Roger Robinson’s cultural highlights

Roger Robinson, an award-winning writer and performer, has won the T.S. Eliot Prize, RSL Ondaatje Prize, and Cholmondeley Award, and is Vice Chair of the Royal Society of Literature. His poetry has been translated into five languages, and his book with Johny Pitts was named a Guardian Best Poetry Book of the Year. He has judged major literary prizes, and his poem A Portable Paradise is on the GCSE syllabus. His acclaimed workshops inspire writers worldwide.

Bookshop: Bookmongers Secondhand Bookstore 

Brixton is a place I keep returning to, even though I no longer live anywhere near South London. On the unlikely setting of Coldharbour Lane sits one of my favourite secondhand bookshops – Bookmongers – which I’ve been frequenting for over twenty years. It’s not the kind of secondhand bookstore where you have to trawl through piles of unwanted books to find a gem. The buyers here clearly care about literature and book culture. You can tell by the section titles: European Classics, American Classics, Graphic Novels, Contemporary Poetry. It’s always quiet – they discourage phone conversations and loud chatter – and, apart from the constant soundtrack of experimental jazz, it can feel almost like a church. Their music and cinema sections rival those of any secondhand bookstore in London.

https://bookmongers.com/

Restaurant: Clover’s

Whenever I meet up with my poet friends in London, we meet at Clover’s. It used to be called The Lounge before the name change. Clover herself is the diminutive, blonde-haired, often stoic matriarch. She doesn’t laugh at her own jokes and isn’t too fond of people trying to change the menu. The interior doubles as a gallery for emerging painters, with artworks for sale. The music is an eclectic mix of R&B and world music. We’ve hosted countless book launches, meetings, and hangouts at Clover’s, and we even have favourite tables and seats. It’s also the best spot for people-watching in Brixton – the large windows face the street, and I don’t think I’ve ever been there without spotting someone I know and inviting them in for a drink or bite. Favourite dish: Caribbean Breakfast with Salmon and Halloumi.

Clover’s, 16 Atlantic Road, Brixton, London SW9 8JA

Record shop: Lion Vibes Records

Still in Brixton, you can stroll over to Lion Vibes Records, where reggae enthusiasts can find everything from classic albums to obscure collector’s discs and small-run vinyl prints you’ve likely never heard of. Their YouTube presence is like a “University of Dub,” offering deep dives into the history and context of the records they showcase. Most importantly, they have impeccable taste in reggae and love sharing their knowledge. On Selecter Thursdays, they host in-store parties with guest dub DJs and artists – always a joyful reason to dance to some steppers rhythms.

https://www.lionvibes.com/

Library: The National Poetry Library at the Southbank Centre

Leaving Brixton and heading to the Southbank Centre, you’ll find The National Poetry Library on the fourth floor – the largest poetry library in England and in Europe. In my early days of diving deeper into the craft, I spent nearly all my free time there when I wasn’t working. With hundreds of poetry books and journals, and a serene setting perfect for reading the evening away, it’s a haven for poetry lovers. Occasionally, they host live readings and events. It’s always been a quiet hub for London poets, who often spill out onto the various levels of the Southbank Centre with coffee and notebooks in hand.

https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/venues/national-poetry-library/

Building: Church of Notre Dame de France, Soho

Just a short turn from the tourist-heavy Leicester Square lies the peaceful Church of Notre Dame de France. As you enter, minimalist murals by the French artist and writer Jean Cocteau greet you on the left, and the high domed ceiling naturally draws your gaze upward. One of my artsy ex-girlfriends showed me the murals over two decades ago. She told me she would visit not to pray – she wasn’t religious – but to soak in the calm, contemplative atmosphere. I followed suit, often slipping in for a moment of silence, prayer, or simply to sit in peace amid the wooden pews and brownstone walls.

Photo by Andy Scott https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/church/notre-dame-de-france-soho

A Favourite WritersMosaic Writer

I’d like to highlight Gabriel Gbadamosi who is a fascinating poet even though he’s more well known for his novels and plays, and I’m so looking forward to his first poetry collection.

Roger Robinson

Roger Robinson is a multi award-winning poet from Trinidad now living in Britain.