Brilliant Bookshops: St Ives Bookseller

Named after an Irish princess and missionary called St Ia, St Ives is a picturesque fishing harbour and seaside town on the north Cornwall coast. After World War II, this tiny fishing village was transformed into a vibrant, influential art colony, attracting artists like Barbara Hepworth and ceramic artist, Bernard Leach. In the height of summer, it can be overwhelming with the sheer number of visitors exploring its winding streets and golden beaches; however, on a recent visit, our ability to truly appreciate the town was greatly enhanced by the lack of crowds.

The ‘St Ives Bookseller’ is found on Fore Street, close to the harbour. It is a lovely little shop, cleverly laid out to maximise the range of books on offer, including a fabulous range of books of local interest. ‘Soggy the Bear’, for example, was the creation of a retired Master Mariner, Phil Moran. With Michael Foreman, he wrote a series of books about a small teddy bear- Soggy- which he had rescued from the sea. I always love it when a book shop values its area and celebrates local authors and topics!

The staff were very friendly and helpful with an obvious passion for books. They were involved in a lively conversation about their current reading and showed an excellent knowledge of the shop’s stock. The shop really does offer something for everyone, with the children’s section being particularly tempting! I shall be going back!

St Ives Bookseller

2 Fore St, Saint Ives TR26 2AB