Books

Primrose Hill Books

Kate Weston | Friday 9 December, 2011 13:34

Ceiling to floor books lining every wall, the best view in london just round the corner and a lot of love from the locals. Primrose Hill Bookshop holds an important place in a community populated by artists and writers.

In a Victorian terrace on Regent’s Park Road, amongst a row of small but perfectly formed shops, sits Primrose Hill’s bookshop. It’s royal blue awning (I don’t know if you’ve noticed but a lot of small bookshops seem to be painted blue) and boxes of books outside, present an aladdin’s cave of information and stories, begging to grab your attention.

Offering new and popular titles they also print a twice yearly catalogue of the books they have enjoyed and recommend, so that other people may discover them too. Aiming to encourage others to enjoy reading as much as they do. Should they not have it in stock they can order it for you within 24-48 hours, while also tracking down books from overseas and even finding you out of print titles. Offering a very personal service to all of their customers and valuing each and every one of their needs, it’s clear why owners Jessica and Marek are so loved by their locals.

Utilising the abundance of local authors, they hold frequent author events. Previously these have included events with authors such as Ian McEwan, Dorris Lessing, PD James, Martin Amis and Diana Athill. This week’s event being an evening with Jeanette Winterson, discussing her Christmas memories from her new biography Why be Happy When you Could be Normal?. A heartbreaking, moving and entertaining account of her childhood and her relationship with her mother.

The time and attention given to serving their community’s literary needs, is an excellent demonstration of why keeping independent bookshops alive is so important.

Primrose Hill, 61 Chalcot Rd, London NW1 8LY

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