House Of Books & Friends: An Independent Bookshop Paying It Forward

Come for the books. Stay for the community.

Right in the heart of Manchester is House of Books & Friends, it’s a purpose-led, independent bookshop, a cafe, and an event space. And its mission is to fight against loneliness by gathering people and rebuilding communities. So the bookshop is actually set up as a Community Interest Company, and every pound of the profit reinvests right back into activities and projects for the locals. So every book that is bought, it’s paying it forward. 

 

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The bookshop is also stacked with an enormous amount of autographed books, ranging from: Margaret Atwood, Naomi Alderman, Natasha Siegel to Malala. There’s also a café space, for book lovers to unwind with a good book. 

Drop in for a quiet browse, stay for a chat, an event, or a moment that turns strangers into friends. This is a space for slow afternoons, big ideas, dog-eared pages, and the kind of community that feels rare and necessary.