Independent Book Store Week
The scent. The peaceful stillness. The sounds of pages turning, the squeak of a floorboard. A comfy chair, a ladder, row upon row of colourful spines. A knowing nod between two browsers as they eye up the same title. There is quite possibly no greater joy than perusing your favourite bookshop; and if there was ever a time to celebrate your local independent bookshop, it is now. Times are tight for many of us; if we can afford to spend money on books, itโs important that we maximise our enjoyment from doing so and ensure that the money we are spending is going into the right places.
Independent book stores play a crucial part in the life and vibrancy of our high streets. They are often at the heart of their community; offering a place to lose yourself amid lifeโs toils and troubles. Staffed by some of the most knowledgeable and passionate people youโll ever meet, they contribute to our local economies, serving as a hub of escapism, joy and togetherness. Being able to browse a book store in real life, as opposed to on the internet, is a true delight; and if youโre stuck on what to pick up next, thereโs always an excellent human being on hand to offer up some recommendations.
This week at Team Tandem we have been sharing our most beloved independent book stores with each other. So, without further ado, here isโฆ
Team Tandemโs Ultimate List of Favourite Independent Book Stores
I (Steffi) will go first. Iโve been asked to pick one shop, but I cheated and wrote this bookish love letter to Edinburgh where I outlined a few of my favourite independent book shops. Oopsie.
However, if I have to pick one ultimate favourite, it would have to be Rare Bird Books. This multicoloured dream of a shop stocks books solely by woman authors, and what a selection it has- a truly diverse range of titles from the wonderfully diverse spectrum of woman writers the world has gifted us. On my last visit I was clutching three books within minutes of arriving - itโs that kind of bookshop, so factor that in to your book budget if you intend to visit. This is perhaps one of the most perfectly curated bookshops Iโve ever visited, and their commitment to getting people reading for fun is unrivalled. While visiting their bookshop in person should absolutely be added to your bucket list, youโre lucky that their online offering is exceptional - check out their Book Club, their book-inspired gifts (including the most incredible scented candles), their 24 Days of Reading Advent Calendar, and so much more to get stuck into on their website.
Wendy - My local is Lionsheart Book Shop in Woking, Surrey. itโs small, cosy, and has an artisan cafe with good coffee and a great vegan selection. They also host Dungeons and Dragons, Magic the Gathering and Board Game gatherings!
El - my vote goes to The Bookish Type, a queer indie bookshop in Leeds. As well as stocking the best of queer literature across all genres, they are a community bookshop who actively support and work with the local queer community. They have a Pay It Forward scheme, they run Queer History Tours around Leeds, they hold Second Hand Sunday bookstalls to raise money for local grassroots groups, and many more amazing initiatives.
Oh, and I also love News From Nowhere in Liverpool; a not-for-profit radical community bookshop which is run collectively by a women workers' co-operative.
Ash Jayy - Rhyme & Reason is a true Aladdinโs cave and Juno Books, a feminist and queer community bookshop, is another favourite. Both are in Sheffield!
Sukhy - Warwick Books is the townโs only independent bookshop, established in 2004. A complimentary coffee or tea while browsing their extensive selection of books is heaven. They offer a next day ordering service for those โ I really need to read that, now!โ moments!
And Kenilworth Books is a magical little place; it nestles in a small and lively town that sits right in the middle of the country. They have a large childrenโs section and plenty of fiction and non-fiction for adults, including a large section for maps and travel guides, and three bays of history (including local history, as youโd expect from a bookshop in an historic town!)
Now to hear from our social team. Weโve made a handy guide to some of our favourite bookshops over on our Instagram, so start there!
Char - check out our Reel all about Brick Lane Bookshop! Originally part of The Tower Hamlets Arts Project (THAP), which was formed in the 1970s out of a protest. A scheme to commission professional artists to create poster displays in the area was criticised by locals, who knew there were already plenty of fledging artists in the area to celebrate! Tower Hamlets Art Project launched to do just that, with a bookstall accompanying the art exhibitions. From there, the dream to open a permanent shop in an area that didnโt currently have any bookshops was born โ and the rest is (really interesting) history!
Alice - explore The Feminist BookShop with me in Brighton via this Reel! Itโs a lovely, inclusive bookish space that opened in 2019 and is an important community hub for bookish events and feminist books. They offer a pay it forward scheme with no questions asked for anyone who may be struggling to purchase a day at that time for any reason, and they also sell and display local art by women and non-binary artists.Their reading space is a tranquil space away from the hubbub of the city, to cosy up with a new purchase from the shelves upstairs or from the free reading roomโs library. The booksellers are lovely and always on hand to offer recommendations. Plus, if you love bookish events you can go along to the @brightonbookfestival that theyโre running in association with @afroribooks this week โ there are in-person events for anyone local and online events for anyone further afield!
Our favourite Indie Instagrams;
Gays the word - Gay's The Word is the UK's oldest LGBT bookshop and a touchstone for the broader LGBT community. The bookshop was set up in January 1979 by a group of gay socialists as a community space where all profits were funnelled back into the business. This ethos continues today with shelves bursting with books and the space used for book and community events, all stewarded by five members of staff: Jim, Uli, Erica, Brooke and Jem.
Afrori Books - Check out our Reel on this incredible spot here! The largest wholesaler in the country offering customers one of the biggest selection of books by black authors in one place. In October 2021 the team successfully crowdfunded and raised enough money to open this incredible bookshop in the North Laines of Brighton. The bookshop is a great place to browse have a coffee (bring your own) and just chill in a safe space. The team also deliver anti-racism training to adults, run anti-racist clubs for children, hair workshops, author events, a book festival and so much more.
Bertโs Books - A very friendly, personalised online shopping experience including fantastic monthly bundles; or, if youโre local to Swindon, pop into the shop! Their sandwich board sign brightens our Instagram feed. We will leave you with this one;
