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Mixed views over 'largest independent bookshop'

BBC/Naj Modak A vacant two-storey building in York, which stretches around a corner and is situated near a set of traffic lights. BBC/Naj Modak
The Topping and Company branch is set to open in York in autumn 2025

The country’s “largest independent bookshop” will open in York next year, drawing mixed views from current traders.

Topping and Company, which currently has four UK shops, is set to open a 6000 sq ft (557 sq m) store in a Grade II-listed building on the corner of Museum Street and Blake Street.

Some local independent booksellers raised concerns about the impact of a larger retailer moving in, with one shop worried "it will be a struggle" to compete.

Topping and Company said having several independent bookshops in the same city "is often mutually beneficial".

The new shop, set to open in autumn 2025 and spread across multiple floors, promises “spectacular views of the west front of York Minster” and could offer 75,000 titles on its shelves.

The company, which already has stores in Bath, Edinburgh, Ely, and St Andrews, also plans to host events in the York store including talks with writers.

BBC / Naj Modak A bookshop owner sits at a desk, with books and a computer nearby. The man has a white beard and long white hair and is wearing black rimmed glasses. He has a pink shirt and a blue v-necked jumper on. BBC / Naj Modak
After faces two lockdowns and a flood, Richard Staples says he is preparing to face the challenge of a larger bookshop moving into the area

Richard Staples, owner of The Blue House Bookshop on Bootham, said the new opening was “good news” but said he was concerned larger shops often get bigger discounts from wholesalers.

“They claim to be independent but they’re not really, they’re a chain and have four other big branches around the country,” he said.

Mr Staples said he was talking with other independent bookshops in the area about how they can compete with the new store.

BBC / Naj Modak Robyn McGough, from The Portal Bookshop, leans on a fence outside the shop. They are wearing a black hoodie branded with the logo for the rock band My Chemical Romance. BBC / Naj Modak
Robyn McGough is looking forward to visiting the new store

Discussing how it may impact her business, Philippa Morris, from Little Apple Bookshop, said: “We’ll just keep doing what we do which is working with the community, we have strong links to schools, also we have a lot of very loyal customers.”

She added: “We work really hard to give people that very bespoke experience."

Robyn McGough, from The Portal Bookshop, Patrick Pool, said the larger shop opening was “a little nerve-wracking in terms of competition” but generally a good idea.

“I’m looking forward to visiting it,” they added.

A spokesperson for Topping and Company said: “There is a clear distinction between Topping and Company and a chain retailer, we have no external shareholders, we are a family company.

“The wonderful thing about independent bookshops is that their existence in a city is often mutually beneficial - people will travel to multiple independent bookshops in one trip to see what books their booksellers are recommending.”

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