Books for Amnesty, also known as The Amnesty Bookshop Brighton, is a small volunteer-run second-hand bookshop at 15 Sydney Street, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 4EN. It has been supplying books to the local community since 2007 and sits in the historic North Laine area, a short walk from Brighton railway station. The shop is recognisable by its pink frontage and is stocked through donations from local people.
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The main focus is good-quality second-hand books, with shelves covering contemporary fiction, social sciences, art, poetry, drama, history and children’s books. There are also some new books, along with ephemera, CDs, vinyl records, DVDs and Amnesty International products. The range of ethical gifts includes Fairtrade items, greeting cards and Amnesty-branded goods. Stock changes regularly, so the selection will depend on recent donations rather than a fixed catalogue. Books are also sold online through Abe.co.uk and eBay.
The shop has a friendly, community-led feel, with volunteers running the day-to-day service. It holds a Google Maps rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 107 reviews, although opening information varies slightly between listings. The usual hours are Monday to Saturday, 11:00–17:30, and Sunday, 11:00–16:00; it is sensible to check before travelling, particularly if you are visiting for a specific donation or event. Sydney Street becomes pedestrianised from 11:00, which affects car drop-offs. The shop floor is step-free and wheelchair accessible, and there is a loading bay outside. Trafalgar Street Car Park and RCP Parking are both about a two-minute walk away.
Walk-in donations are accepted, while larger car-load donations should be arranged with the manager by emailing brightonbookshop@amnesty.org.uk. A collection service is available, and UK taxpayers can sign up for retail Gift Aid. The shop also runs a monthly Open Mic Night for local poets and musicians and regular Amnesty Charity Quiz Nights at Presuming Ed’s on London Road. Anyone interested in volunteering can email the shop or ask in person. For general enquiries, the telephone number is 01273 688983.
Published Date
5 October 2026
