Poet for Places event Ham Yard Hotel
- Heritage of London Trust
- Nov 20, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 23, 2023
Kira Nelson held her first public performance in her new role as Poet for Places at London’s Ham Yard Hotel in Soho on Monday night. Kira was in conversation with HOLT Chairman Sir Laurie Magnus CBE and performed three of her latest poems, alongside a discussion about exploring London’s secret histories.
The sold-out evening saw a wonderfully broad audience including Professor Thomas Betteridge, Dean of Business, Arts and Social Sciences at Brunel University London, Richard Upton, creative entrepreneur and developer, Doug Black, Head of Urban Design at Lambeth Council, Shaw Worth & Marianne Doherty, Poetry Editors at Oxford Review of Books, Arnaud Mbaki, who had previously held the role in 2021 and other young poets all joining us.
Kira’s poems explored themes around loss and transition, focusing on old Columbia Market and a surviving piece of the once epic building; a 1960s street sculpture by leading graphic designer FHK Henrion in Bromley, Kira’s birthplace; and the palatial 18th century Wanstead House – with Wanstead Grotto in Wanstead Park the only physical evidence of the grand mansion lost in 1825.
“There is no place in the world like London - it’s just an epicentre of culture and history and the HOLT projects I’ve seen so far truly exemplify that.”
Kira’s first three poems can be found here.
Introducing Tears of the Nymph, about Wanstead Grotto, Kira said:
"All that remains of the Grotto is the façade but you can tell how beautiful and ornate it once was. It contained so many curiosities, cubby holes and statues. Grottoes used to be a huge part of the ancient world so the Grotto was like a time-travelling example of what used to be there. It really allowed me to tap into that ancient mythos. I got to wear my hi-vis and hard hat – look a bit cool! There was so much that could have been said about this place, the fact that I’ve written three stanzas isn’t enough – I could have written far more!"
Over the year, Kira will uncover London’s secret places and curiosities, interpreting them lyrically in new ways. She will also be working with young people to enhance their creative writing skills as part of HOLT’s Proud Places youth engagement programme. Her body of work will be compiled for publication at the end of the year.
The Poet for Places programme is in its second year, and is run in collaboration with Brunel University, bringing historic sites, research, poetry and creative perspectives together over the year.
Looking forward to the rest of the year, Kira said:
"It’s not just about building a big body of work but about the significance of the work that we are doing and making sure that whatever mark I’ve left at the time of the passing of the torch is an impactful one. I want to do the best that I can, enjoy it and celebrate these places while teaching young minds, introducing them to these places and poetry itself."
Sir Laurie Magnus CBE, Chairman, said:
“We are so fortunate to have Kira, I really hope that she will continue to be involved in working with HOLT long after this year is complete.”
Ella Fabregat, Partner, Knight Frank, who also joined us for the evening said:
“I was completely amazed by Kira’s talent and very moved by her poems and clear passion for her new appointment. The conversation between her and Sir Laurie Magnus was fascinating and I think it is an incredible opportunity.”
Huge thanks to Kit Kemp and Firmdale Hotels for hosting the event.
Poet for Places 2023 is in partnership with Brunel University London and generously supported by the Caledonia Investments Charitable Foundation.
What a lovely recap of the evening — the idea of a poet embedded in specific places, drawing out their hidden histories, is such a meaningful way to connect people to spaces they walk past every day. It's a good reminder that creative work like this needs the right environment to actually happen. Writers, poets, and performers often spend years working out of borrowed rooms or noisy shared spaces before finding something that actually fits how they work. If you're at that point where you need something dedicated, it's worth taking the time to rent private workspace in a building that was built for exactly that kind of focused, independent work — Silk Screen Studios in Philadelphia offers private lockable…
Ham Yard Hotel pulling off a poetry event in the middle of Soho feels completely on-brand for a place that's always had more personality than your average London stay. There's something genuinely special about venues that treat culture as part of the guest experience rather than an afterthought. It also highlights how much atmosphere depends on getting the physical environment right — poetry readings, intimate gatherings, guests lingering in common spaces. None of that works if the room feels stuffy or the temperature keeps shifting. A smart thermostat for hotels handles exactly that: consistent comfort across every space, automatically, so the atmosphere the designers and curators worked so hard to create actually lands the way it should.