you feel" event.
As a queer person myself, having an LGBTQIA+ friendly space was very important to me when setting up Hot Mess and as soon as I visited Ye Olde Ramme Inn and met the landlords, Coop and Paul, who take such pride in their involvement with Mansfield Pride (see what I did there?), I knew I had found the right place.
Doors for Hot Mess open at 7.30pm on the last Monday of every month. If you want a guaranteed spot on the open mic, get in touch via Eventbrite, or DM me on Instagram or the dedicated Facebook page (see Contact section for details). Otherwise, just turn up on the night and ask for a spot from the person running around like a blue-arsed fly (that'll be me). We can usually squeeze you in.
Art is work. Hot Mess is proud to pay its headliners/featured poets.
A SELECTION OF POEMS BY CAT STRINGFELLOW
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Letter to a Tailgater (video)
Fri 3rd July
Appearing at Speech Therapy Open Mic, Fishergate Point, Nottingham
RECOMMENDED OPEN MIC NIGHTS AND POETRY-RELATED EVENTS
Allographic - an online open mic night that takes place on the last Sunday of every month. I became involved with Allographic during a Covid lockdown and I cannot recommend it highly enough. This is an incredibly welcoming, warm and diverse space. Run by the multi-talented Fay Roberts, Allographic is more than an open mic. Find out more about what they do on Eventbrite: Allographic Events - 2 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite
Paper Cranes, Beeston, Nottingham and Online with Leanne Moden - friendly and supportive workshops, etc. run by one of the Midlands' premier poets - Paper Cranes | leanne-moden-poet
Guerilla Open Mic, Sheffield - in person at The Gardener's Rest pub, Sheffield - a low key, welcoming open mic in one of the best pubs in Sheffield on the third Monday of every month - Guerrilla Spoken Word Events | Facebook Welcome to The Gardeners Rest
Heartwood Poetry, Nottingham Playhouse - a relatively new open mic poetry night with a focus on the natural world. Run by Gail Webb, it takes place mid-month on Thursday evenings Instagram
Speech Therapy - spoken word open mic night at Fishergate Point, Nottingham on the first Friday of every month. 7.30pm-11pm
AccessAbility Arts - founded by poet DK – various events and workshops including online. Follow on Instagram, Eventbrite and Facebook. https://www.accessabilityarts.co.uk
Speech Therapy, Nottingham - in person at Fisher Gate Point, Nottingham on the first Friday of every month. This is an exciting night - famously the longest running one in Nottingham - with musical accompaniment and guest performers Facebook
Open Mic with Molly May at The Fishpond, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire - another long running open mic that takes place every Sunday evening from 8pm - mostly music open mic but there are opportunities for spoken word, too - Facebook
Nottingham Poetry Festival - not just a June festival but a whole suite of events that take place throughout the year - Nottingham Poetry Festival | 05 - 14 June 2026What's On | Nottingham Poetry Festival | 05 - 14 June 2026
Prickly Pear - online open mic run by and for disabled folk. Every second Sunday 7pm-9pm. Run by Ashley Edge and Kate. Follow on Eventbrite. PAY WHAT YOU FEEL