Barnard Castle bookshop back in business

Barnard Castle’s bookshop is back in business with a new look.

Wilde Books, previously McNab’s, closed for a couple of weeks for a refurb following the closure of the café next door. With a new owner on board, there are big plans for the future.

Claire Robinson, who has worked in the shop for many years, took over from Emma Rowell as co-owner of the business alongside Michael Coverdale.

She’s excited about the changes, but quick to reassure that this is more evolution than revolution.

“We’ll still be a second-hand bookshop, but we want to expand into other things,” she said.

That means providing space to sell work on behalf of local craftspeople, building on the existing vinyl, CD and DVD sales instore.

And much of the new range is music-inspired, from drumsticks and guitar strings to historic gig posters and retro band T-shirts.

“We hope it will become a hub for local creatives,” Claire added. “We’d like to have evening events as well, creative things and meet-ups.

“We’re applying for a licence to open later in the evenings and serve alcohol as well.”

As McNab’s, the shop was the centrepiece of a creative community.

Writing groups met regularly and more than one local author held book launches there. That tradition continues, with Deborah Rose launching her novel in store on August 29.

“That’s the community we want to carry forward,” said Claire. “We want a lovely, cosy, inviting place full
of creative ideas.

“After the café closed next door we decided to get a coffee machine so we’ll have a nice atmosphere with a scent of coffee while you’re flicking through a book.”

There has been a bookshop in the Market Place premises since at least the late 1980s when Claire first moved to Barney. She’s confident that the rise of tech won’t see people turning away from printed books any time soon.

“It’s almost the opposite,” she said. “A lot of people are starting to come away from tech and they want more physical things. Reading is full of escapism. It takes you to different places. It’s relaxing, it’s mindful and we want to keep being a part of it.”