October Books is an independent community bookshop and worker-owned cooperative at 189 Portswood Road, Portswood, Southampton SO17 2NF. Founded in 1977, it has a long history in the city and is now based in a former NatWest bank building on Portswood High Street. The move was made possible with community support, including a £330,000 fundraising campaign and a human book chain involving more than 200 people. Since 2022, the organisation has operated as a Community Benefit Society.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Southampton and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
Inside, you will find new and second-hand books, alongside ethical and fair-trade goods, organic food such as local honey and nuts, green cleaning products, toiletries and greeting cards. Prices vary by title; examples include The Garden Apothecary at £14.99, Landfill at £16 and Spanish Gardens at £39.99. The shop also supports audiobook purchases through Libro.fm and Bookshop.org, and works with local Southampton schools. Its selection and layout reflect the cooperative’s community focus rather than a purely commercial bookshop.
There is also a vegan café, Veg Out, plus a courtyard at the back used for events and group activities. Regular or occasional activities include Quaker meetings, yoga, a writers’ group on the last Thursday of each month at 19:00, and a pop-up vegan café on Mondays from 11:45 to 15:30. A free pay-as-you-feel café is available for people who need it. The building has one step at the entrance, with a ramp and disabled toilet available.
October Books is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:30 and closed on Sundays. It is a practical stop if you want to browse books while also picking up fair-trade or low-waste household items, and the café and courtyard give it a more social feel than a standard bookshop. For current information, contact the shop on 023 8058 1030 or at info@octoberbooks.org.
Published Date
21 August 2026
