Yorkshire’s Newest Literary Salon Opens Its Doors for an Afternoon of Stories, Poetry, and Nonfiction in Leeds

Soirée & Stories, a literary salon celebrating the power of women’s voices, launches on Sunday 28 June at The New Conservatory, Leeds City Centre

A new kind of literary event is coming to Leeds. Soirée & Stories, an intimate salon for women writers and readers, holds its very first gathering on Sunday 28 June 2025 at 4pm at The New Conservatory, Leeds City Centre. The event brings together a curated group of women reading original work spanning nonfiction, short fiction, and poetry and invites an audience ready to be moved, surprised, and inspired.

Founded by Caroline Towers — author, entrepreneur, and founder of Electrifying Press — Soirée & Stories was created to give women writers a beautiful, serious space to share their work.

The inaugural event will feature eight women writers reading from their own original work, including nonfiction essays, short stories, and poetry. Audiences can expect an afternoon of beautifully crafted writing across a range of voices, themes, and styles, all delivered in the stunning setting of The New Conservatory in the heart of Leeds.

What to Expect:
Soirée & Stories is designed for those who love literature, not just writing it, but experiencing it. Guests will hear six writers reading from original work across three forms: nonfiction, short story, and poetry. The afternoon promises to be atmospheric, thoughtful, and exciting.

“I wanted to create the kind of event I’d been looking for but couldn’t find. Something where women can read their words in a safe, supportive environment and somewhere where everyone is welcome to come and listen”

— Caroline Towers, Founder, Soirée & Stories

Event Details
Date: Sunday 28 June 2025
Time: 4:00pm
Venue: The New Conservatory, Leeds City Centre
Tickets: Available via Eventbrite — search ‘Soirée & Stories Leeds’

About Soirée & Stories
Soirée & Stories is a literary salon for women writers, created to celebrate original writing across all forms. Founded in 2026 by author and publisher Caroline Towers, the salon is part of the wider Electrifying Press vision: to create more space for women’s voices in British literary culture. Future events are planned across Yorkshire and beyond.

About Caroline Towers
Caroline Towers is a Yorkshire-based author, creative entrepreneur, and founder of Electrifying Press, an independent publishing house built on the principle that women writers should own their royalties and their stories. Her debut book Self Wise has been featured in Forbes, Best Magazine, and Woman’s Weekly. She is currently working on her memoir and is a passionate advocate for women’s voices in literature.