Secondhand and Antiquarian Bookshops in the UK 2018
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Open at advertised times
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Appointment necessary
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure these details are correct, we recommend that you contact each individual bookshop before travelling any distance. Add your bookshop here
Bay Books & Records
10a Norham Road
WHITLEY BAY Tyne and Wear NE26 2SB map
tel: 01912 514448
Open: Fiday 11.00 -4.00, Saturday 11.00 - 5.00.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsAt one end of the main shopping area of Whitley Bay, this smallish shop covers books and LPs with a DVD & CD shop several doors down. Both stock a small selection of children's toys. The main bookshop has a general range of titles typical for a seaside town but excels in its stock of children's books and particularly of 1970s and 1980s children's annuals which make it worth hunting out. - Jeremy Briggs.
It has been a while since I wrote the previous review, during which time the shop seems to have gone for the "more is better" approach. Unfortunately more books means that there is little or no room for people to pass by each other in this shop because books are now piled up on the floor. It also means that far too many of the shelved books are now covered up by boxes and piles of books that are often double stacked meaning that, for instance, most of those children's annuals are now buried behind an impenetrable mound of cardboard and paper. The shop that I used to enjoy is probably still buried in there somewhere behind all those piles of books but nowadays I just can't get at it. - Jeremy Briggs. 29.06.09.
Off-putting that all the books in the window now have sunned covers/dust-jackets. Only the first room is available to browse; the jam packed back one you can't get at. But the front is spoilt by the hundreds of poorish quality LPs in racks in the centre with narrow spaces around them. So apart from many fiction p/bs, there are only a few non-fiction shelves on the walls to look at - militaria, railways and local history. The nearby Bay CD and DVD shop opens regularly and is well organised. Does have a few paperbacks too. Chap I spoke to is going to bring some of the better books to the Tynemouth fairs. - Chris K 13.04.13.
Olivers Bookshop
48a Whitley Road
WHITLEY BAY Tyne and Wear NE26 2NF map
tel: 0191 2513552
Open: Monday & Thursday - Saturday 11.00 - 4.00.
General secondhand books.
Add a comment Read commentsHide commentsEasy to park at and only a short walk from the main shopping area of Whitley Bay, this bright, friendly, medium sized shop has a remarkable amount of books for it size. Many are in piles rather than on the shelves leaving you wary of removing any but the topmost ones, but it can be worth the risk as it has turned up a few surprises in its time. It has had some comics and magazines in the past and has a good comics related section. - Jeremy Briggs.
This shop really is a treasure trove with an owner who is one of the most helpful and co-operative I have met. There are titles ranging from the very rare to good Victoriana. Allow at least three hours for a detailed browse through the selection on offer. - Chris Harte 12.09.09.
In an area which has some massive second hand bookshops this shop shows that smaller is often much better, it's far easier to buy from and far nicer to visit. - PaulP 05.11.11.
There are a lot of charity shops in better sites in the centre of this town. However the calibre of their books combined doesn't get any where near Olivers' stock. Just a shame that the owner couldn't/wouldn't afford larger premises so that you can easily view everything of interest. Shelves still doubled and high neat piles in front of them. He also attends the Tynemouth fairs but has next to nothing online - not a fan of computers, packing nor posting. - Chris K 13.04.13.
Whitley Bay Bookshop
(St Oswald's Hospice)
37-39 Park View
WHITLEY BAY Tyne and Wear NE26 2TP map
tel: 0191 251 3528 web
Open: Monday - Saturday 9.00 - 4.30.
Charity Bookshop selling donated books.
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