Behind the Doors of the Honesty Bookshop

In July 2024, Richard Booth’s Bookshop opened the doors to its pop-up honesty bookshop. Housing books across genres and from all walks of life, the honesty bookshop draws in customers searching for something they don’t even know they’re looking for yet. The mystery of what is held behind the doors of the honesty bookshop is eagerly explored by many who pass by.

The history of honesty bookshops is unclear; an unknown origin for bookshops without a name appears quite fitting. Hay-on-Wye’s original honesty bookshop, housed in the Castle grounds, dates back to the 1960’s and appeals to bibliophiles from across the globe.

Preparations for the pop-up honesty bookshop were underway in late June; books were selected from busy shelves and carefully packaged into boxes before being moved to their new habitat, not too dissimilar from their last. Once relocated, these books were placed on the shelves that became the very essence of the shop, ready to find their new owner. The workings of the honesty bookshop is simple; select as many books as you wish, pay a pound in either cash or card and you’re free to roam the indie shops of Hay once more. The main difference, however, lies in the fact that our honesty bookshop relies entirely upon that: honesty. Staff filter in and out throughout the day, and are always on hand in Richard Booth’s Bookshop if you need any assistance.

Part of the joy of an honesty bookshop is that you never know what you might find. One day there may be stacks of art history and illustrated encyclopaedias, the next you might find some other gems from the Bookshop, like yarns and posters.

We would like to believe that our predecessor, Richard Booth himself, would approve of our efforts to save otherwise unread books from their fates…a mission that begun when he travelled across America in the 60’s and 70’s, although this time our journey isn’t quite so far…