SPROUTSPOKEN MARKS NATIONAL POETRY DAY 2022 AT THE ANCIENT HUER’S HUT ON THE EDGE OF NEWQUAY ON THURSDAY 6 OCTOBER. THIS UNIQUE, LOUD AND MOVING EVENT CELEBRATES POETRY AND THE SPOKEN WORD
The coast around Newquay is poetic enough but there’s an event taking place on Thursday 6 October that elevates the location further as it places beautiful odes on a quite literal pedestal. That pedestal is the ancient Huer’s Hut building in King Edward Crescent, Towan Head, and these poets and speakers climb on top of it and talk to the world. Or, at least, to anyone who goes along to catch this unique event.
The event marks National Poetry Day 2022 and, of course, it’s absolutely free to attend. And it should make for a pretty moving scene as the spoken word, poetry and song is announced and performed from that ancient building that’s high above the sea at Towan Head. It’s all organised by SproutSpoken, a Newquay group that loves getting into full voice. You must book a ticket beforehand, though, if you want to be part of this event as numbers are limited.
The Huer’s Hut is a small Grade II listed building that dates back to the mid-19th century on a site that possibly dates as far back as the 14th century in terms of its traditional use. It’s named after the ‘Huer’, an important figure in the once-thriving pilchard fishing industry in Newquay. This person would watch out from the high vantage point for the arrival of shoals of fish in the bay before calling out to the town to come get their fill. It’s a once-vital and always beautiful spot and boasts a calm-yet-dramatic atmosphere that’s just perfect for a poem or 10.
Known as ‘IT’S YOUR SHOUT’, this SproutSpoken event is, say the organisers, ‘your opportunity to tell the world through your crafted words at the top of the cliff, at the top of your voice’! To actually take part, click on the official website and book a ‘participant’ ticket. Or just book a normal ticket and witness something unique and moving in Newquay to mark this year’s National Poetry Day.