“When we looked out our bedroom window, there was Pearce rag stores, with all the rabbit skins hanging in the window.  If I had a stick I could have poked them!” The People of the Quarter lived cheek by jowl with the industries of the river and Quay. JoJo Spinks dives into their testimony in…

Get ready for Commotion on the Ocean! Stories from the seven seas to be taken with a pinch of salt told by Globetrotting Storyteller Clive PiG. Clive will be telling tales over three slots, the event is free, and no booking is needed, just turn up! This free event is part of a season of…

A creative family workshop of paperfolding and poetry at the Quay Come and explore impressions, ideas, hopes and dreams for our beautiful river and canal. What can you see, hear, touch, smell, taste? How does it make you feel to sit by the water and spend time with family and friends? Discover who else lived,…

An interactive performance/installation piece created by Sally Crabtree This counter of conceptual confectionary will offer each member of the public a small gold coin which you can spend on just one thing. The Sweetshop of Words explores the notion of choice in our lives. “Choose well. Your choice is brief, and yet endless” as Goethe…

Sessions offered: 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm Do you have a single poem, work in progress, that you’re looking for expert insight on? These poetry surgeries are a chance to gain detailed feedback on one poem from award-winning poet Ella Frears. You will be asked to supply your poem (one side of A4 maximum)…

Explore Exeter’s 17th Century Custom House with writer-in-residence Kim Squirrell Are you interested in experimenting with ekphrastic writing? This workshop led by poet Kim Squirrell is an opportunity to explore innovative approaches and exercises for poetry writing in response to the Custom House’s objects, images and archives. Inspired by Dr Sally Flint’s research on ekphrastic…

We’re thrilled to welcome Natasha Carthew back to the Custom House after her time as writer-in-residence in 2020. Natasha will be reading from her new memoir, Undercurrent: A Cornish Memoir of Poverty, Nature and Resilience, followed by a Q&A chaired by Sophie Pierce. You can also ‘save a seat’ to watch the live stream from…

We’re excited to welcome the award-winning novelist Kim Sherwood to Exeter Custom House for a reading and Q & A about her latest novel A Wild & True Relation. Combining smuggling and literary history, the novel is a perfect fit for our Custom House venue and this event will be kicking off the Quayside’s first Heritage Harbour festival….

We’re thrilled to welcome John Wedgwood Clarke back to the Custom House for the launch of his new collection Boy Thing. John will read from his latest work, followed by a Q&A chaired by Fiona Benson. Praise for Boy Thing “Boy Thing is a thing of wonder. These are poems that negotiate anew the tender, hurt territory…

We’re thrilled to welcome prize-winning novelist Andrew Miller to the Custom House. Andrew will be reading from his work including his latest novel The Slowworm’s Song. He’ll also be supported on stage by a handful of talented emerging writers who will be taking part in our three-day intensive Hothouse workshop. Over the busy three days Andrew will be…