The Book Hive is a place that celebrates the beauty of printed material – as well as the pleasures of whimsical, alternative curation.

We display our stock in a way that maximises the visual impact of book design, liberally spreading titles over tables and shelves face-out where possible. The shop is well-known for foregoing traditional sections, instead favouring mixes of the booksellers’ picks which allows for a unique browsing experience and the kind of serendipitous discovering that more traditional layouts – or algorithms – cannot replicate.

The building itself has been lovingly renovated inside, combining the charm and character of the original space with a playful sense of fun and panache. The overall effect is an invitation to browse, discuss and spend time reading – not just to come and buy books.