Non-book gifts
we also sell beautiful things…specially chosen to enhance your reading and book-buying experience
The Bookshop Breakfast
Are you looking for a special gift for that bookish friend or relative?
In which case, we are delighted to present the Bookshop Breakfast voucher, beautifully printed by Graeme Hobbs on his letterpress. This exclusive voucher entitles you and your guest to spend time together in the bookshop ahead of opening hours and a chance to chat with Jules about everything “books and bookshops”. Your breakfast includes delicious, freshly roasted coffee from James Gourmet or loose leaf tea and a selection of pastries from our neighbours at Flour & Time. At the end of breakfast your guest chooses a book to take home*.
The Bookshop Breakfast voucher is priced at £30. To purchase, pop in to the shop or email Jules. In these busy days, the gift of time is something that a lot of us really appreciate.
* The voucher includes a book up to the value of £10. You can of course pay the balance for higher priced books or make additional purchases.
Bookable in advance for a Thursday/Friday/Saturday morning at 9am, to coincide with opening hours of Flour & Time artisan bakery which is opposite North Books and before opening of the main shop.
Ceramics
We love a handcrafted mug for our tea (or coffee) and stock a small range of exquisite ceramics by local makers.
Currently we have ceramic mugs by Rose Eacock (right), earthenware mugs by James Burnett-Stuart (below) and porcelain mugs by Jonathan Phillips (right below).
Plus occasional whimsical ceramic objects by Thomasin Toohie and James Burnett-Stuart (see below bottom right for ‘supine reader’ by James, currently in the shop).
James Burnett-Stuart
“My main thing is making pots for eating, drinking and cooking. I like the way pots enter our lives somewhat stealthily, and benignly, and exert their quiet influence. As companions they offer beauty, comfort, practical service, sensuous experience all in a modest almost subliminal way.
This really is the beauty of pottery - that it lives side by side with us not calling for attention, and not provoking self-consciousness. It allows, by slow release, discoveries of depth and detail. Over time.
I think I will always make mugs, cups and drinking vessels generally. Of all pots the cup is the one we have the most intimate relation with. We raise it to our lips, we cradle it, we wash it. Daily, several times a day. We have favourites. We cast our eye over their shelved ranks. We select or reject them according to our mood or according to some inward inclination we are hardly aware of.”
All the work available in the shop is by these four well-regarded local (the Welsh borders) potters whose work is hand-made, unique and special to us. We can pack it and post it on request. Email jules@northbooks.co.uk
Book Vouchers & Tokens
Simply the perfect gift for the person in your life who loves books - a voucher saves you trying to remember what they might already have read! Our own North Books vouchers are beautifully produced in Hay by Graeme Hobbs in his letterpress studio in the grounds of Hay Castle.
We also stock National Book Tokens in a range of designs - ideal for posting to people who live too far away to shop with us.
The Taming of the Brew
We’re stocking Tea Tubs’ exclusive range of Bookshop & Literary Teas. This unique range of loose leaf teas make fantastic gifts, and are only stocked by independent bookshops. There’s nothing better than reading a book while drinking a proper cup of tea!
All Tea Tubs come with a Reusable Cotton Tea Bag – you can fill the reusable tea bag and take it out with you. Once you have brewed your tea, just tip out the tea, wash and dry the bag and reuse again and again. Great for the environment and your health.
Aromatherapeutic candles
Crona’s Candles are handpoured in the Cotswolds by a professional aromatherapist using organic botanical essential oils and vegan friendly eco soy wax. All her ingredients are traceable to source.
