UPDATED OCT 2012:
Oswestry Indoor Market Books and First Edition are now closed.
BOOKA was named one of the UK's Top 50 best independent bookshops on Church St.
Updated 27th Dec 2009:
The Oswestry Festival of the Word is on 13-20 March 2010
[Click here for more for more information]
When I first moved to Oswestry, bookshops were thin on the ground. Bookworld being the main source of reasonable secondhand books although a bit on the pricey side. That said, John Cranwell is to be thanked for running the only bookshop in town for so many years.
Yet now, it's all changing!
Bookworld has now become FIRST EDITION BOOKS (Beatrice St) and Richard, the new owner has lots of energy and ideas and to be honest, he's needed it having to sort through all the existing stock (there must have been some real gold in them there musty piles of books).
Still it's mostly all re-priced, re-organised and ready for customers.
Then, we have Neil's OSWESTRY INDOOR MARKET BOOKS (OIMB) in Powis Hall Indoor Market on Wednesday and Saturday (up the ramp and first left at the end of the row). This bookshop, since expanding, has become a buzz of activity. Neil's selection is un-erringly good, well-priced with a very wide range of topics.
It's a bit like Hotel California, once you start looking, you won't leave without a book. :)
And finally, there is planning permission in for a new bookshop & cafe at what was the Mab & Co shop on Church Street. I believe this to be stocking newer books, which with only W.H.Smith to compete with is something the town could do with. Personally, I think it will do very well in such a great location too.
So, my point being, with all these new bookshops, is Oswestry re-discovering it's literary nature? After all, with Wilfred Owen and Barbara Pym in our locker we've got a head start!
The Oswestry Literary Festival - hmmm, has a certain ring. Anyone up for it?
Right anyone know Martin Amis's number?
