Essex Writers House 2026

01 – 30 June 2026
Metal, Chalkwell Hall
Chalkwell Park, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 8NB

A collaboration between Essex Book Festival and Metal Southend.

Essex Writers House is a month-long programme hosted by Metal, based in Southend as part of Essex Book Festival. Chalkwell Hall opens its doors through June as a creative hub, offering a range of events from talks, open advice sessions and workshops to collaborative workspaces for writers, story tellers and book lovers of all levels.

Writing routes

This year’s Essex Writers House celebrates the messy and circuitous paths writers take. It highlights the challenges and surprises they encounter, from global political contexts and rejection to the friendships and collaborations that shape and champion their work.

Follow guest writers, poets and creatives as they take you on a journey into the Essex landscape along the estuary mudflats, coastline, footpaths and into the wilderness. Keep an eye on the website for a full list of outdoor events taking place across June in South Essex.

For full Essex Writers House event listings visit
metalculture.com/projects/essex-writers-house-2026-programme-coming-soon/

At Chalkwell Hall

Writers’ Hot Desks

Take time and space from everyday life by booking yourself a writer’s hot desk. Tucked away on the top floor of Chalkwell Hall, each writing desk offers views overlooking the Thames Estuary. A space perfect for sinking into ideas and shaping new projects.

Wild Writing Desk

The Wild Writing Desk is back. Take a seat outside (weather permitting) in the Peacock Garden, next door to Chalkwell Hall. Based within the park, find yourself writing to the pace of nature and co-working with the resident robin in the yew tree. An inspirational space to let your writing go wild.

Co-Working Spaces

Chalkwell Hall will open as a co-working space for writing and a quiet space for reading, with moments for sharing, creating and connecting with others from the local writing community. Drop in through June (Monday – Friday 10.00 -16.00).

 

Open Advice Sessions 3 / 10 / 17 / 24 June

Book a 1:1 slot with the Metal Team and a special guest panellist to gain valuable feedback, advice and support. These sessions are free and welcome writers at any stage of their journey, whether you’re starting out or refining a manuscript. This space is dedicated to you, your writing needs and your development.

Special guest Open Advice panellists include:

Dean Atta is an award-winning Black British writer whose heartfelt storytelling draws on his Greek Cypriot and Jamaican heritage as well as his queer identity. He writes poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for all ages. Dean Atta has published award winning novels for young adults and younger readers as well as his memoir Person Unlimited: An Ode to My Black Queer Body.

Saira Niazi is a writer, renegade guide and founder of Living London. Creative and Life Writing MA Graduate from Goldsmiths College, Saira was shortlisted for the Art Foundation Futures Award for Place Writing and published multiple publications including Renegade Guides: the places we go, the stories we share and On Belonging, Reflections of a Renegade Guide out now.

Lora Aziz is an interdisciplinary artist, storyteller, land-based cultural producer, and creative strategist. Her work weaves together ecology, memory, and storytelling through workshops, residencies, foraging walks, and community rituals. Some of Lora’s most recent work has been published in Thirst: In search of Fresh Water, which accompanied her collaborative community-based projects in the Wellcome Collection exhibition Thirst from 2025-2026.

Camilla Balshaw is an award-winning author. She has been published in numerous journals, and her essays have featured in the Guardian, Therapy Today and the Observer. Camilla’s debut memoir, Named: A Story Of Names And Reclaiming Who We Are (2025) won the best Memoir & Biography category in the East Anglian Book Awards.

 

Meet our Writers-in-Residence

We will be joined by Writers-in-Residence from near and far, including partnerships with the British Council, The Caine Prize for African Writing and English PEN. Keep an eye on the website for announcements.

 

For full Essex Writers House event listings visit
metalculture.com/projects/essex-writers-house-2026-programme-coming-soon/

 

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Ticketed Events

Southend Wandering with Saira Niazi
Essex Writers House

Saturday 13 June 2026, time TBC
Meeting point: Southend Forum, Elmer Ave, Southend-on-Sea SS1 1NS

Explore Southend’s hidden gems and stories on this social neighbourhood wandering. Starting from Southend Forum we’ll walk towards Southchurch Park, stopping off at various spaces along the way, from secret gardens to beaches. Document your journey through words and pictures as you go.

Saira Niazi is a writer, author and renegade guide, passionate about discovering new places, collecting stories and connecting communities. Saira has collaborated with grassroots groups across the UK on various oral history, art, film, food, environment and heritage projects.

Tickets: Free, places limited, booking essential
Book tickets: eventbrite booking link coming soon – keep an eye out on Metal website, socials and newsletter for updates.

Intertidal Walking and Writing Workshop with JR Carpenter and Sylak Ravenspine
Essex Writers House

Sunday 14 June, time TBC
Meeting point: TBC

Join artist, writer, fossil hunter, and Port of London Authority (PLA) licensed mudlark J. R. Carpenter with local Essex based artist Sylak Ravenspine for an intertidal walking and writing workshop in the Thames Estuary. As we move between high and low tide, mud flats and marshland, fresh and salt water, we will navigate the creative space between noticing and noting, where writing happens.

Tickets: £25 includes packed lunch and transport
Book tickets: eventbrite booking link coming soon – keep an eye out on Metal website, socials and newsletter for updates.

 

Walk and Explore Prittlewell Greenway with Lora Aziz
Essex Writers House

Saturday 20 June 2026, time TBC
Meeting point: TBC

Join artist Lora Aziz exploring the Prittlewell Greenway through landscape, observation and language. How can we pull inspiration from the backstreet places and welcome in wonders we might pass every day?

Walk a familiar pathway and discover new perspective through storytelling, local histories, layers of intuitive plant knowledge, and creative encounters with place.

Tickets: Free, includes packed lunch and transport. Places limited, booking essential
Book tickets: eventbrite booking link coming soon – keep an eye out on Metal website, socials and newsletter for updates.

The Essex Ways: Film screening at Chalkwell Hall

Saturday 20 June 2026, 7.00pm
Chalkwell Hall, Chalkwell Park, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 8NB

Discover the many ways of Essex with a screening of ‘The Essex Ways’, a feature length documentary by filmmaker Thomas Winward.

The film follows Essex-born storyteller James Lawrence on an epic 400km walking journey around the county to discover its places, people and stories. Over 21 days, James adventures through rural Essex from Epping to Harwich, and then down the coast to Tilbury Docks. Along the way, he explores the many beautiful natural landscapes of Essex, while delving into the history, folklore and stereotypes that make Essex the fascinating county it is today. Expect thrills, chills, myths, modern retellings of 2000 years of history, and a lot of love for trees and mud.

After the film, there will be an open Q&A with James Lawrence, who will answer questions about the walk and project.

Tickets: TBC
Book tickets: eventbrite booking link coming soon – keep an eye out on Metal website, socials and newsletter for updates.

Walk and talk around Canvey Wick with Man About Country

Sunday 21 June 2026, time TBC
Meeting point: TBC

Join James Lawrence, AKA Man About Country, for a special guided walk around Canvey Wick, one of Essex’s (and England’s) most fascinating nature reserves. In this brownfield rainforest you’ll discover wildlife, hear stories from over 2,000 years of Canvey Island history, and explore how these incredible places can supercharge your creative practice in unexpected ways.

Tickets: £10 includes packed lunch
Book tickets: eventbrite booking link coming soon – keep an eye out on Metal website, socials and newsletter for updates.

Writing and the Power of Language: In conversation with Camilla Balshaw, Emily Addeni-Holman and Boakye D. Alpha

Wednesday 24 June 2026, 7.00pm – 8.30pm
Chalkwell Hall, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 8NB

In partnership with National Centre for Writing

Join us for an evening with the National Centre for Writing’s Escalator Writers Emily Abdeni-Holman and Boakye D. Alpha, in conversation with award-winning author Camilla Balshaw about writing and the power of language, with discussion rooted in cultural histories, oppression and identity.

Tickets: Free, places limited, booking essential
Book tickets: eventbrite booking link coming soon – keep an eye out on Metal website, socials and newsletter for updates.

A Poet in Every Port with the mobile National Poetry Library

Saturday 27 – Sunday 28 June 2026
Chalkwell Hall, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 8NB

In partnership with Southbank Centre

We are working in partnership with Southbank Centre to welcome the mobile National Poetry Library to Chalkwell Hall as part of Essex Writers House 2026. Be prepared for a mini programme of weekend activity for all ages to enjoy, with the opportunity to contribute prose, poetry and words to the Mobile Poetry Library. Local artist and poet Maddi Crease will be helping us to celebrate Essex’s unique coastal stories.

Tickets: Free

Hosted At events

Throughout June, we will be hosting a series of events including talks, screenings, socials and workshop activity connecting to writing and reading led by local creatives and special guests. Look out for the release of our Hosted At programme at Essex Writers House via our website soon.

For full Essex Writers House event listings visit
metalculture.com/projects/essex-writers-house-2026-programme-coming-soon/