Clerkenwell Tales, Clerkenwell, London

Call me a blinkered optimist, but I think he will do well. We did have a bookshop on Exmouth Market not that many moons ago, but the customer service atrophied over the years and towards the end you would’ve got a warmer reception form a boat load of Somalian pirates.

This new store is airy, welcoming and stocked with a selection of titles appealing to all tastes. The owner’s motivation sincerely seems to be his passion and hence the reception you get is hospitable and helpful.

So, the acid test is, next time I see online the potential addition to my increasing stock of 'books I haven’t read yet’ knowing it may cost a couple of quid more here, do I support my local neighbourhood store? If I don’t, then I sacrifice my right to grouch when the area is overrun with fast food and coffee chains.

No need to actually write my review: it would essentially reiterate what emiana just wrote in hers. But I want to add that I sure hope the owner knows what he’s doing! See, I like the shop … or at least the concept of Exmouth Market (I’m a local) having a nice lil bookstore for me to pop into every now and again. I just wonder if there’s sustainable foot traffic and enough interest for the shop to stay open and make a decent profit. Anyway, I suppose I should do my part! I’ll try to keep it in mind when birthday parties, Christmas and other reasons for prezzies present themselves. You should too!

Hurrah! Just when I feared for the future of Exmouth Market, my faith has been restored with the opening of a new indi bookshop. Clerkenwell Tales is a small, but light and airy shop stocking a wide variety of contemporary fiction (I noticed lots of Brit authors, but that might have just been me), and a good selection of non-fiction from art & architecture, film & music, history and travel (great travel books, people - I was giddy). There are lovely gift books too and a nice selection of greeting cards made by London card makers. If you can’t find it, Peter Ho, the friendly, good natured and easy going proprietor will order it for you for delivery the next day.

Bookgroups: Peter is happy to host your bookgroup meetings at the shop.