BookshopWestern Road
City Books
Western Road's best bookshop, with real community
7.9/10
Local score
No. 8 of 43 shops on r/brighton, from 9 locals across 7 threads.
100% would send a mate. Still recommended in 2026.
Widely called the best bookshop in Brighton & Hove, this Western Road (Hove end) indie has a big local-history section and hosts community stuff like book clubs, with helpful staff. It sits opposite the Open Bakery, so redditors like pairing a browse with a treat, and it kept delivering orders during covid lockdowns.
- Go for
- Browsing then a treat at Open Bakery opposite
What locals say
…has documented evidence that it was operational as a pub back to the 1600's. The Cricketers, Seven Stars and Druids have also made the claim but the evidence is circumstantial. I'd highly recommend this and the whole series of local history books published by Amberly Books. City Books at the Hove end of Western Road has a really big section devited to them.
City Books is pretty much the best bookshop in Brighton & Hove (what with it being in Hove) but the Kemptown Bookshop is pretty good. Has the benefit of being opposite the Open Bakery too so you can browse and then go and grab a pretty awesome treat.
…round with potential dates. Youre welcome to tell me a bit about yourself so I can get an idea of demographics but theres no pressure at all - all are welcome! I have a couple of locations in mind but feel free to suggest any yourself. I mentioned it to one of the staff in City Books who said I could advertise it there but id rather start small, though its nice to know they can help.
City Books Books For Amnesty Goldsboro Books Cowley Club - which I've never been to but I think it probably fulfils the "interesting" criteria!
Ranked from 21,200 r/brighton comments. Summaries are written by AI from what locals said; quotes are word for word. Not affiliated with Reddit. Back to the guide