Overview

I love bookshops and I especially love queer bookshops. I have found them to be among to most welcoming places I visit and The Bookish Type is no different. The Bookish Type is much more than just a bookshop. It is also a community hub, providing a space for people of all ages to meet in a sober environment and connect in person, through books and zines or via the community noticeboard. There is an array of merchandise from local artists and even a whole shelf dedicated to disability! There is a cosy nook with a sofa between the children's book and the pay it forward gift tags. both of which made me emotional as I was thinking of young people growing up in an affirming environment, or at least finding it here and in books paid for by the community.

Transport & Parking

There is on-street parking outside the shop and on all the surrounding streets as well as a multi-storey car park (JustPark) on the same block, access via Leighton Street. There are no bus stops in the direct vicinity; the closest would be at Westgate (14,19, 19A, 49, 50, 50A, 55, 55C, 65, 72) Woodhouse Square (5) or Millennium Square (5A), all about a 0.2 miles away, starting with the shortest walk/wheel. Leeds Station is half a mile/a 12-minute walk or wheel away.

Access

After spending a decent amount of time on my visit to Leeds hanging around outside venues trying to get a staff member's attention to ask about ramp access, I was delighted to find that The Bookish Type had installed a bell labelled "ring bell for ramp". This way I knew that there was a ramp and I could very easily let someone know that I needed to use it! The front door is quite narrow and on the right side of a little porch, so it is a bit of a challenge to get the angle right. I managed on my way in, but on the way out, I got caught on the moveable ramp and dragged it down. The staff member immediately came out to help me untangled and everything turned out okay, but in the future I might just go down the little step without the ramp. There was enough space inside the shop for me to get around in powerchair (62 cm wide). There is a bench without a back or armrests outside the shop and a sofa with a backrest inside to sit on. Dogs are welcome.

Toilets

The toilet at this venue is down a flight of stairs, so I did not go to see it.

Staff

The staff was lovely. They were very quick to help me with the ramp and we had a nice conversation about Euan's Guide and my local queer bookshop in Glasgow.

Photos