ShoppingCafe

The Common Press Shoreditch

Queer intersectional bookshop, café and community hub in Shoreditch

London, UK

Neighbourhood

London

About The Common Press Shoreditch

The Common Press Shoreditch is a not-for-profit, consciously queer intersectional bookshop, café, bar and community hub on Bethnal Green Road. Black, queer and trans owned, it offers East London a third space built around literature, arts, culture and connection. More than 7,000 books span LGBTQ+ fiction, trans-inclusive feminism, anti-colonialism, climate justice, wellbeing, poetry, plays, graphic novels and writing for children and young adults. Visitors can browse, stop for coffee or drinks, and join a programme ranging from book clubs and author talks to workshops, live music and community events. The everyday atmosphere is calm and welcoming, while event nights can be much busier and run later. Check the programme before visiting for a particular activity; the online shop is useful if you already know what you want.

What to expect

Expect a substantial queer book selection and a relaxed café-bar, with the atmosphere changing when talks, workshops or evening events are scheduled.

Vibes

Queer bookshop Shoreditch Café Community space LGBTQ+ books Black-owned Trans-owned Accessible

Good to know

Practical tips before you visit

The ground floor is step-free and has an accessible toilet

Closed on Mondays at the time of the latest update

Events may run later than the standard shop opening hours

Visit The Common Press Shoreditch

Visit website Directions

Address

118 Bethnal Grn Rd, London E2 6DG, UK

Opening hours

Closed now

Opens Tuesday at 11:00

Monday: Closed Tuesday: 11:00–18:30 Wednesday: 11:00–18:30 Thursday: 11:00–18:30 Friday: 11:00–18:30 Saturday: 11:00–18:30 Sunday: 11:00–18:30

Location

118 Bethnal Grn Rd, London E2 6DG, UK

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Location

The Common Press Shoreditch

118 Bethnal Grn Rd, London E2 6DG, UK

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WhereIs.Gay rating

4.7

210 reviews

Overall rating across WhereIs.Gay and Google Maps.

Rating by source

WhereIs.Gay
5.0
Google Maps
4.7

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Featured Google Maps reviews

Selected by Google Maps. Read more reviews on Google Maps.

dhampirvonnie

2 weeks ago

Beautiful selection of books, it was fun to browse everything and find some interesting reads. They have a cute little cafe inside and the atmosphere is very welcoming. The staff is really kind as well, I’d 100% recommend going there!

Review from Google Maps

Tomoe C

4 months ago

This is such a wonderful space for anybody in the LGBTQ+ community are you and anybody who is interested in learning more about us. Grab a nice coffee grab some books there are so many seats in the room the atmosphere is very nice. I would go here if I lived in London every day.

Review from Google Maps

Leonor Machado

4 months ago

An amazing selection of books, cozy place to have a tea, a good program with reading and workshops that’s very welcoming. Very friendly staff

Review from Google Maps

Lou

2 weeks ago

A lovely little bookshop with a great selection of queer books. There’s coffee and plenty of table space, so you can easily sit and read for a while. The staff are really friendly too — a very welcoming place to spend an afternoon.

Review from Google Maps

L Smith

a month ago

One of my favourite spaces in London, I’ve spent so many afternoons here buying books and drinking coffee. They put on amazing events too, and manage to get in some incredible speakers and authors!

Review from Google Maps