The New Bookshop
Independent bookshop on Cockermouth Main Street with a cosy in-store coffee shop, books for adults and children, cards and gifts, author events, book groups and weekly children's story time.
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About The New Bookshop
The New Bookshop is an independent bookshop and coffee shop at 42-44 Main Street in the centre of Cockermouth. The books come first: shelves cover fiction, non-fiction, children's books, local and Cumbrian reading, staff recommendations and more, while the shop also sells cards, gifts and stationery.
The business is also a lively part of Cockermouth's reading community. It hosts author events and literature readings, runs regular book groups and holds a Wednesday morning story time for pre-school children. Some special events take place outside the normal daytime shop hours, so check the event details before attending.
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The coffee shop
The coffee shop sits inside The New Bookshop and is a separate part of the experience rather than the whole business. It serves freshly brewed coffee and tea alongside homemade cakes, scones, soup, panini and light lunches. The business says it tries to provide gluten-free and vegan cake options.
The coffee shop closes earlier than the bookshop. Current official café hours are 9.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am to 4pm on Saturday. Last orders for cooked food are currently 2.30pm. Drinks finish at 3pm Monday to Friday and 3.30pm on Saturday.
The bookshop itself is currently open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. It is therefore possible for the shop to be open when the coffee shop has already finished serving.
Coffee shop extension
The New Bookshop currently says it is carrying out building work to extend the coffee shop upstairs. The shop remains open as usual while the work takes place. As work progresses, seating or parts of the building may change, so check the business's latest update if the café is the main reason for your visit.
Dogs
The business says visitors accompanied by a dog can use the breakfast bar at the front of the bookshop or its outside tables. If this is important for your visit, check the latest policy directly before travelling.
Events and groups
Alongside one-off author appearances and ticketed readings, The New Bookshop runs regular community activities. Wednesday story time is currently held in the coffee shop at 9am. Its book clubs meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 4pm and 7.30pm, although the business currently says those groups are fully booked and operates a waiting list.
Buying books online
The New Bookshop also curates recommendation lists through Bookshop.org. Online orders placed through that service are fulfilled by Bookshop.org rather than collected directly from the Main Street shop unless the relevant ordering option specifically says otherwise. For signed books and direct enquiries, contact The New Bookshop itself.
Opening hours
Bookshop: Monday to Saturday, 9am-5pm. Closed Sunday.
Coffee shop: Monday to Friday, 9.30am-3.30pm; Saturday, 9.30am-4pm. Cooked-food last orders are currently 2.30pm. The business recommends checking its Facebook page for current coffee-shop information.
Evening events and special events can operate outside these hours. Check the specific event or contact the shop if you are travelling for one.
Our local note
One of Cockermouth's most useful independent shops: browse a proper local bookshop, then stop for coffee, homemade cake or a light lunch. The key detail is that the café closes before the bookshop, so use the separate coffee-shop hours if food or drink is the reason for your visit.
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