By Holly Presswell & Nazifa Khan
8 March is International Women’s Day, and to celebrate this we have curated a list of the very best bookshops for women around the UK. These lovely bookshops are owned by women, made for women and loved by women. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this International Women's Day special.
FOLDE
1 Gold Hill House, 21 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8JE
Friends Karen and Amber are the co-founders of FOLDE, located on Gold Hill in the market town of Shaftesbury. Both experiencing career burnout, the friends decided to take the leap by opening a nature-themed bookshop.
Their stock is largely filled with classic and contemporary nature books to help their customers reconnect with nature and inspire them “to make a positive contribution to our planet.” Alongside literature, FOLDE sells an impressive collection of Dorset arts and crafts and holds monthly events with many well-known travel and nature authors from around the world.
Juno Books
24 Chapel Walk, Sheffield, S1 2PD
Juno Books is an independent intersectional feminist and queer bookshop. Co-founders Rosie and Sarah created Juno Books because of their mutual love of literature and a passion for inclusive and intersectional feminism. The idea was born thanks to a back garden wine-drinking session during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Juno Books is proud to sell books mostly written by women and queer people, with the objective being to celebrate these voices and provide space for experiences not always heard in the mainstream. Rosie and Sarah only sell books that they would recommend themselves and are happy to help you search through their collection of books to find the perfect one for you. Juno Books hosts monthly book clubs, such as their Horror Book Club and Sex Ed Book Club. All the information for these events can be found on their website.
The Small City Bookshop
201 Church Road, Redfield, East Bristol, BS5 9HL
Christie and Sarah met through their love of reading. They both thought that Church Road needed a bookshop, so they opened The Small City Bookshop together. The venue plays a huge role in the community by ensuring reading and literacy are promoted for all ages and groups.
These two friends have worked hard to curate their range of adult and children’s fiction and non-fiction, ensuring that it “represents [their] tastes and reflects [their] beliefs of inclusivity of voice, character and theme.” Alongside offering book subscriptions, The Small City Bookshop hosts numerous events which often sell out quickly, so grab your tickets while you can. When you visit, make sure to say hello to Pam, the bookshop dog.
Persephone Books
8 Edgar Buildings, Bath, BA1 2EE
Founded in 1999 by British biographer Nicola Beauman, Persephone Books is an esteemed independent bookshop and publisher that has become a national success over the years. The original idea behind the company was to reprint a few ‘lost’ or out-of-print works annually, written primarily by women. No one, including Nicola, could have predicted how successful the company’s iconic grey book covers would become. The name Persephone came from the Greek goddess of spring, a symbol of female creativity and new beginnings. When visiting Persephone Books, take your time browsing the shelves and share your love and support for this wonderful independent business that has come a long way in representing women in both the classical and modern eras.
The Feminist Library
The Sojourner Truth Community Centre, 161 Sumner Road, Peckham, London, SE15 6JL
The final bookshop on this list was founded in 1975 by a group of women who felt compelled to ensure that the history of the women's liberation movement lived on. And they succeeded; today, the venue is a library, a community space and a bookshop, boasting a huge collection of books by female authors. The library is mainly run by volunteers and has a website powered by bookshop.org where you can purchase some of the books they sell. Find out more here.
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