Pair a pint with poetry at the UK's best book bars

The traditional bookshop has been upgraded, with a new breed of alcoholic literary outlets serving up wine and cocktails alongside a curated collection of good reads. Taking a leaf from the New York trend, these cosy venues are springing up around London and across the rest of the UK. These outlets offer coffee, live music, author events, DJ sets — even literature-themed speed dating. Diversity is key, and unlike the quiet, library-like vibe that bookshops have long been known for, these are creative, social spaces where conversation-starters line the shelves. From the Cornish bookshop based in an 18^th-century pub to the Glaswegian haunt offering artisanal cheese boards, here are some of the UK’s top spots for bibliophiles.

Gulp Fiction, Oxford

Head into the warren of independent cheesemongers, florists and cobblers in Oxford’s busy Covered Market to find this diminutive bookshop that’s also part coffee house and part bar. Known for its beer on tap and cocktails as much as it is for its literature, house specials include the Woozy Womble – a fruity combination of lemon vodka, strawberry and blackberry liqueurs. There are also regular events, from author meet-and-greets and pub quizzes to bookshop jazz — if the drinks menu lends you some Dutch courage, you can also try the Friday evening writing club. Alternatively, go the extra mile and sign up for the Book Lovers’ Happy Hour, which offers three courses of cocktails paired with book suggestions, matched to your tastes.  

Morocco Bound, London

The London district of Bermondsey, just south of Borough Market, doesn’t want for bars and buzzy food joints. Even so, a stand-out choice is Morocco Bound, the lively bookshop bar named after the supple Moroccan leather once prized for book bindings. A bookshop, cafe and co-working space by day, it unleashes a wealth of events when the sun goes down, including rap open mic nights, live music, film screenings and comedy takeovers. The beers on offer, such as Hay-Z New England-style pale ale, all come from within cycling distance. If you prefer, choose an English wine, sourced from Balfour Winery in Kent.

BookBar, Islington and Chelsea, London

Enjoying a good book needn’t be a solitary activity — and at this little indie bookshop, you can do so in good company, glass of wine or cocktail in hand. This is the philosophy behind BookBar, a cosy hangout with two London branches in Islington and Chelsea. Literary recommendations are freely offered by the friendly and knowledgeable staff — and quite often, too, by fellow browsers. Look out for the weekly ‘Books and Bangers’ night, when the shop’s resident DJ takes to the floor, as well as regular talks from authors such as Elif Shafak, wine-tasting and ‘read-dating’ socials for singles.

The Book Brewery, Ambleside, Cumbria

The serene waters and craggy hills of the Lake District have long drawn travellers — but it was writers, foremost among them romantic poet William Wordsworth, who first put the region on the map. The Book Brewery celebrates the Lakes’ literary heritage, based in Ambleside, Wordsworth’s former hometown. This newly opened bookshop bar offers a thoughtfully curated range of books alongside coffee and both English and German wines. Time it right and you can also join a silent reading club, which is held here every other Wednesday. Alternatively, if you’re only making a flying visit, you can sign up for a monthly book subscription with personalised recommendations delivered to your door.

The Bookmonger, Bearsden, Glasgow 

Travellers often don’t make it as far as Bearsden, a leafy suburb on the northeast fringe of the city. But it’s worth the trip to check out the Bookmonger, a new family-run bookshop bar whose imposing off-black bookcases call to mind the very best gothic fiction. Pick a novel and then perch on a stool to savour a glass of wine, pairing it with a customised charcuterie board full of Scottish artisan cheeses, cured meats and seasonal fruits (substitutions available for dietary requirements). Regular events include candlelit Scottish music performances, talks with authors and book clubs.

Beerwolf Books, Falmouth, Cornwall

For some bibliophiles, a bookshop bar makes for a gentler alternative to the pub. But visitors to the Cornish harbour town of Falmouth needn’t choose between the two: they have Beerwolf Books, a rare pub-bookshop hybrid. The 18th-century building is tucked at the end of an alleyway just off Falmouth’s main shopping street. Inside, new and second-hand books fill tall wooden bookcases. Take your chosen volume to one of the mismatched tables, and you can enjoy it with a real ale or local cider. As if books and beer on tap weren’t enough, there are also pinball machines and board games to help you while away the hours.