Pride & Poetry Cocktail Hour launches at Edinburgh Women’s Fiction Festival
The Edinburgh Women’s Fiction Festival is set to launch an exciting new event for 2025 — the Pride & Poetry Cocktail Hour, celebrating queer joy and marginalised voices. Sponsored by Pickering’s Gin, the event takes place on Friday 26 September, 5–6pm at Christ Church Morningside, Edinburgh.
Headlining the evening is RJ Hunter (they/she) — award-winning writer, theatre-maker and performance poet. Hunter is the 2023 Loud Poets Grand Slam Champion and has performed at major festivals including Glastonbury and Push the Boat Out.
Known for their urgent yet empathetic writing, blistering spoken-word performances, and critically acclaimed solo show Stupid Sexy Poem Show, Hunter is described as “the future voice of the medium of spoken-word” (Corr Blimey).
Guests can expect powerful performances alongside a bespoke pop-up gin bar from Pickering’s Gin, with alcohol-free options also available. Additional refreshments can be pre-purchased when booking tickets.
Further performers for the event will be announced soon.The Edinburgh Women’s Fiction Festival returns on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 September 2025, this year at Christ Church Morningside, just a short walk from Bruntsfield Links and minutes from the city centre by bus.
The festival celebrates writing for, by and about women, across genres including commercial, romance, historical, literary and book club fiction. It provides a platform for authors whose work is often overlooked and gives readers the chance to connectwith their favourite writers in an inclusive, welcoming setting.