One shop you would miss

[Guest alex]

Michael J Parish, I've never got over it shutting tbh

Used to go there with me granny as a young 'un.

[manc-mag 1]

'Fashionable Male'

[Isegrim 10056]

Waterstones.

 

I do like Waterstones, but just because they are the only book stores in most parts of England. What is this whole fixation on franchise chains anyway. Most of the are soulless and I wouldn't miss them at all.

I think Waterstones is pretty average to be honest, just pushes stuff that is either popular or a 'classic'. If you want something a bit out of the ordinary I find Amazon (and their marketplace sellers) far better. I prefer small independent book shops although they are hard to find now. The book shop at The Baltic is good if you like art/design or photography.

 

What part of "but just because" didn't you understand?

 

Though, I know it is a bit rich to say this when you come from a town where every other shop is either a book store or an antiquary selling old books...

[Renton 22686]

Waterstones.

 

I do like Waterstones, but just because they are the only book stores in most parts of England. What is this whole fixation on franchise chains anyway. Most of the are soulless and I wouldn't miss them at all.

I think Waterstones is pretty average to be honest, just pushes stuff that is either popular or a 'classic'. If you want something a bit out of the ordinary I find Amazon (and their marketplace sellers) far better. I prefer small independent book shops although they are hard to find now. The book shop at The Baltic is good if you like art/design or photography.

 

 

Got to admit I often browse in "real" bookshops and go home and buy on Amazon. People like me are killing the High street tbh.

[Guest alex]

Waterstones.

 

I do like Waterstones, but just because they are the only book stores in most parts of England. What is this whole fixation on franchise chains anyway. Most of the are soulless and I wouldn't miss them at all.

I think Waterstones is pretty average to be honest, just pushes stuff that is either popular or a 'classic'. If you want something a bit out of the ordinary I find Amazon (and their marketplace sellers) far better. I prefer small independent book shops although they are hard to find now. The book shop at The Baltic is good if you like art/design or photography.

 

 

Got to admit I often browse in "real" bookshops and go home and buy on Amazon. People like me are killing the High street tbh.

That said, if you use the marketplace sellers, which are nearly always cheaper, you are often buying stuff from independent book / record shops anyway. I like the sound of Cath's place if she wins the lottery like

[Guest alex]

Waterstones.

 

I do like Waterstones, but just because they are the only book stores in most parts of England. What is this whole fixation on franchise chains anyway. Most of the are soulless and I wouldn't miss them at all.

I think Waterstones is pretty average to be honest, just pushes stuff that is either popular or a 'classic'. If you want something a bit out of the ordinary I find Amazon (and their marketplace sellers) far better. I prefer small independent book shops although they are hard to find now. The book shop at The Baltic is good if you like art/design or photography.

 

What part of "but just because" didn't you understand?

 

Though, I know it is a bit rich to say this when you come from a town where every other shop is either a book store or an antiquary selling old books...

I understood you Woolfie, I should have just quoted Cath really

[Craig 6707]

Svens

 

And I remember Callers on Northumberland Street, roughly where Superdrug is now wasnt it? and if I remember rightly they had a fishpond covered in glass that you walked over (used to scare me shitless!).

 

*now Im getting old

 

 

Sven's is still there is it not?

 

Agree with Isegrim and Cath though. I don't know why English speaking countries have lost their independent shops to souless chains, but as far as chains do go Waterstone's is OK, especially the one near the Theatre Royal.

 

I much prefer small local bookshops but they're very few and far between. When I lived in Manchester I sometimes used to go across to Holmfirth and they had the most fantastic old bookshop on about 4 levels. The further up the stairs you went the older the books were and it was almost dusty by the time you got to the top. I used to spend hours in there

 

If I ever win the lottery I'm going to open a book/coffee shop where people can come and have coffee and read. Lots of comfy old sofa's and home made cakes

 

If you ever get yourself down to London, get yourself to Foyles bookstore - sounds just like this one but it's the size of Harrods! Proabably spend about a week in there

 

Waterstones is good and I used to like Dillons when it was next door to Fenwick on Blackett St (what's that these days?) As for the bookshop/coffee shop idea, isn't that along the lines of what Ottakers do?

[Guest alex]

Svens

 

And I remember Callers on Northumberland Street, roughly where Superdrug is now wasnt it? and if I remember rightly they had a fishpond covered in glass that you walked over (used to scare me shitless!).

 

*now Im getting old

 

 

Sven's is still there is it not?

 

Agree with Isegrim and Cath though. I don't know why English speaking countries have lost their independent shops to souless chains, but as far as chains do go Waterstone's is OK, especially the one near the Theatre Royal.

 

I much prefer small local bookshops but they're very few and far between. When I lived in Manchester I sometimes used to go across to Holmfirth and they had the most fantastic old bookshop on about 4 levels. The further up the stairs you went the older the books were and it was almost dusty by the time you got to the top. I used to spend hours in there

 

If I ever win the lottery I'm going to open a book/coffee shop where people can come and have coffee and read. Lots of comfy old sofa's and home made cakes

 

If you ever get yourself down to London, get yourself to Foyles bookstore - sounds just like this one but it's the size of Harrods! Proabably spend about a week in there

 

Waterstones is good and I used to like Dillons when it was next door to Fenwick on Blackett St (what's that these days?) As for the bookshop/coffee shop idea, isn't that along the lines of what Ottakers do?

Bizarrely, Dillons is another Waterstones now.

[catmag 337]

Waterstones.

 

I do like Waterstones, but just because they are the only book stores in most parts of England. What is this whole fixation on franchise chains anyway. Most of the are soulless and I wouldn't miss them at all.

I think Waterstones is pretty average to be honest, just pushes stuff that is either popular or a 'classic'. If you want something a bit out of the ordinary I find Amazon (and their marketplace sellers) far better. I prefer small independent book shops although they are hard to find now. The book shop at The Baltic is good if you like art/design or photography.

 

 

Got to admit I often browse in "real" bookshops and go home and buy on Amazon. People like me are killing the High street tbh.

That said, if you use the marketplace sellers, which are nearly always cheaper, you are often buying stuff from independent book / record shops anyway. I like the sound of Cath's place if she wins the lottery like

 

I shall allow you to come in and peruse

[Craig 6707]

Svens

 

And I remember Callers on Northumberland Street, roughly where Superdrug is now wasnt it? and if I remember rightly they had a fishpond covered in glass that you walked over (used to scare me shitless!).

 

*now Im getting old

 

 

Sven's is still there is it not?

 

Agree with Isegrim and Cath though. I don't know why English speaking countries have lost their independent shops to souless chains, but as far as chains do go Waterstone's is OK, especially the one near the Theatre Royal.

 

I much prefer small local bookshops but they're very few and far between. When I lived in Manchester I sometimes used to go across to Holmfirth and they had the most fantastic old bookshop on about 4 levels. The further up the stairs you went the older the books were and it was almost dusty by the time you got to the top. I used to spend hours in there

 

If I ever win the lottery I'm going to open a book/coffee shop where people can come and have coffee and read. Lots of comfy old sofa's and home made cakes

 

If you ever get yourself down to London, get yourself to Foyles bookstore - sounds just like this one but it's the size of Harrods! Proabably spend about a week in there

 

Waterstones is good and I used to like Dillons when it was next door to Fenwick on Blackett St (what's that these days?) As for the bookshop/coffee shop idea, isn't that along the lines of what Ottakers do?

Bizarrely, Dillons is another Waterstones now.

 

I thought it would probably end up as another bookshop - didn't think that Waterstones would have 2 virtually opposite each other though

 

(although they did take Dillons over didn't they?)