All the New Bookshops You Need to Know About
We've found all the best new bookshops across the North East and Yorkshire
BRIDGE STREET BOOKS
Nestled in the charming town of Amble, Bridge Street Books offers a quiet respite from the general hustle-and-bustle. Whether you want to browse through a range of books, or sit down for a carefully-brewed cup of tea, this shop has the perfect setting. Bridge Street Books also hosts a range of community events – connecting the people, stories and moments that bring this endearing little shop to life.
4a Bridge Street, Amble NE65 0DR
bridgestreetbooks.co.uk
CHAPTER 13
To kickstart your autumn, immerse yourself in the bookish charm of Chapter 13. With a range of genres to explore, including a dedicated selection of children’s books, there’s something for every kind of reader. The shop takes pride in its collection of local titles, giving readers the chance to connect with Sunderland – the place Chapter 13 calls home.
11 Frederick Street, Sunniside, Sunderland SR1 1NA
@chapter13books
CHAPTERS & CHAI
This book themed tea-room stocks independent, self-published authors and offers a family-friendly atmosphere for little ones. Beyond the shelves, Chapters & Chai has an exciting escape room where visitors must escape the ‘prison of the lunatic sage’. Once you’re done, explore the small art gallery where you can buy a personalised piece of artwork to take home with your new read.
42 High Street, Stockton TS18 1SB
chaptersandchai.co.uk
BACK OF BEYOND BOOKS
Back of Beyond Books is the first ever bookshop in the historic market town of Sedgefield. It specialises in new releases from all genres, making it the perfect place to venture for any fresh titles. A novel feature of the store is its rotating selection of book-themed cakes supplied by Fusion Cake Haus. Make sure to pop in for a quick browse and treat yourself to a delicious book-themed dessert.
6a Church View, Sedgefield TS21 2AY
@backofbeyondbookshop
HOUSE OF STORIES
This bookshop reacquaints readers with Morpeth’s long history of publishing, alongside contemporary literature. Northumberland was once a world centre of bookmaking and Morpeth itself boasts a number of esteemed authors. Famous writers such as William Turner, who wrote A New Herbal and taught England how to name its plants, hailed from this unassuming market town. House of Stories makes a point to acknowledge this history, and immerses readers in all things pre-loved and antique.
38 Newgate Street, Morpeth NE61 1BA
houseofstories.co.uk
VERDIGRIS BOOKS
Tucked away in Durham Markets, Verdigris books is a welcoming, second-hand bookshop for literature lovers and curious browsers alike. Its shelves are filled with an assemblage of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and prose – so there’s plenty to discover with every visit. Whether you’re searching for a particular title or just popping in, there’s always a chance of finding something unexpected.
Market Place, Durham DH1 3NJ
durhammarkets.co.uk
THE SINFUL SPINE
Enter into the enticing world of romance at The Sinful Spine in Heaton. Find your new obsession amongst the shelves, and escape into a passionate fantasy of your choice while you enjoy a drink from the café. With dark interiors and an amorous ambiance, this bookshop is a romance fanatic’s paradise.
12 Heaton Road, Heaton NE6 1SD
thesinfulspine.com
BOOKS FROM BELOW
‘Books can change people, and people can change the world’ is the slogan driving this newly-opened bookshop, café and event space. Books From Below stocks a variety of political literature on social justice, working-class history, marginalised communities and grassroots activism. In the shop’s community spaces, likeminded readers can come together to discuss their thoughts. Here, radical ideas are given the space to grow beyond the covers containing them.
37a Blandford Square, Newcastle NE1 4HZ
@booksfrombelowncl
THE FORTH
A highly anticipated new opening is coming to Gosforth Central Shopping Centre. Brought to you by the owners of the award-winning Forum Books in Corbridge, The Bound at Whitley Bay and The Accidental Bookshop in Alnwick, this is an exciting new addition to Gosforth’s High Street. Keep an eye on Forum’s Facebook and Instagram for more information on what’s to come.
28 High Street, Gosforth, Newcastle NE3 1JZ
@forumbookscorbridge
BOOKS AND BAKES
A pretty-in-pink bookshop and café based in The Galleries, Books and Bakes is a whimsical refuge for both readers and coffee-lovers. Alongside its carefully curated book collection, the café showcases a selection of delicious, hand-picked goods from local makers. With a focus on keeping things sustainable, the shop also runs a book buy-back scheme, giving pre-loved stories a chance to find a new home.
The Galleries, Washington NE38 7SD
booksandbakes.co.uk
PAPER AND PARK
A cosy independent bookshop and café in Chester-le-Street. Paper and Park provides a wide range of books to choose from, as well as the opportunity to join a community readers at the weekly book club. Stay a while and enjoy their locally roasted coffee and seasonal drinks menu, but don’t forget to reserve a table!
84b Front Street, Chester-le-Street DH3 3BB
paperandpark.co.uk
HORRIFICALLY GOOD BOOKS
Opening just in time for Halloween, this horror-only bookstore is the first of its kind in the UK. If you’re looking for a read to keep you up at night, or a story that’ll send shivers down your spine, Horrifically Good Books has what you need, stocking a range of gothic horror, translated horror, small print and indie pieces, YA horror, haunted house literature and more. Given York’s reputation for ghostly history and spectral encounters, it was only a matter of time before a bookshop arrived to channel its haunted past.
60 Goodramgate, York YO1 7LF
@horrificallygoodbooks
POETRY PHARMACY
Need an antidote to the gaps on your bookshelf? Look no further. The Poetry Pharmacy is in a quaint 15th-century building in York, and all poetry-lovers should flock here to find remedies for their emotional ailments within the store’s extensive stock of anthologies. If you’re looking for anything fast-acting and specific, their poetry pills are filled with curated daily poems to soothe all manner of restless minds.
20 Coney Street, York YO1 9ND
poetrypharmacy.co.uk
A NEW LEAF
Embrace the changing season at A New Leaf. More than just a bookshop, this welcoming haven invites you to browse a curated collection of titles while enjoying drinks and savoury grazing boards. Beyond the shelves, the ladies boutique and gift shop sells an array of unique finds to complement your new book. It also caters to the youngest bookworms with Little Leaf, a dedicated space designed to inspire a lifelong love of reading.
30 Peel Street, Marsden HD7 6BW
anewleafbookshop.co.uk
NOVEL
Looking to refresh your collection with the best new contemporary fiction? Novel is the place to go. Step in and browse their carefully-curated selection of vibrant modern books. If you’re looking to dive deeper into your reads, every month they host a book club to discuss the latest featured novel. Be sure to secure a ticket!
221 School Road, Crookes, Sheffield S10 1GN
novelsheffield.com
PAPERWING
This little bookshop balances its curated shelves with heritage crafts, locally-made gifts, art supplies and children’s toys. At its heart is a communal chapters-and-crafts area – the perfect nook to recite tales, share tangible artisan skills, or browse the charming, locally-made keepsakes. Four-legged friends are also welcome, so don’t forget to bring them along to explore too.
9 Church Street, Helmsley YO62 5AD
paperwing.co.uk
THE REAL INDIE BOOKSHOP
Independent writers often don’t get the credit they deserve. Opening soon, The Real Indie Bookshop wants to change this. Its book selection will champion indie authors, illustrators and publishers – meaning anything you find here will be a unique addition to your bookshelf. It will also offer a choice of comics and newspapers to suit different reading preferences, and has a dedicated section on musical artists. Unlike most bookshops, this one bridges the gap between different mediums – creating an inclusive, vibrant hub for all forms of literature, art and culture.
Parliament Street, Harrogate
@realindiebookshop
READ & RABBIT
This charming second-hand bookshop by the sea is a reader’s paradise and day trip in one. Read & Rabbit exclusively stocks used books, nothing more than 25 years old, and hosts numerous community events in-line with its commitment to creating a communal safe space for those in need. Alongside books, this shop provides free parking and is the perfect starting point for a day out along North Yorkshire’s scenic Loftus coast.
79 High Street, Loftus, Saltburn TS13 4HG
readandrabbit.com
TOPPING & COMPANY
Travel back in time as you walk through the doors of Topping & Company in York. The 18th-century building retains an olfactory nostalgia – with tall, handcrafted bookcases, classic rolling ladders, and antique decor bringing an old-world charm to each floor. Book yourself a consultation with one of their expert book sellers and discover a new read curated for you, enjoy a complimentary cup of tea, or simply browse and enjoy the stunning views of York Minster from the first floor.
1 Museum Street, York YO1 7DT
toppingbooks.co.uk
THE FINE PRINT BOOKSHOP
This cosy bookshop is tucked away in the market town of Skipton. Its window display is filled with monthly favourites and new additions to the store. If you want an unexpected treat, try out a Blind Date With a Book – a bag filled with goodies and a mystery book!
4 Craven Court, High Street, Skipton BD23 1DG
@thefineprintbookshop
CLUTTERBOOKS
A cosy, comfortable bookshop in the seaside town of Hornsea. Clutterbooks does a lot with a little and has transformed its small, unassuming space into a captivating shop filled with a blend of mainstream bestsellers, diverse genres and timeless classics. Younger readers can head to the book-nook, where there is a selection of storybooks, alongside a more functional choice of GCSE and revision materials. This spot is full of personality, and is a must-visit if you’re in town.
21 Newbegin, Hornsea HU18 1AB
@clutterbooks2025
