The Best New British And Irish Poets 2016

Modeled on the famous United States competition, the first annual Best New British and Irish Poets competition was open to any poet of British or Irish citizenship and/or U.K. or Irish residency who has not yet published or will not publish a full-length collection prior to 1 June 2016. Poems submitted for consideration could have appeared in print before, or in a pamphlet, but not online. Poets about to have full collections out from Eyewear Publishing, including Ben Parker and Maria Apichella, were ineligible for inclusion.

A large number of poems came in from all corners of Great Britain and from across Ireland, from thrilling new voices and established older writers – all poets likely to soon publish full collections in print. These poets are, if you like, the “rising stars” of poetry in these isles. What was impressive was the age range and geographical range of these poets, as well as that of their styles – from lyrical to avant-garde and performance-oriented work. Traditional poems rub shoulders with prose poetry and innovative forms and styles.

The final fifty poets selected for inclusion in the 2016 Best New British and Irish Poets are, in alphabetical order by first name: 

1. ALAN DUNNETT
2. ALEX BELL
3. ALEX HOUEN
4. ALLI LEWIS
5. AMY McCAULEY
6. ANDREW FENTHAM
7. ANNABEL BANKS
8. BECKY CHERRIMAN
9. BEN ASHWELL
10. CATO PEDDER
11. CLAIRE QUIGLEY
12. CLARISSA AYKROYD
13. COLIN DARDIS
14. DAISY BEHAGG
15. DAVID SPITTLE
16. DEBRIS STEVENSON
17. EDWARD DOEGAR
18. ELIZABETH PARKER
19. ERICA MCALPINE
20. ERIN FORNOFF
21. FRANCOISE HARVEY
22. HOLLY CORFIELD-CARR
23. IAN M DUDLEY
24. ISABEL ROGERS
25. JAMES NIXON
26. JASON LEE
27. JEN CALLEJA
28. JESSICA MAYHEW
29. KARL O’HANLON
30. KATHERINE SHIRLEY
31. LIZ QUIRKE
32. LORNA COLLINS
33. MARIA ISAKOVA-BENNETT
34. MATT HOWARD
35. MATTHEW PAUL
36. MATTHEW STEWART
37. MICHAEL NAGHTEN SHANKS
38. NIALL BOURKE
39. PIERRE RINGWALD
40. RICHARD SCOTT
41. RISHI DASTIDAR
42. ROISIN KELLY
43. SAMANTHA WALTON
44. SAMUEL TONGUE
45. STEWART CARSWELL
46. TESS JOLLY
47. TIFFANY ANNE TONDUT
48. VA SOLA SMITH
49. VICTORIA KENNEFICK
50. WES LEE