Bristol’s Top Independent Bookshops
Posted on: 19 Nov 2018Bristol is no stranger to independent organisations and businesses, and bookshops are just the tip of the iceberg.
For Colston Street’s Bloom & Curll, the ‘good things come in small packages’ phrase definitely applies. Walking into the shop and being amongst the books can make you feel like you’re one hundred miles away from the hustle and bustle of central Bristol.
The titles cover everything from fiction to politics to philosophy, and it’s also a great social hub for the local community to browse the shelves, have a cup of tea or stop for a chat.
Bloom & Curll is located at 74 Colston Street, Bristol BS1 5BB
Located on Old Market, Hydra not only stocks a wide range of literature but also serves Mexican grown coffee, a selection of organic teas and vegan-friendly sweet treats. Run by locals, the bookshop provides a comfortable meeting space that’s available for hire and they also run events where people can meet, chat, drink coffee and read.
The titles that can be found at Hydra vary from politics to history to feminism, and come in the form of novels, biographies, pamphlets and magazines.
Hydra Books is located at 34 Old Market Street, Bristol BS2 0EZ
Having been open for over a decade, Bristol’s Books for Amnesty is known as one of the friendliest bookshops in the West of England. Run by a group of volunteers, you are able to donate your old books or purchase some second-hand ones, both fiction and non-fiction.
Children’s books, foreign language books and graphic novels are also available, as well as CDs, DVDs, vinyl, sheet music and branded merchandise.
Books for Amnesty is located at 103 Gloucester Road, Bristol BS7 8AT
Dreadnought Books has a broad stock in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as titles for interests beyond this. A short walk from the city centre, Dreadnought is located in Hotwells and a stone’s throw away from the historic SS Great Britain.
This independent bookshop is also online, however not all of their stock is listed on the web so a visit to the shop is an absolute must for booklovers.
Dreadnought Books is located at 125 St. George’s Road, Hotwells, Bristol BS1 5UW
Article by:
Louise Knight - a third-year English with Writing student at UWE Bristol with my own personal blog. Currently undertaking a temporary work placement at 365 Bristol, and an avid reader and writer.
