Books / Bookshops
Bristol’s bookshop bonanza
Bristol is experiencing something of a moment when it comes to bookshops.
No sooner has a new bookshop opened than another is on the horizon, with The Good Book Shop due to open in November within concept store Two-Six-Four on Church Road in St George.
This will become Bristol’s smallest bookshop but at the other end of the scale, the future looks uncertain for our city’s biggest bookshop, Waterstone’s in the Galleries, due to the planned demolition of the shopping centre; and St Paul’s cafe-bookshop Hidden Corner closed suddenly in October 2021 after its landlord bolted the doors of the building shut.
“Having a bookshop in Bristol holds constant lovely surprises,” says Lizzie Cross, owner of Bristol’s newest and currently smallest bookshop, Heron Books in the Clifton Arcade in Clifton Village.
“One never knows what conversation might ensue with each customer, whether about books, politics, art or broccoli. All have happened!
“Bristol is a great place to have a bookshop because the city is full of people who seem genuinely hungry to read and to talk about what they’ve read but also because the other booksellers all support one another and share a love of what we do.”
Beware of the Leopard, St Nick’s Market
Bloom & Curll, Colston Street
Bookhaus, Wapping Wharf
Clifton Community Bookshop, Clifton Road
Jessica Paul and Sam Taylor of Max Minerva’s have been busy in recent weeks, not just moving their original shop from Westbury Park to Henleaze but also opening a second store in Portishead.
Sam says that owning a bookshop is “a privilege and an education”.
“You meet fascinating people with great stories and book recommendations of their own. Especially the kids.
“Bristol is fiercely supportive of independent businesses and a city that loves the arts. Combine the two and you’ve a fertile ground for bookshops.”
Dreadnought, St George’s Road, Hotwells
Foyles, Cabot Circus
Gloucester Road Books, Gloucester Road
Heron Books, Clifton Arcade
The Last Bookshop, Park Street
Gloucester Road Books owner Tom Robinson says that “having a bookshop in Bristol is great fun”.
“This is a very bookish place, and also a very community orientated place.
“People here really recognise what an independent bookshop gives them that buying online doesn’t.
“I have customers here who pop their heads in just to say hello, to tell me about a book they’d bought from me, or to recommend one to me!”
Max Minerva’s, Henleaze Road
Stanfords, Corn Street
Waterstones, Regent Street, Clifton Village
Waterstone’s, The Galleries
All photos: Martin Booth
Read next:
- Bookhaus manager named among UK’s best booksellers
- Heron Books opens to become Bristol’s smallest bookshop
- Bristol’s bookshop revival challenged to be more inclusive
- Popular bookshop reopens in bigger premises
- Friends join forces for unique shop collaboration
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
