Bradley Taylor - You Missed the Best Part

SECOND TIME ADDED DUE TO DEMAND!!

We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have friend of the shop and incredible performance poet, Bradley Taylor joining us for an event at Kitchen Garden Cafe for the launch of his new book, 'You Missed the Best Part'. Hosted by RAY and interviewed by local author M.L Walsh, this will be a brilliant evening! 

The event will take place for around an hour. There will be a book signing afterwards. 

Bradley Taylor is a poet born and based in Birmingham. He is the winner of the Roundhouse Poetry Slam 2024, the night of which was the biggest poetry slam in history. Bradley hosts The Big Gay Poetry Night with fellow poet and partner in crime M. L. Walsh, which has featured poets such as Joelle Taylor, Kandace Siobhan Walker & Sanah Ahsan. He has appeared at the Hay Festival, Cheltenham Literature Festival, The Inspirational Youth Awards, Verve Poetry Festival, The Heath Bookshop Music & Literature Festival, on BBC News and on BBC Radio 6 Music as part of Craig Charles' Way With Words 'Class of 2024'; spotlighting the most exciting voices emerging in poetry. When he isn't performing, Bradley takes his typewriter to bookshops, festivals, museums and local parks to perform 'Poetry on Demand' for strangers, which has been featured across the UK in places such as the Hay Festival, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and spit nights, London. Bradley has performed alongside poets such as Harry Baker, Joelle Taylor & Caitlyn O'Ryan & Isabella Dorta. In April 2025 Bradley will release his debut collection 'You Missed The Best Part' with Verve Poetry Press, which collects spoken word pieces from the first years of his career. He writes for, and about, people.

You Missed The Best Part: 

You Missed The Best Part gathers award-winning poet Bradley Taylor's spoken word pieces from the first years of his career. With a focus on the power of performance poetry, this collection acts as a documentation of the poems Bradley has travelled across the UK performing – in places such as the Hay Festival, on BBC News, in train stations, the backs of pubs and as part of his award-winning performance at the Roundhouse Poetry Slam 2024, the night of which was the biggest poetry slam in history.

Also included here are a selection of poems written for strangers from Bradleys time performing ‘Poetry on Demand’ – in which he takes his typewriter to festivals, events, bookshops and local parks across the country to gift strangers with a bespoke poem of their own choosing.

Described as ‘all at once surprising, entertaining and daring’ & ‘playing a crucial role in the future of spoken word’ by Jasmine Gardosi and as a 'brand new voice' by Craig Charles, Bradleys work aims to showcase that poetry is for everyone and anyone – balancing humour with heart, Bradley writes for and about people; those he knows and has known, along with those people we hope to be or hope to never be again. 

You Missed The Best Part captures the moment that is always passing – this very moment – whether that be a moment in our lives, a moment on stage in front of an audience or a moment with a poem in front of us.
 
This event will take place at Kitchen Garden Cafe.

As always, we look forward to seeing you. 

Catherine & Claire