About Us

Started in 2016 INN CROWD was a unique arts project, devised by partners Applause Rural Touring, Creative Arts East and National Centre for Writing with support from Pub is the Hub.

From 2016 to 2019, INN CROWD supported rural pubs throughout the South East and East of England by hosting exciting and inspiring spoken word, poetry, and storytelling performances. This initiative successfully reached and engaged a wide range of audiences, bringing high-quality arts experiences to rural communities.

In 2019, following the award of a significant grant from Arts Council England, INN CROWD expanded its reach. From September 2019 to August 2022, the project toured spoken word and live literature nationally across the country through partnerships with a network of rural touring schemes. This phase saw performances not only in pubs but also in new spaces such as restaurants, social clubs, cafes, and bottle shops. Over these three years, INN CROWD reached more than 30,000 audience members regionally, bringing people together and providing direct access to high-quality performances in rural communities.

Thanks to the generous support of Pub is the Hub, INN CROWD is delighted to re-open its doors in 2026. This means we can support more pubs to host great performances.

For more information go to the Applause Rural Touring website.