New indie bookshop to open in Harrogate next week with a mission - put free books in young hands

The Real Indie Bookshop is to be launched in Harrogate next week with an ambitious mission to champion independent authors and help young people discover the joy of reading which will include the launch of a Pay it Forward scheme

Opening on Thursday, November 12, the new independent bookshop at 4 Parliament Street in Harrogate is the brainchild of award-winning children's author Christina Gabbitas.

The owner's aim is to be more than a place to purchase books, though it will stock all the latest titles, as well as giving independent authors and small presses a platform to reach new readers.

It will be a space dedicated to championing author voices, connecting readers with authors and making reading accessible to everyone, regardless of their background.

Building on Christina's work with disadvantaged communities through her Children's Literature Festivals charity, the new bookshop will introduce a Pay it Forward scheme inviting customers and local businesses to fund books and gift vouchers for young people who might otherwise miss out.

Christina said, “The scheme is about more than donating a book.

“By offering vouchers, the bookshop will give young people the freedom to walk through its doors, browse the shelves and choose something that genuinely excites them, from a gripping adventure, a graphic novel or a fantasy series.

"The aim is to help young people discover reading on their own terms, developing on their interests and experiencing the excitement of finding a story that speaks to them.

"A family’s financial circumstances should never determine whether a young person gets to experience the magic of choosing and owning a book. “

Since founding the Children and Young People’s Literature Festivals Charity in 2019, Christina has worked to bring free books and experiences to children and families in some of the country’s most disadvantaged communities.

The Pay it Forward scheme is a natural extension of that work and Christina will be working with local primary and secondary schools to help ensure books and vouchers reach children and young people who will benefit most.

“Brilliant books deserve to be discovered, all authors deserve to be celebrated and access to books and literature should never depend on financial circumstances,” said Gabbitas.

"I can’t wait to open our doors on and begin welcoming everyone to the Real Indie Bookshop.”

Doors will open at 8am at the launch on Thursday, November 12.

Coffee will be available throughout the day from Kitty’s Koffee inside the shop, with celebrations continuing into the evening with fizz, canapes, and live piano music from internationally acclaimed Ciaran Gilligan.

In a publishing landscape where smaller or marginalised voices can struggle with visibility, especially those based in the North, the bookshop will put discovery at the heart of the experience by introducing readers to talented authors, distinctive stories and books they may not otherwise encounter.