The Sundarban
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
The traditional bookshop has been upgraded, with a unusual breed of alcoholic literary retailers serving up wine and cocktails alongside a curated collection of moral reads. Taking a leaf from the Novel York trend, these cosy venues are bobbing up around London and across the relaxation of the UK. These retailers supply coffee, live track, author events, DJ items — even literature-themed pace dating. Diversity is essential, and in contrast to the aloof, library-like vibe that bookshops have long been identified for, these are creative, social spaces the place conversation-starters line the cabinets. From the Cornish bookshop based in an 18th-century pub to the Glaswegian haunt offering artisanal cheese boards, here are some of the UK’s top spots for bibliophiles.
Gulp Fiction, Oxford
Head into the warren of self reliant cheesemongers, florists and cobblers in Oxford’s busy Lined Market to bag this tiny bookshop that’s also part coffee home and part bar. Known for its beer on tap and cocktails as significant as it’s miles for its literature, home specials embrace the Woozy Womble – a fruity combination of lemon vodka, strawberry and blackberry liqueurs. There are also regular events, from author meet-and-greets and pub quizzes to bookshop jazz — if the drinks menu lends you some Dutch courage, you can also attempt the Friday night writing membership. Alternatively, prance the extra mile and be part of the Book Enthusiasts’ Happy Hour, which affords three programs of cocktails paired with book solutions, matched to your tastes.
Morocco Trot, London
The London district of Bermondsey, good south of Borough Market, doesn’t want for bars and buzzy food joints. Even so, a stand-out alternative is Morocco Trot, the packed with life bookshop bar named after the supple Moroccan leather as soon as prized for book bindings. A bookshop, cafe and co-working space by day, it unleashes a wealth of events when the solar goes down, together with rap commence mic nights, live track, film screenings and comedy takeovers. The beers on supply, such as Hay-Z Novel England-trend pale ale, all come from within cycling distance. Even as you happen to desire, resolve an English wine, sourced from Balfour Winery in Kent.
London’s Morocco Trot is a bookshop, cafe and co-working space by day and an match space by night, featuring rap commence mic nights and comedy takeovers.
Photograph by Mila Grinko (Top) (Left) and Photograph by Mila Grinko (Bottom) (Fair)
BookBar, Islington and Chelsea, London
Playing a moral book needn’t be a solitary activity — and at this tiny indie bookshop, you can cease so in moral company, glass of wine or cocktail in hand. Here’s the philosophy in the back of BookBar, a cosy hangout with two London branches in Islington and Chelsea. Literary recommendations are freely offered by the pleasant and knowledgeable staff — and reasonably usually, too, by fellow browsers. Watch out for the weekly ‘Books and Bangers’ night, when the shop’s resident DJ takes to the floor, as well as regular talks from authors such as Elif Shafak, wine-tasting and ‘read-dating’ socials for singles.
The Book Brewery, Ambleside, Cumbria
The peaceful waters and craggy hills of the Lake District have long drawn travellers — nonetheless it certainly was writers, foremost among them romantic poet William Wordsworth, who first save the position on the map. The Book Brewery celebrates the Lakes’ literary heritage, based in Ambleside, Wordsworth’s ragged place of start. This newly opened bookshop bar affords a thoughtfully curated range of books alongside coffee and each English and German wines. Time it correct and you can also be part of a quiet reading membership, which is held here each other Wednesday. Alternatively, whenever you happen to’re handiest making a flying talk over with, you can be part of a monthly book subscription with personalised recommendations brought to your door.
The family-escape bookshop bar in Glasgow pairs books with Scottish artisan cheeses and cured meats as well as wine.
Photograph by Jordan Brier
Ambleside’s Book Brewery affords quiet reading membership each other Wednesday alongside a curated range of English and German wines.
Photograph by The Book Brewery
The Bookmonger, Bearsden, Glasgow
Travellers usually don’t make it as far as Bearsden, a leafy suburb on the northeast fringe of the metropolis. But it certainly’s worth the day travel to envision up on the Bookmonger, a unusual family-escape bookshop bar whose imposing off-black bookcases call to mind the very best gothic fiction. Opt a original and then perch on a stool to savour a glass of wine, pairing it with a customised charcuterie board fleshy of Scottish artisan cheeses, cured meats and seasonal fruits (substitutions available for dietary necessities). Regular events embrace candlelit Scottish track performances, talks with authors and book clubs.
Beerwolf Books, Falmouth, Cornwall
For some bibliophiles, a bookshop bar makes for a gentler alternative to the pub. But visitors to the Cornish harbour metropolis of Falmouth needn’t resolve between the two: they have Beerwolf Books, a rare pub-bookshop hybrid. The 18th-century building is tucked at the halt of an alleyway good off Falmouth’s main browsing road. Internal, unusual and second-hand books believe tall wooden bookcases. Take your chosen volume to 1 in all the mismatched tables, and you can ride it with a real ale or local cider. As if books and beer on tap weren’t adequate, there are also pinball machines and board games to let you whereas away the hours.
To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click on here. (Available in make a choice countries handiest).
