Tea Leaves & Reads, a charming independent bookshop located in the Weyhill Fairground Craft & Design Centre, has a unique and heartfelt origin.
It began during the first lockdowns of 2020, born out of the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kathryn Baldwin (née Dawson), who was preparing for her wedding that year, saw her plans repeatedly postponed. What was meant to be a joyous occasion in April 2020 was delayed four times, finally taking place on 17th July 2021, just a day before lockdown restrictions were lifted.
With the unexpected gift of time due to the wedding delays, Kathryn focused her attention on something dear to her heart – books. During the lockdown, when non-essential items, including books, were unavailable in shops, she sought to fill the gap. Tea Leaves & Reads, originally a book review blog, transformed into a book box service.
The concept wasn’t entirely new, but Kathryn’s version offered something special. Each box contained a hand-picked title, wrapped in brown paper and tied with string, along with tea, coffee, biscuits, a bookish postcard, bookmarks, scented tea lights, and other related gifts. The business model resonated with readers, and soon the book box service expanded.
What began with just 10 books has now grown into a fully-fledged bookshop, boasting over 1,000 titles, many of them signed. Tea Leaves & Reads also offers a Book Club subscription service, which includes a monthly local meet-up and an online Zoom event featuring the author of the book club’s chosen title. This allows book lovers to discuss their reads directly with the authors themselves, creating a vibrant literary community.
In July 2024, Tea Leaves & Reads reached a significant milestone – the opening of its physical bookshop at the Weyhill Fairground Craft & Design Centre. The warm reception from the community has been overwhelming, with customers embracing the shop’s growing selection of titles and bookish gifts.
The Bookshop Celebration Festival
To celebrate this success, Tea Leaves & Reads is hosting its first major event – the Bookshop Celebration Festival. This event, held at the Weyhill Fairground Hall on 28th September, will run from 10 am to 5 pm (doors open at 9:30 am). It promises to be a memorable day, featuring a line-up of 11 authors, including renowned names such as Amanda Prowse, Miranda Dickinson, Daniel Cole, and Ella Allbright.
Attendees can look forward to author panels, solo author talks, and the opportunity to have their books signed. The festival will include tea, coffee, and a cream tea lunch, along with a goody bag filled with bookish treats for every guest. And, of course, the bookshop will be open for browsing throughout the event. Parking is free, making it a perfect day out for book lovers in the area.
Upcoming Events
Tea Leaves & Reads continues to bring exciting literary events to Weyhill. On 10th November, the bookshop will welcome C.J. Skuse, the author of the Sweetpea book series, which has been adapted into a major TV series by Sky starring Ella Purnell. This event will also take place at the Weyhill Fairground Hall.
Tea Leaves & Reads, once a small lockdown initiative, has now flourished into a vibrant hub for book lovers, and its journey continues to inspire.
