12th October is Bookshop Day! Celebrate by heading out to one of Manchester’s independent bookshops, full of hidden treasures waiting to be discovered.
Chapter One
This indie shop is based in Northern Quarter is packed with a varied collection of literature. Inside the shop you’ll find eclectic décor that ranges from a chic and cosy café to a bookshelf lined Victorian-esque reading room complete with banker’s lamps at each table. Find a new favourite inside and sip on your hot drink of choice in the café while you get started on it.
Paramount Books
This family-operated shop first opened its doors in 1965 and has been a city centre fixture ever since. Inside is a trove of second-hand and rare books, as well as a healthy selection of comic books. You can also find a selection of vintage magazines and newspapers, all nestled inside an equally vintage interior. With so many rare finds collected in one place, it’s easy to spend an afternoon lost in the stacks.
The House of Books and Friends
As the name might suggest, The House of Books and Friends is an independent and purpose-led bookshop with a singular mission: to combat loneliness. All of the shop’s profits are reinvested into this mission. Inside you’ll find shelves stacked with bestsellers and old favourites alike. The shop also holds a café and puts on several events a month, including various book clubs and book themed events, so head over to immerse yourself in a world of books and chat to likeminded book lovers.
Didsbury Village Bookshop
This shop is a bit of a hidden gem, tucked away inside The Art of Tea in Didsbury. The interior looks like something out of a book itself, with floor to ceiling bookshelves creating a labyrinth of literature. There are a few cosy spots inside where you can sit tucked away with your favourite story. While the shop itself is relatively small, there’s a lot packed in it! You can find everything from classic literature to the latest celeb biography.
On Instagram @didsburyvillagebookshop
Anywhere Out of the World
Anywhere Out of the World’s name is apt, as the shop feels like a break from the busy city below its first floor location in Tib Street. It stocks exclusively second-hand offerings, shelved against exposed brickwork walls. There are a few seats and tables dotted about if you want to spend an afternoon perusing the shop’s offerings. Just make sure it’s between Thursday and Sunday when the shop is open. As for the hours, they’re nominally between 12pm and 6pm, however the owner varies these depending on how busy it is.
Anywhereoutofthe.world