On Friday, I visited Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights in Bath. I took my sister to Bath and Mr B’s as a little treat and purchased a reading spa for us both!
Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights opened in June 2006 after the owners Nic and Juliette Bottomley fancied a career change- from lawyers to independent booksellers. This was a fantastic (and brave) choice. I can truly say that Mr B’s is an absolutely beautiful shop. It’s relaxing, appealing, packed full of books and has incredibly knowledgeable and welcoming staff.
Mr B’s shop is quirky. It’s got a rentable reading booth where readers can rent their own little space to have some quality reading time. There’s a beautiful bibliotherapy room. We all need some bibliotherapy and Mr B’s is a fantastic place to undergo bookish therapy! I loved the wall papered with comics and the bookshelves that seemed so personal. There’s even free tea and coffee for customers.
It’s no surprise then, that Mr B’s has twice been named the UK’s Independent Bookshop of the Year (2008/2011)
Mr B’s has more than just beautiful books. They have blogs, book groups, events, book recommendation lists and gifts for us bibliophiles. Check out their website (linked in the image below) for just an idea of what they do. It’s incredible!
As I mentioned, I purchased two Reading Spas for my sister Beth and I. We met with the lovely Emma, who chatted to us about our bookish likes and dislikes over a cup of tea. She then disappeared off and found us a wonderful mountain of books to look through. Emma knew so much about each book she was recommended and sold them beautifully to us. We seriously wanted to buy THEM ALL. She then left us in some very comfy chairs to look through the stack and make some decisions about what beauties we were going to take away. Luckily for us, Emma is going to email us the titles of the rest of the books!
Here is the damage… but the oh so pretty damage. We also received bookmarks and Mr B mugs.
I absolutely loved my experience at Mr B’s. I’ll certainly be revisiting! I will be recommending this beautiful shop to many!
That sounds amazing! I wish we had something like that here.
I wish every bookworm could experience it!
This bookshop sounds amazing and I love the idea of renting your own reading space! And it’s always great to have knowledgeable staff who can recommend you books, I wish there were more like that in my local bookshops!
Aw. This one isn’t local to me, but I’d definitely travel there again.
Oh it was soooo good! I want to go back there right now!! 🙂
I know!!!
Can I come? *puppy eyes*
Hmmm…I’ll have to think about that. Kidding! You would be totally welcome.
I went to bath last year and SOMEHOW didn’t go there 😦 must fix this!
You must!
definitely! I think we are already subconciously planning another trip !
That looks amazing – I must find a reason to visit SOON! Thanks for telling us all about it Chrissi
You’re welcome! 🙂 I love to spread the word about bookshops!
Oh. That sounds like such an amazing place. I hope I can visit it someday. Or better yet, I hope more bookstores were like that. Although I assume it’s very dangerous to my wallet. Haha. And the owners’ story is just inspiring.
I wish everyone could experience Mr B’s!
this sounds like a fun place! 🙂
🙂 It really is!
Awh Mr B’s here, that is a lovely review we are delighted thank you! We have a little on going community over on our website with blogs, reviews and the like if you want to keep in touch or if anybody is too far away to reach us (and in which case our reading year might be perfect for you, we post a book a month directly to you for a year, all lovingly wrapped in a brown paper package tied up with string!)! We are over at http://www.mrbsemporium.com , come over and chat!
You’re very welcome Danielle! 🙂 I will definitely keep in touch!
How did I miss this???? I was in Bath last September and would have LOVED to have stopped here. I’m going to check out their site now. Thanks for sharing this!
You’re very welcome 🙂 It’s a lovely place.
This place looks BEAUTIFUL! I am so going to travel to Bath and see this, as well as visit every bookshop in London because I’m moving there tomorrow!!
Check out my TTT!
Katrina @ Chased By My Imagination
You definitely have to go! It’s such a lovely place. Good luck with the move!
This sounds completely and utterly amazing. I wish we had something like this in Belgium, I’ve never heard of a “reading spa” before. I didn’t know I needed it until now!
I wish that everyone could experience it!