| 32 Seconds 
32 High Street
NEWHAVEN East Sussex BN9 9PD map
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 10 -00 - 4.00
Small shop which has books as well as stamps, and a few videos. Prices are erratic, but occasionally good things turn up. There is no other reason for visiting Newhaven. I wouldn't make a special journey. - Richard.
A and Y Cumming Ltd
84 High Street
LEWES East Sussex BN7 1XN map
tel: 01273 472319
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00.
Very large stock including travel, fine bindings, art & illustrated, literature, natural history and topography.
Some wonderful stock in the basement. I regret not spending much longer there. Assisted in my searches but never put pressure on me to buy. - Chris Harte 01.04.09.
A good selection of books on a wide variety of subjects. The pricing appears to be reasonable. The service was friendly, amusing and slightly eccentric. - h442 28.07.10.
Basement? What basement? Some beautiful books, in a lovely but slightly rarified atmosphere where, for the average and eclectically minded book buyer there was not a lot. Lots of customers tho; and some very interesting WW2 magazines. - Jon Morgan 16.08.12.
Albion Books
34 - 35 George Street
HASTINGS East Sussex TN34 3EA map
tel: Unknown e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 5.00.
Secondhand, mainly popular fiction - Alastair Palmer 15.05.08.
Visited on a day off from my own bookshop. Mostly paperbacks but a very good selection of military related and some excellent esoteric items. - Steve Marshall 26.09.11.
I've had it with this dump. The stock is mostly nerdy scifi rubbish (as opposed to quality scifi) in a pretty awful state left lying about the place in piles. The place is dirty and smelly. The owner is a bad-tempered man who doesn't respond to questions or look you in the eye, and only really converses to whinge. A key whinge is that he has too many books (he's not a reader himself) and can't sell them. So why doesn't he tidy and clean up a bit? Don't bother trying to get in touch with him - he doesn't do telephone, email, or reply to mail. The place is a dump and an eyesore on George Street. Get a grip and stop feeling sorry for yourself, or alternatively find a line of business you like - perhaps a grotty old pub for other miserable old f**ts. - Badge 10.05.12.
Found a very small piece of tatty paper on the door saying 'Back in 10 minutes' which I really hate. Why can't they state a time but from reading other comments it seems wasn't worth a visit anyway. - Tikit 12.07.12.
Bestsellers
56 St Leonards Road
BEXHILL-ON-SEA East Sussex TN40 1JB map
tel: 01424 730885 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00, closed Wednesday pm.
I keep a large selection of modern fiction covering si-fi, romance and saga, chick-lit, thrillers and a very large section of crime and mystery, I also have sections covering the classics, film and TV tie-in, childrens, biography, military and war stories. If you're bored with town centres and high streets that all look the same, then Bexhill is the place to come.
Mostly new-looking paperbacks and a few hardbacks. Nothing really caught my eye. John Bacon 15.05.08.
A Doctor Who Tardis can be found in this bookshop! All my favourite authors all in order easy to find, The owner has ordered a book for me from the internet, looking for the best price. - Sarah W 13.05.10.
Amazing window displays, always different such a lot of effort. Its a huge shop. The owner went into the basement where he has many more books to check when I had asked for a book. - Wordscan 13.05.10.
A treasure trove of interesting books, I always walk away with a few good books. I asked the man to order me something I was looking for in particular (English translation of a French poet) and was very happy with the service. - Handsomesuits 10.07.10.
Bookmans Halt
127 Bohemia Road
ST. LEONARDS-ON-SEA East Sussex TN37 6RL map
tel: 01424 421413
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00, closed Wednesday & Saturday pm.
General stock of about 5,000 books.
No longer open on Saturday afternoons. Old fashioned double front building in a row of old shops. Good to rummage through when open! - Clive Cheeseman. < - > Shut - owner at funeral - but usually has a wide range of inexpensive good quality books. - John F Bacon.
A dismal shop in an area which is going downhill fast. Although there was nothing to attract me, much on the shelves looked very promising. A spring clean and a coat of paint would surely bring to the fore the gems hidden amongst the dust and grime. - Chris Harte 04.02.10.
Books for Amnesty
15 Sydney Street
BRIGHTON East Sussex BN1 4EN map
tel: 0127 368 8983 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00, Sunday 1.30 - 5.00.
Charity bookshop.
A well-stocked shop run by very pleasant people. - The Bookman 16.07.11.
Some time since I had visited this vividly painted and very pink shop but stock is ever changing, very varied and attractively priced, well worth a visit. - Jon Morgan 14.08.12.
A good charity bookshop that's much better than the usual, pretty large and more than its fair share of interesting stock - also reasonably priced. Definitely worth popping in. - M&O 29.09.12.
Small but well-stocked and busy shop with a good vibe. Plenty of classic and modern fiction, an inviting annexe for music, and an upper floor of miscellaneous stuff. I have chanced on a few out-of-print novels here. Always affordable too. - Paul O 13.10.12.
Excellent bookshop if you want quality second-hand contemporary fiction at very low prices (the best in Brighton for this) - and generally in good condition. Staff helpful and friendly. - The Nephologist 26.03.13.
Boulevard Bookshop
32 George Street
Old Town
HASTINGS East Sussex TN34 3EA map
tel: 01424-436521 or 01424200833 e-mail web
Open: 7 days 10.30 - 6.00.
All subjects covered, but science books a'plenty. The stock will appeal to the reader rather than the collector.
This bookshop appears to be transforming itself into a Thai restaurant! We get the feeling that the books are now there for decoration ... a shame, because this was a good shop. - Stephen Gaunt 17.05.10.
Closed when I arrived at 10.30 on a Friday with a sign saying "Open for food at 6". Strange as it looks well-stocked and someone was sorting the books inside ... - Herne 14.06.12.
We seem to have visited two weeks after Herme and at 3:00 pm found exactly the same situation! - - Tikit 12.07.12.
Bow Windows Bookshop
175 High Street
LEWES East Sussex BN7 1YE map
tel: 01273 480780 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00.
We buy and sell old, rare and fine books on many subjects, as well as maps. Much of our stock is attractively displayed in our shop, and we have a special emphasis on books in overall excellent condition.
Did not realise that I was a specialist in my field and waved me away with a swatting motion of the hand. Some stock appeared to be mutton dressed as lamb. - Chris Harte 01.04.09.
Found staff helpful and very friendly, so maybe Chris Harte just caught them on a bad day? Reasonable selection of stock, all of it well presented. Did think that presentation meant some items were slightly over priced. - Emma 05.05.09.
A very attractive shop, inside and out with a very helpful member of staff albeit little of interest to me personally. It is what a good bookshop should look like but unlikely to attract a lot of casual trade. - Jon Morgan 14.08.12
Brighton Books
18 Kensington Gardens
BRIGHTON East Sussex BN1 4AL map
tel: 01273 693 845
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 6.00.
Large general stock and particularly art, architecture and illustrated.
Prices are somewhat high, but you are paying for the quality of the stock and a consistently high condition of the books in a very smart and well managed shop. - George Marshall 06.02.09.
A well-ordered shop - not the cheapest but stock of a consistently good quality. Good for topography. Also some interesting stock at the Snoopers Paradise shop over the road. Mainly paperback - Herne 31.05.11.
Excellent stock, very clean & well-arranged shop: prices high, owner pleasant. - The Bookman 16.07.11.
Back again last week to find a sale on with some interesting bargains. Picked up a vintage Saturday Book for £2 to enhance my collection of this enjoyable series. - Herne 03.03.12.
Great books, excellent stock easily accessible and an oasis of calm form trendysvile on sea outside. Prices high-ish, but no trace of toot and the books of consistently high quality. - Jon Morgan 14.08.12.
Hoped for much more from this place, it looked the most promising of Brighton's shops. It does have a lot of good quality books, particularly (it seemed, not my area of interest) art/architecture etc. But the stock that did interest me all seemed over-priced and I left empty-handed. - M&O 29.09.12
British Heart Foundation Books and Music Shop
76 London Road
BRIGHTON East Sussex BN1 4JF map
tel: 01273 674613
This is a general charity shop (not just books and music) but does have considerably larger books stock than you'd expect in a general charity shop - including a small section of 'collectables'. I didn't find anything to interest me, but if I lived locally I imagine it would be worth checking in from time to time to see what comes up. Nothing special, although prices cheap. - M&O 29.09.12.
Camilla's Bookshop
57 Grove Road
EASTBOURNE East Sussex BN21 4TX map
tel: 01323 736001
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.30.
A stock of some 50,000 titles, including children's, needlework, art & antiques, transport, military and antiquarian.
So many books, but they are everywhere. Very difficult to browse downstairs with the ever present fear of being hit by a falling book. Huge selection of books on all subjects. - John F Bacon.
Books piled everywhere. You need at least half a day to do justice to a wide and varied stock. - Chris Harte 01.04.09.
Revisited Camilla's recently. Browsing purposefully got me nowhere and neither did asking for specific items/categories. Camilla has been there for years but the stock now looks tired, unloved and tatty. The gems are lurking somewhere but are well hidden! - Mary Corin 11.01.10.
We were on holiday last week in Eastbourne and visited this shop - probably some very good books but you need a spade to find them ! no wonder OXFAM opposite does so well ! - Gavin Richardson 24.02.10.
I was delighted to see the parrot still flourishes ! I found plenty to tempt me in transport and fiction as well as topography. Almost all the stock is accessible but a ladder is needed for some of the higher items. - Herne 30.03.11.
Packed with loads of great stuff, including lots of very interesting older 20th century material, but sadly it really is rather heavy going to navigate and plough through. - David C 10.01.13.
What a wonderful cave of books ! If you have plenty of time and a love for old books this is the place for you. There's not enought shops like this left. - Bookmadmart 16.02.13.
I had great fun rummaging in the boxes outside - so much so that I ran out of time before I even got through the doors. As several have said, this place needs time. - Steven Whitehead 06.03.13.
Colin Page Antiquarian Books
36 Duke Street
BRIGHTON East Sussex BN1 1AG map
tel: 01273 325954
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30.
Large general stock and illustrated & plate books, travel, literature, natural history and children's.
A lovely shop of the old fashioned variety with antiquarian books stacked to the top of the high ceilings. General stock but much, much better in the storeroom around the back and even better in the store off-site. This shop and annexes need virtually a full day to peruse. - Chris Harte 14.01.10.
Very enjoyable to browse in and seemed fairly priced. Only picked up a couple of books, but very pleased with one (politics) in particular. Seemed strong on some topics, for example, literary biographies, although not much in the way of politics. But, despite a slightly disappointing 'haul' from my point of view, a very nice bookshop and for some would be a goldmine. - M&O 29.09.12.
I expect Drif would have labelled this as "Roast Beef" but I liked it. Above average calibre and condition; fair prices. - Steven 13.04.13.
David Jarman 
1 Pipe Passage
LEWES East Sussex BN7 1YG map
tel: 01273 480744
Open: Unknown
General secondhand stock but particularly art and literature.
A small shop on two floors in narrow lane just off the High Street. - Richard.
Friendly owner who regularly gives (unrequested) discounts if you buy three or four books. Stock does not change very often, but is high quality and very reasonbably priced. - Matthew Barr 02.04.09.
Small stock - lot of biography. No one worried me as I sat and read my way through part of the stock. Questions answered courteously but staff did not appear greatly interested in their customer. - h442 28.07.10.
The curse of the closed bookshop! How do these people stay in business?Frustratingly closed at 2.30 pm on a Saturday with no indication of hours on the window or when or indeed whether it would be open again. Looked good from the oustide. Off the high street down a small alley mid way between Cummings and the 15th century book shop (oppositeside of the road). - Jon Morgan 14.08.12.
According to other booksellers in town, he is still open erratically, but the phone isn't currently working. - TBG 26.03.13.
Dim and Distant
31 High Street
HEATHFIELD East Sussex TN21 8HU map
tel: 01435 868555 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00, closed Wednesday.
Lots of good quality mainly non-fiction hardbacks, some antiquarian, on shelves and in piles on the floor! Just an old fashioned small town secondhand bookshop. Fresh stock arriving constantly, thanks to an owner pathologically obsessed with buying more. Closing at the end of May with a sale now of 50% off all books, with further reductions to follow.
What a treasure stuck away in a small East Sussex town. After spending time examining the stock I asked the pleasant owner if he put his holdings on the internet as I had seen runs of titles which are usually very scarce. He replied in the negative. That is a good reason why it is worth a visit. - Chris Harte 01.11.10.
A wonderful shop, this one. A good range of books -- piles of Enid Blytons in their jackets, for instance. Great Poetry section and friendly service. Lots of nearby cafes too. - colin the collector 17.05.12.
A large traditional secondhand bookshop in a smallish East Sussex town off the main routes. It's easy to imagine being locked in at closing time and spending a happy night browsing before you notice. - David C 13.09.12.
Much delight here today at the speedy arrival (by post, to Australia) of a long-sought old book. Lovely to have it, & so carefully wrapped & in excellent condition. Many thanks & best wishes to all at Dim & Distant. - Joan H 13.10.12.
Without doubt one of the best shops I ever visit. I always find plenty of books to buy, and prices are good. Huge section of fiction with an unusual amount in old dustjackets. Owner should be in a museum. Has great sales, one starting soon. - Conor 10.01.13.
A wonderful bookshop, full of treasures including rare, obscure and exotic titles. A particularly good architecture section. Dave also buys books at very fair, often generous prices. A must for the bibliophile and to be craved for by the biblioholic! - The Nephologist 26.03.13.
Lewes Book Centre
38 Cliffe High Street
LEWES East Sussex BN7 2AN map
tel: 01273 487053 web
Open: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 4.00, Saturday 9.30 - 5.00, Wednesday 9.00 -1.00
General secondhand books and specialist military and aviation stock.
Good military bookshop, but typically wacky owners who argue among themselves. Makes me imagine Hitler and Stalin retiring to Sussex and starting a military bookshop together. - Christnye 09.06.12.
lots of books great military stock and mostly fairly decent prices, The owners (Hitler and Stalin analogy accurate) were too busy eating to be able to assist. Difficult to access some stock because of the sheer volume. Mainly remainders and quite steep prices in places. - Jon Morgan 14.08.12
Much Ado Books
8 West Street
High Street
ALFRISTON East Sussex BN26 5UX map
tel: 01323 871222 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.00, Sunday 10.30 - 5.00.
The shop is filled with hand-picked books, ranging from our latest discoveries to favorite old friends. From general fiction and first editions to books for children; from art (with an emphasis on the Bloomsbury group) to history, from music to humour. We offer a wide range of subjects to delight and interest both the general browser and the seasoned collector.
My idea of a good bookshop - nothing on the floor - no dog eared books - fair prices on the subjects I am interested in and lastly very friendly owners ! - Gavin Richardson 24.02.10.
Shop has moved about one hundred yards down the road to 8 West Street and is still a joy to visit. The gift-wrapping service is splendid! - Steven 05.11.11.
A Marmite of a shop, combining new and secondhand. Some may find it a bit twee and pretentious : I always feel the same when arriving but equally I am always converted again before I depart! - David C 13.09.12.
Warning - shop is closing for a sabbatical in January and on into February 2013 so check before travelling. - Steven Whitehead 10.01.13.
Old Saddlery Bookshop
56 High Street
ROBERTSBRIDGE East Sussex TN32 5AP map
tel: 01580 880631 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 1.00 and 2.15 - 5.00. Closed Wednesday.
Secondhand books covering most subjects as well as some printed ephemera.
Oxfam Books
30 Kensington Gardens
BRIGHTON East Sussex BN1 4AL map
tel: 01273 698 093
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 6.00, Sunday 11.00 - 5.00.
Told it had been here for 10 years so must have been one of their first bookshops. Usual Oxfam fare, but even that is better than half of the other 'bookshops' in Town. - Steve Newman 05.10.10.
Typical of its kind Not a particularly vast or varied stock but found a couple of gems. - Jon Morgan 14.08.12
Oxfam Bookshop
40 Grove Road
EASTBOURNE East Sussex BN21 4TY map
tel: 01323 439582
New and second hand donated books. Fiction and nonfiction on a variety of subjects. Our books are in very good condition.
Not the largest Oxfam Bookshop but worth a look when in Eastbourne - as are several other charity shops in the town (all the usual nationals are presetnt along with a couple of locals). - Steven Whitehead 06.03.13.
Oxfam Bookshop
46 Queens Road
HASTINGS East Sussex TN34 1RE map
tel: 01424 425537
Everything including videos on one split level floor - typical Oxfam stock. - Clive Cheeseman.
Oxfam Bookshop
47 Blatchington Road
HOVE East Sussex BN3 3YJ map
tel: 01273 736212
Nice surprise, no bookshops listed in Hove. Usual Oxfam fare, friendly helpful staff. - Steve Newman 16.08.11.
Rainbow Books
28 Trafalgar Street
BRIGHTON East Sussex BN1 4ED map
tel: 01273 605101
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.30 - 6.00.
Very large general stock.
A fun but messy and rather chaotic shop. - George Marshall 09.02.09.
Er, yes. Well, um. Bit retro. Not antiquarian by any stretch of the imagination. - Chris Harte 01.04.09.
A great shop: well-stocked, overflowing into untidiness - good fun to explore: set aside three hours for this purpose! - The Bookman 16.07.11.
As usual Chris Harte hits the nail on the head, I certainly could not have stood to have spent 3 hours in this place. - Jon Morgan 14.08.12.
Unfortunately a complete waste of time - it usually annoys me when people complain about stock not being cared for properly (so long as stock is priced accordingly and there are still things worth buying, just be pleased there are still bookshops around), BUT this place is a tip, particularly downstairs, impossible to look through stock as most of floor is covered - not with piles of books, but just heaps which give the impression the place has been ransacked. Hope they found what they were looking for. - M&O 29.09.12.
Looks fun, but finds are quite rare for me here. Going into the basement is like skip-diving, but I did find a hardback of one of Peter and Fiona Opies' heavyweight tomes on children's folk-lore for just a couple of quid, so it's worth persisting. - Paul O 13.10.12.
Revive All
The Old Needlemakers
West Street
LEWES East Sussex BN7 2NZ map
tel: 01273 476001
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 6.00, Sunday 11.00 - 4.00.
Two rooms of general secondhand books in the basement.
Two rooms in the basement of the Needlemakers Centre (worth a visit for various art shops, and a nice cafe). If in Lewes for Bow Windows, Cummings, & The Fifteenth Century, it is worth a quick look. - Richard.
Rye Old Books
7 Lion Street
RYE East Sussex TN31 7LB map
tel: 01797 225410 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.30 - 5.30 & Sunday 1.00 - 5.00. (Phone to confirm in winter. Shop closes for annual holidays.)
General stock, something for everyone, from 50 pence to £3000. Childrens' illustrated, fine bindings, Irish interest literature. Our thirteenth year in business. We search for books at the most competitive price. We post to all corners of the earth.
A very brusque unwelcoming attiude to an opening simple query. Was made to feel totally unwanted. Asked two friends to go in, five minutes apart, each came out with the same feeling. Why go into a bookshop which doesn't want you in it. - Chris Harte 27.06.09.
Still the same unwelcoming attitude three years on and by the look of all the dust still the same stock! - Tikit 12.07.12.
Sandpiper
34 Kensington Gardens
BRIGHTON East Sussex BN1 4AL map
tel: 01273 605422
Open: Monday - Saturaday 10.00 - 5.30, Sunday 11.00 - 5.00.
Publishers remainders.
An excellent range of well priced remaindered art, architecture and design books - possibly the best remaindered art bookshop outside London. - George Marshall 06.02.09.
A remainder shop - but extremely good of its type. - The Bookman 16.07.11.
Some interesting military titles, but otherwise coffee table dross. Rear room of 'bargains' is a dumping ground. - Jon Morgan 14.08.12.
If art books are your thing, probably worth looking in. Otherwise, you probably won't need long here. The 'bargain room' is not worth looking at. - M&O 29.09.12.
Good selection of art and music books. For me, the "bargain room" IS worth a look: the contents are random, but there are real discoveries to be made here, including academic titles and limited-edition or small-press books. I buy a"bargain" almost every time I visit. - Paul O 13.10.12.
An excellent shop with very friendly and helpful staff. Stock is varied but with real gems that reward the patient browser - I have found some stunning rare art books and catalogues in the back room costing just £1! Obviously these books were missed by those with more plebeian shopping lists! - The Nephologist 26.03.13.
The Fifteenth Century Bookshop
99-100 High Street
LEWES East Sussex BN7 1XH map
tel: 01273 474160
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.30.
Large general stock and children's and Illustrated books.
Lovely outside, DISAPPOINTING inside. I try to be a good customer, never rude or demanding. Management is unhelpful and even hostile! Cramped & dusty, as well. I avoid it like the plague now. - E. Long 10.02.09.
Completey agree with the comments from E Long. We too have found the management unwelcoming and even rude when asked something. Don't like all the signs asking customers not to touch the books - how is one supposed to decide what to buy wthout looking through the book first? - I and E (enthusiatic book buyers!) 08.03.09.
Nice stock but generally priced too high. - Chris Harte 01.04.09.
Expect to be treated like a thief, regardless of your age, dress or manner. Not sure why these people want to own a bookshop. - Matthew Barr 02.04.09.
Stock-over priced and in poor condition. Was treated as though I was about to steal something - most unpleasent shop i've ever visited. - Emma 05.05.09.
While we were browsing there not long ago an inoffensive tourist was shouted at for having the nerve to take a general photo of the interior, and ordered to delete the image! - David Attwood 14.05.09.
I was amazed to read the somewhat harsh comments posted in regard to the The Fifteenth Century Bookshop. I have browsed this shop on many occasions and in fact spent the best part of a Saturday morning sitting on the floor re-visiting my childhood books. The owner is extremely helful and knowledgeable. The shop is exactly how a secondhand bookshop should be, it oozes character. - Donna Bastin 11.06.09.
I stumbled across this quaint old fashioned bookshop by chance and spent a very enjoyable hour browsing the shelves. A real paradise for the true book lover. - Rachael Boothby 11.06.09.
I totally disagree with earlier comments regarding this bookshop. It is one of the few remaining GENUINE bookshops in this country! Over crowded with books, yes! But packed with treasures if you are patient and clever enough to spot them ... - TM Dailly. 25.06.09.
I'm afraid I have to agree with the negative comments about the Fifteenth Century Bookshop. My wife asked if she could look at the childrens' books on the shelves behind a pile on the floor and was told no, because the person in charge 'wasn't in the mood'. With attitudes like this, is it any wonder second-hand bookshops are closing in droves? My wife spent a substantial amount of money instead in the Boxroom at the Old Needlemakers, which had a good stock of childrens' books. - Alastair Palmer 25.06.09.
It would appear that a few people have some sort of axe to grind against this shop, why I do not know. Wonderful selection of stock and always courteous when I have visited it. - John Rolfe 25.06.09.
I think we now have enough comments about this shop to understand that it seems to be loved or loathed in about equal measure, so I don't intend publishing any more. - TBG 25.06.09.
A bookshop from childhood memory, but such a narrow entrance and some significant degree of disorganisation. Staff communicative altho not exactly welcoming. Could do with a good clear out. - Jon Morgan 14.08.12.
Somnolent, dusty place (which can be kind of appealing), but the selection of local-interest titles is good and I came away with a pleasing 1950s copy of Patrick Hamilton's Brighton novel "The West Pier", the ideal find during a visit to the south coast. - Paul O 13.10.12.
The Reel Deal
11 Sackville Road
BEXHILL-ON-SEA East Sussex TN39 3JD map
tel: 01424 734473
Open: Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00, closed Wednesday.
Old n Gold has traded in Bexhill for 15 years as a family run business. Dvds & Cds are sold at the front of the shop and there is a large reference book area at the rear of the shop.Thousands of books in stock. War art, biography, history, transport, homecrafts, crime etc. All paperback fiction sold for £1.99 each or 3 for £5. All excellent condition & P/X welcome.
Was Bexhill Book Exchange, now renamed Old 'N' Gold. Very much open bought ten books. John Bacon 15.05.08.
Michael Lynott of Bestsellers says that this is NOT run by the same guy who ran Book Exchange. Apparently it's mostly CD's & DVD's but has a large area at the back of the shop with paperback fiction and hardback non-fiction. TBG 10.06.08.
Thanks for adding this shop, found exactly what I was looking for and the owner was really helpful. Books were such a good price and lovely condition too. I'll definately be going back. - Hannah 05.07.08.
With the attraction of the second-hand CDs and DVDs which form the bulk of the shop's stock I felt, on arriving, to have entered the world of 'Chav Central.' At the rear was a small (certainly not 'large') area of very modern ficton books and a few other oddments. If, as the blurb above states, there were "reference books" then they must have all been sold. - Chris Harte 04.02.10.
I find the previous comment strange as at the last stock take there were just over 1,700 paperback fiction and over 3,000 reference books on the shelves! It is a large shop and does get busy so he may have missed the bookroom at the rear on the left. It is clearly divided in to 3 areas, (1 Cds/ Dvds, 2 Fiction, 3 Reference Books) so I'm not sure how he missed the reference books section, but I would just like to reassure everyone it is there. - Linda Donoghue, owner 05.08.10.
Yes you do have to persist to get to the back bookrooms (plenty of interest in the front CD and DVD racks also) but lots to interest when you do, especially historical. Welcoming staff. - Herne 03.03.12.
The Scarlet Pimpernel
25 London Road
ST. LEONARDS-ON-SEA East Sussex TN37 6AJ map
tel: 01424 445335
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 5.00
General stock and the ancient Middle East, the Far East, banking and esoteric.
Most of the stock is in huge piles on the floor, each volume with a slip of paper giving its internet stock number. I enquired about older fiction and was told that it was not possible for me to browse or find anything, as the books are "arranged" by stock number. Distinctly a brush-off, and I wondered why the shop is actually open to the public. - Richard.
The owner, John Philipps replies that as passing trade is about nil, most of their business is on the internet, and this is the reason the books are piled in numeric order, as they have been entered on the internet. However, he stresses that whilst it's not possible to "browse", as such, customers can be directed to particular sections, although they don't currently have one for "older fiction". Whilst he admits that the shop is too small for the number of books and that it's a "bit of a mad house", they are happy to see personal callers. - TBG.
Like the above posting from Richard I too was given a brush-off. There looked to be titles of interest but I was hardly allowed past the front door. If this shop is just used as an internet book storeroom then why not put the blinds down at the front? - Chris Harte 04.02.10. I was made to feel welcome as a passing customer. I told the owner I was interested in books on Finland and he spent fifteen minutes or so tracking down everything that might be relevant. While he did so I browsed the immense but unruly stock. - Richard Powell 13.09.12.
The Studio Bookshop
68 St. James's Street
BRIGHTON East Sussex BN2 1PJ map
tel: 01273 691253 e-mail web
Open: Monday - Saturday 11.00 - 6.00.
Academic & scholarly, art, glass, first editions, literature & criticism.
Strange ideas about doing business. Example: when I passed by there was a note on the door 'Back in Half an Hour'. It was there more than thirty minutes later... - The Bookman 16.07.11.
The Wax Factor
24 Trafalgar Street
BRIGHTON East Sussex BN1 4EQ map
tel: 01273 673744 e-mail
Open: Monday - Saturday 10.15 - 5.30.
A vinyl and CD shop with a good selection of hardbacks and paperbacks covering a wide range of subjects.
Sells more records than books, but has a relatively large stock of books too (for example, it's bigger than the stock at the BHF Books & Music in Brighton). - M&O 02.10.12.
Crammed with stock, with a bias towards esoterica, underground books, cinema, and local interest. The window displays never fail to draw you in with rare or intriguing titles and even the discards outside yield bizarre finds. Oh, and downstairs you'll find compilations of 60s music you'll never see elsewhere -- even online. - Paul O 13.10.12.
Plenty to interest on the (book) shelves with a bias to the Arts - and and an enormous variety of music. - Herne 22.10.12.
Tome
226 Terminus Road
EASTBOURNE East Sussex BN21 3DF map
tel: 01323 646288
Open: Tuesday - Sunday 10.00 - 5.30.
Stock consists of new books at heavily discounted prices at the front, with thousands of secondhand books at the rear of the shop all priced at £2.00.
Currently the front of the shop has new/remaindered books and just a small selection of second-hand at the back, but this will change as more stock is brought in over the next few weeks. Richard 18.06.12.
A lovely addition to Eastbourne. Sensible prices for real treasures. Well worth a chunk of your time. Very obliging and very helpful staff too. - comm88 18.07.12.
An excellent shop that keeps expanding each time I visit. Very well organised. - Gerald 08.09.12.
A satisfying, wide-ranging combination of solid new and secondhand books in a prime town centre location. Warm, friendly staff (maybe linked to Dim and Distant in Heathfield?). Not one for antiquarians but great for everyone else. - DavidC 13.09.12.
This is, in all seriousness, the best second-hand bookshop I have ever been in. - Paul Richards 15.05.13.
Two Way Books
54 Gardner Street
BRIGHTON East Sussex BN1 1UN map
tel: 01273 687729
Mainly paperback fiction.
A small shop with a small stock. Roughly speaking, bottom half of walls are magazines with books on the top half. Mostly paperbacks and mostly not very interesting - unless you share their passion for Mills & Boon or other romance. But the owner was very friendly, it has a nice friendly feel to it and there were some more interesting paperbacks. I only bought one (a nice Pan P.G.Wodehouse), but would definitely pop back in for a look when passing. - M&O 29.09.12.
Uckfield Lions Charity Bookshop
Near Bell Walk
UCKFIELD East Sussex TN22 5DQ map
tel: n/a
Open: Thursday - Saturday 10.00 - 4.00
Quite a large collection of books found both inside the cottage and, on the fine day I visited, outside. Mainly fiction, but cheap and in good condition in the main. Bridge Cottage dates back to 1426 and is a focal point of the town center, located about 2 minutes walk from Uckfield Station. - Steve Newman 24.11.11.
Same as my previous visit almost a year ago now. A great little bookshop to browse in, with the added bonus that it is now open Wednesday's as well. - Steve Newman 19.11.12.
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Appointment necessary
