About Belfast Books - A Tiny Independent Bookshop
Belfast Book - Tiny but Mighty
A small Belfast bookshop built to serve real readers
Belfast Books is a volunteer-run independent bookshop based on York Road in a working-class part of North Belfast. We have deep local roots and operate a little differently from most bookshops, by necessity as much as by choice.
If you want to buy new books for delivery, the website is the fastest route. If you want to browse used and out-of-print books in person, we ask you to book a visit so we can host you properly.
Why we exist
We opened Belfast Books in 2014 to promote reading and literacy in the community where the founders live and work, and to make books more affordable in an area that does not get handed easy footfall.
If you have ever seen our hashtag #CheaperThanThatSouthAmericanRiver, that is the idea in plain language. Books should be accessible, not precious.
Who runs the shop
Belfast Books is run by two founders, Mr Books and Mrs Books, with occasional volunteer support.
Mr Books is a lawyer. Mrs Books is the creative force behind how the shop looks, feels, and functions. Together, we run a deliberately small operation that prioritises clarity, honesty, and sustainability over scale.
How Belfast Books works, online and in-store
Online, everything listed on the website is for sale and ships by Royal Mail Tracked 48 or Tracked 24, depending on what you choose at checkout. This is where our range is widest, including graphic novels and new releases we could never physically hold in a tiny shop.
In-store, the focus is used and out-of-print books. The space is narrow, packed, and closer to a book hoarder’s paradise than a modern retail unit. Used books are purchased in person only, with one exception: members on the Goliath and Titanic tiers will be able to buy highly sought after used books and have them shipped to them. Benefit heavy membership tiers are launching soon.
Visiting the York Road shop
The shop is very small and there is no practical way for someone to sit behind a counter all day. We also have limited hours, volunteer staffing, and higher operating costs than our footfall would suggest.
York Road is an arterial route with bus lanes and very little casual passing trade. Even the charity shop next door has closed due to lack of customers. Booking allows us to confirm staffing, limit numbers, and make sure you get a calm, unhurried visit rather than turning up to a closed door.
If you want the context and the story behind this model, read: Read How #BookTheBookshop Works
What we stock
In-store, we are strongest in:
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Horror
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Sci-fi
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Classics
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War books
Online, the catalogue is broader and delivery-ready.
We are also recognised as experts on books about the Northern Ireland Troubles. That specialist work lives on its own page so it stays useful and easy to browse:
Shop Northern Ireland Troubles Books
Proof and reach
We have been operating since 2014 and serve a mix of locals, tourists, people who spot us from passing buses, and online-only customers.
Online, we have an active audience including around 26,000 Twitter followers, with one tweet reaching 8.6 million views. You can also find us on TikTok at officialbelfastbooks, including our bookshop rap video.