‘LiBARary’ launches in Brixton to meet UK demand for books in bars

Lambeth Libraries teams up with Brixton Brewery as pub reading grows in popularity.

The Brewery’s latest research finds that Londoners are reading more, and enjoying books in places including pubs and bars. Over half the Londoners asked agreed they’d be interested in dedicated pub reading spaces.

Books on tap

So from Wednesday 20 to Saturday 24 November, Brixton Brewery will be home to a pop-up mini library in the taproom – not just to give people a space to read while they meet and drink, but hosting book clubs and events featuring some of the city’s best literary talent.

The LiBARary will include books for visitors to tuck into with a drink, anytime, courtesy of Book Stop Brixton- with anyone donating a book to the LiBARary eligible for a free pint.

Membership offers

Lambeth Libraries will be there all week to help visitors sign up for Library membership – offering readers the freedom to enjoy up to 20 books at any given time from 10 local libraries.

Xochitl Benjamin, co-founder of Brixton Brewery, said: “Brixton has always been a hub for a mix of the city’s best culture, music, art and food. With people finding pubs and bars the perfect environment to settle down with a book, we want the LiBARary to celebrate both seasoned and new readers with a dedicated space to enjoy reading and a taste of the buzzing literary community that makes Brixton, and London, so special.

Literary events in the LiBARary

Wednesday 20 November: Cosy Reading Club in partnership with It’s Hardback Out Here

Thursday 21: Brixton BookJam: Live Readings & Author Q&A

Saturday 23 : Pints, Poems & Prose Literature Afternoon in partnership with It’s Hardback Out Here

Sunday 24 : Dedicated Reading Afternoon at the Taproom

Entry is free, but book tickets via the links to be sure of a space. There is a £5 charge for Saturday’s poetry workshops which includes a pint of Brixton, but the poetry takeaway poets will be in residence writing bespoke poems for people for free.

The brewery hopes that the pop-up will quench the nation’s new reading habits, with a view to launch more bookish offerings in the coming year.

More information