The Bookshop

22 High St, East Grinstead
01342 322669

Recent Reviews

Gracie Wainwright

Book club is a great addition and well organised. Great independent store with nice atmosphere.

O HB

John is always of good counsel when searching for interesting literature. He is a wealth of knowledge and information.

.

Worth visiting not just for the books, it ouzes character.

Bryony Mann

Well run shop with a good stock of preloved vintage children's books

Zara Dalrymple

Best ever. Like a fairytale, magical place

Gareth Rees

Great staff, great smell, great atmosphere, great Chess club for juniors & seniors. Has tea/ coffee shop so I want to retire here. My idea of a blissful haven.

Trevor DC Gamble

A local shop I have ensured that I avoid like the plague the last several years for various personal reasons. Most notably as the person running it, who I had sadly thought was actually my friend was unmasked for who he really was. Someone seeking to take undue advantage over myself knowing I had the long term disability of Asperger's on the Autism Spectrum. He continued this taking advantage of this former friendship with myself long after I attempted to end all acquaintance day to day with him. This was after he had been purchasing books of my own kept at my mother's home, from my elder brother. And I told the shop owner I wished him to please just urgently stop doing that. As it was my personal property being then sold on in his shop without my premission or consent. The reply to this of Mr Pye was that 'it was only stuff, Trevor.' Yes. But it was my stuff, sir. And I call taking and sellling my stuff like that without my permission dealing in stolen goods, quite frankly. As all my friends agree. Who also have past years boycotted this store in morally supporting me.Over a long number of years after our friendship former had ended the proprieter of this store kept on taking advantage of our former close aquaintance as past friends in another way also. By the parking of his business vehicle car continually upon my dementia sufferer mother's driveway, before and during those years all the way through her time on end of life care. Before and during while she was in her dementia care home locally. And all through the time of the Covid pandemic. Right up until the time of my beloved mother's death in her care home here in May 2020.I sought to ask him in writing to kindly remove his car from her driveway after that time. As it had bothered me greatly his first exploiting me in my disability, which I felt included personal abuse of myself. And then exploiting my mother and her memory by the way he continued parking on her driveway even for the two years after her death until just about a year or so ago. When he finally stopped parking on her driveway I think about early October 2022. Nearly two and a half years after her death. I felt he had dishonoured my mother's memory. And even when told of how much it was upsetting me seeing his car always parked there on her driveway every time he operated his bookshop, he still had not removed it.I no longer speak to this exploitative despicable man for those stated good reasons all. And will not ever enter his store. I once years ago for a long long time of years used to help out in this store and thought of this man as genuinely my best friend. I gave freely therefore to him as volunteer of my time. Even in aiding in the upkeep of his shop with him, including painting and cleaning of the building exterior. And helping to clean shop windows even. Even helping him removing building rubble, as best as I could do, when he was converting the back of the shop to flats.And I also did eventually after a huge number of volunteer unpaid hours there helping out my supposed friend, some Permitted paid hours work there too also. Even serving in his shop till I was bullied out of that by two of his then younger female employed staff members. Who had told me they didn't want to work with anyone like me with Asperger's disability. And said they would both make my life there difficult wherever they could do. After bullying me everytime I was alone in the store with them. Of which the proprieter would not help me. So I was left then with no option but resigning. Walking out. Even after which I continued being a customer which I had been for very many years. All tilll I found out, as many others around me suspected, that I was being exploited in my disability of my Asperger's Syndrome on the Autism Spectrum condition by him. Mr Pye you should be well and truly ashamed of yourself. I shall not forget this all. I shall long sadly remember. Any small amount of wages I got I spent with him there mostly on books. And cards and other items he sold. I was a g

Shannon Williams

Such a lovely place to go. Something for all to enjoy! Me and my daughter love having a browse or a quiet read here.

Deborah Worsley

Really amazing bookshop, well we worth a visit

Diego Barraza

This bookstore is a beacon of light in East Grinstead historic high street. Wonderfully run with a great selection of titles, tea, and friendly knowledge. Always worth a visit, highly commended.

Philip KB (Buj)

The best books and fruit cake in Sussex.

Vicci Gunstone

Lovely little locally run book shop. Staff were welcoming and gave good advice (not just about books!). Chess games being played outside in the sun, what more could you ask for in a quaint picture!

David Lock

Interesting to browse, loads of books, and full of character. Oh, and John and his colleagues are very knowledgeable and helpful

Dan Calladine

A very friendly local bookshop (including a small cafe), with a good selection of new books, and a regularly changing selection of second-hand books on the shelf outside.We spent a happy few minutes browsing, made our purchases, and will return soon!

Bella

A great selection of interesting books. The chess tables outside are a lovely touch.

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