Independent bookshop celebrates four years with expansion and cosy reading snug

An independent bookshop is marking a new chapter with an expansion including the addition of a cosy reading snug.

Former Amazon worker Nicole Brennan decided to pursue her passion for reading in 2022, transforming the former Westway Vets in Newbottle Street, Houghton, into Featherbed Books.

In challenging times for high streets across the country, it was a gamble. But one that paid off, with the shop now a much-loved part of the town’s retail sector, with scores of loyal customers, community events and its own book club called The Featherbed Floozies.

To mark four years in business and to meet demand, Nicole, who runs the shop with mum Stephanie, has just unveiled a new extension to the shop.

The space, which has seen a transformation of one of the former vet clinic rooms and staff area, was opened at the weekend by Newcastle author Trevor Wood.

As well as enabling the shop to expand some of its genre sections, the new addition also includes a reading snug so customers can curl up with a book.

“With our fourth birthday, we decided to take that next step,” said Nicole who named the shop after Featherbed Rocks in her hometown of Seaham.

“The launch event at the weekend was fantastic, you couldn’t move in here for about two hours,” said the businesswoman.

“So many people ask for a comfy chair to read so we created the snug with a sofa and a quilt of books made by my mum.”

Featherbed Books is one of the few independent bookshops in the area, with the only others in the Sunderland area being the new Chapter 13 in Frederick Street and Books and Bakes in The Galleries.

Nicole said it’s great to be part of the bookshop community.

“We didn’t know what to expect when we opened the shop four years ago, but it’s nothing to what we’ve gained and built. We have such a passionate community around us, not just the Houghton community, but the wider booksellers community.”

As well as celebrating the work of local authors, such as award-winning Jessica Andrews from Houghton, Glenda Young from Ryhope and Nancy Revell’s Sunday Times best-selling Shipyard Girls series, about Sunderland’s very own shipyard girls, the shop sells a broad range of wider fiction and non-fiction books for adults and children.

And the new extension means they can now sell even more.

“One of our new sections is vintage crime. Agatha Christie books sell really well and it’s great to be able to put her in a dedicated vintage crime section to give the Queen of Crime the space she deserves,” said Nicole.

“Another big question we got asked was why we had a fantasy and sci-fi section, but not a horror section. We did sell horror, but it was mixed in with other genres. Now, we have a dedicated horror section for the horror fans, as well as a larger saga section.

“We’re not a specialist bookshop, but we try to cover as many bases as possible. Our customers buy all sorts.”

Nicole added: “Mum is very interested in the learning side of reading, while l love the fantasy and escapism element, so between us we cover both sides of why people read, which makes us well placed to give recommendations.”

The shop also sells a wide range of book-related gifts, stationery and art by local artists. Stephanie also quilts book bags, which are proving a popular seller.

As well as author talks and the Featherbed Floozies, which meets every two weeks, the shop has started running Sip and Paint nights, with the next taking place on September 22. You can book a place at https://www.featherbedbooks.co.uk/

*Featherbed Books, Newbottle Street is open Mondays,Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 4.30pm, from 10am to 6pm on Fridays and from 10am until 2.30pm on Saturdays. Closed Sundays and Wednesdays.