59 Ebury Street, London, SW1W 0NZ
The window display is the first thing that draws you in towards this elaborate independent bookshop, but then your eye takes in a sign for Gallic Books. This is a publishing company based in the back rooms of the bookshop, and wholly-owned by Belgravia Books. Gallic’s books are sold in the shop along with a choice range of titles. Apparently espionage and thrillers are very popular in their locality. Didn’t Lord Lucan live around the corner?
The displays are attractive, engaging and informative with enthusiastic recommendations on cards placed over or next to the books. This bookshop positively welcomes works for new publishers despite, or perhaps because, they are one themselves. The hand written précis reviews draw the visitor in and seem to encourage spontaneous purchasing of, perhaps, previously unknown authors or titles. What is a good day for them? They have customers who come in once or twice a year and can spend up to £1,000 on books. The shop is located in a fairly residential area so it has become a destination bookshop. People seek it out. And its welcoming ambiance clearly makes such a journey worthwhile.
The shop has evening events such as author talks and readings that regularly attract up to 70 people, and there’s the late night opening on a Thursday for those ambitious customers who have just flown in from Ouagadougou en route to Rio. It enjoys an elite footfall but it is deserved as the welcome could not be warmer.
Contact details
Address: 59 Ebury Street, London, SW1W 0NZ
Phone number: 020 7259 9336
Website: belgraviabooks.com
Email: enquiries@belgraviabooks.com
Facebook: @gallicbooks
Twitter: @belgraviab
Instagram @belgraviab
Nearest tube station: Victoria Station
Buses: 2, 11, 13, 16, 24, 36, 38, 44, 52, 148, 170, 185, 211, 390, 507, C1, C10
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