Present Tense is a project space & practiceplace for poetics in form.

Present Tense
BOOKINGS
Poet in ResidencePresent Tense
Offering Poet's Material Practice Space
ZinePresent Tense
Publishing poetic forms across media
AboutPresent Tense
A place for poetry and poetics
ProgrammePresent Tense
Experiments and live inquiry
Desk Space

Desk Space

A shared long-table set into well-lit distilled space, this is a place for those who move through ideas, drafts, and dialogues, requiring a calm, structured setting to support their practice —writers, publishers, organisers, editors, and deep thinkers who seek a structured yet inspiring environment.

OFFER & PRICING:
2-5 days - £180-£750
Please contact us with your needs for a package

ACCESS:
Mon-Fri 9am - 6pm
Full time residents can make use of concept space to activate their work in community.

We offer desk space on monthly rollover agreements for two, three or five day weeks. Our space is communal style with dedicated lockers for each full-time resident.

Present Tense is a place of quiet focus, and not designed for those who need large group meetings and extended conversation. We ask that calls, where possible, are held off-desk and video-meetings use headphones to maintain library-quiet.

Studio Space

Studio Space

A dedicated lower-ground studio environment for artists, makers, and creatives working with physical materials or specialized equipment. Whether you're a printer or multidisciplinary artist, this adaptable space offers the room and resources needed for hands-on creative work. A quiet hideaway for those who need space to experiment, build, and bring their ideas to life.

OFFER:
Full time tenants on 6-12 month term.

INCLUSIONS:

  • Dedicate studio work space
  • Storage
  • Fob access
  • Activate Concept Space (once per qtr.)
  • Discount on programming
  • Discount on store
Concept Space

Concept Space

A blank canvas for ideas, celebration, and exploration to take place. Designed for adaptability, the concept space is a platform to showcase creative projects, host gatherings, and experiment freely. As a “small g” gallery, this area offers creators a chance to share their work with the wider community, without being confined to traditional frameworks. This space is both hosted in and attended by the different layers of our community.

TYPES OF EVENTS:
Reading, book launches, exhibitions, pop-ups, workshops, supper clubs, dinners and more.

→ See Programme

Supper & Brunch Club

At Present Tense, food is a way of gathering, grounding, and storytelling. Our kitchen celebrates cooking, dining, and sharing as poetic acts. We aim to create authentic encounters that honour the cooks, makers and their stories. Our offering focuses on shared meals, forgoing performative cooking which pervades restaurant culture, using eating as a medium for connection, conversation, and spontaneity, nourishing both body and mind.

Supper & Brunch Club

Our Supper Club invites home cooks—Nonnas, aunties, and culinary storytellers from all walks of life—to share meals rooted in culture, memory, and care. Each dinner offers an intimate experience of home-style hospitality, where the table becomes a space for connection and meaning across traditions.

WHEN: Third Thursday each month.
FORTHCOMING

→ See Programme

Brunch Club

Our Brunch Club is our invitation to the local community. Think of it like a lazy-morning hotel brunch—shared-style, generous, and easygoing. Open for two sittings between 9am–2pm. A table laden with beautiful produce from local suppliers: meats from Stella’s, fish from the Oeno Maris, fresh fruit and veg from our greengrocer, and bread and cheese from Jumi. Come solo or with friends, browse our books, and settle in.

WHEN: Each Saturday 9 am - 2 pm
FORTHCOMING

→ See Programme