About this Event
The Gathering Table 2026
An All Hallows’ Eve Celebration of Stories, Music, Conversation & Shared Food
Saturday 31 October 2026 · 5pm–9.30pm Barking Learning Centre
Every woman has a story. Every story deserves a place at the table.
The Gathering Table 2026 is a special collaboration between ByTheBook, Pen to Print and Carole Pluckrose, bringing together the launch of the From The Cauldron short story anthology with an evening of storytelling, music, conversation and shared food.
From The Cauldron, published by ByTheBook, is the first short story anthology to emerge from the From The Cauldron Women’s Short Story Competition. The competition was launched at the very first Gathering Table at The Boathouse in 2025 and, now, one year later, we’re coming together again to celebrate the twenty-one winning writers whose stories make up this first collection.
There’s something special about bringing those stories back to The Gathering Table, the place where their journey began.
Following the closure of The Boathouse earlier this year, we’re delighted that Pen to Print is supporting us to bring The Gathering Table back to Barking at Barking Learning Centre, carrying the spirit of that first gathering into a new space and a new chapter.
On All Hallows’ Eve, we’re gathering again.
For an evening of stories and conversation. Of live music and shared food. Of new encounters, laughter and creativity and the conversations that happen when women of different ages, generations, backgrounds and experiences come together in the same room. There is a very special alchemy to the evening, the gold that arises out of new friendships, new encounters, new engagements with beauty.
The Gathering Table is about creating that kind of space: a place where women across the generations can listen and talk, celebrate and reflect, meet someone we might never otherwise have met, hear a story that stays with us, and perhaps recognise something of our own story in somebody else’s.
Throughout the evening, we’ll hear from some of the writers featured in From The Cauldron, alongside live music, storytelling, shared food, wine and soft drinks, conversation and creative moments.
Of course, we’ll be celebrating the twenty-one writers and what they have created, but their stories are also the beginning of a wider conversation about the stories women carry, the moments that change us, the unexpected turns in a life, finding our voices, beginning again and becoming more fully ourselves.
Come with friends or come on your own. You certainly don’t need to be a writer. You just need to be curious about stories, people, and the lives we lead.
The Gathering Table is a free event for women.
The Story of The Gathering Table
The first Gathering Table took place at The Boathouse in 2025.
Inspired by the artist Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party, it grew from a simple idea: what might happen if we brought women together around a table and created space for stories, conversation, creativity, music and shared food?
What emerged was an evening full of warmth and generosity. Women of different ages and at very different stages of their lives found themselves around the same tables talking, listening, laughing and exchanging stories. Food was shared, music filled the room and new connections were made.
That spirit is at the heart of this second Gathering Table.
What to expect
Throughout the evening there’ll be:
- Readings and storytelling from writers featured in From The Cauldron
- Shared food and refreshments
- Wine and soft drinks at your table
- Conversation and creative moments around the table
- Opportunities to meet the writers
- Copies of From The Cauldron available to buy
- Live music
- Plenty of time to talk, laugh, connect and enjoy being together
- And perhaps a few surprises along the way.
Bring something to the table
Shared food was an important part of the first Gathering Table, and we’d love to carry that spirit into this year’s gathering.
There will be food and refreshments ,but if you’d like to, you’re warmly invited to bring a favourite dinnerplate and something to share - a favourite dish, something you’ve baked, a dessert, or perhaps food that has a story or meaning for you.
Anything brought to share will need to be clearly labelled with its ingredients and allergens.
There is absolutely no expectation to bring anything.
Just bring yourself.
Your place at the table is free
Thanks to the support of the partners, The Gathering Table 2026 is completely free to attend.
And because we’d love every available place to be used, if you book and later discover you can’t join us, please cancel your booking so another woman can take your place.
If you’d like to support The Gathering Table
Although the evening is free to attend, we warmly welcome voluntary donations from anyone who would like to help us bring it to life.
Your support will help towards the publication of From The Cauldron, the costs of creating this year’s Gathering Table and, we hope, future Gathering Tables too.
There is absolutely no expectation to donate, and there is no difference in your experience if you don’t.
You can donate any amount, and every contribution is genuinely appreciated.
If you choose to donate £30 or more, we'd love to acknowledge you as a Supporter of The Gathering Table.
Donate by 15 September 2026 and, with our thanks, your name will be included in From The Cauldron anthology.
Donations received after 15 September are just as welcome and supporters giving £30 or more will still be acknowledged on the Supporters Roll at the event.
Every donation, whatever the amount, helps support the publication of From The Cauldron, this year's Gathering Table and, we hope, future Gatherings too.
We also warmly welcome conversations with individuals, organisations and local businesses interested in making a larger contribution or sponsoring The Gathering Table helping support the publication, create this year’s gathering and build towards future events.
Come and join us
You don’t need to be a writer. You don’t need to know anyone else. And you don’t need to bring anything other than yourself.
Come with friends or come on your own. Come at whatever stage of life you happen to be. Every woman has a story. Every story deserves a place at the table.
We’d love you to join us.
See you there!
Event venue & nearby stays
Barking Learning Centre (Barking Library), 2 Town Square, Barking, United Kingdom
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.