For over 40 years, Red Lion Books has been a haven for book lovers on Colchester High Street, remaining independent and family-run since 1978. The bookshop is much more than the modest shopfront may suggest, boasting an exciting local hub of events and clubs, coordinated by Jo Coldwell, the vibrant shop manager.  

I was lucky enough to talk to Jo who said that Red Lion Books provides the customers with ‘the true bookshop experience’, a rare gem amongst the current climate of chain store brands. But what’s the difference? Why shop small? As Jo words it, ‘We will give advice all the time, to anyone that walks in.’ Not only can Jo and her close-knit team offer their knowledge of the books in stock, but they are keen to try and help customers track down and order books - ‘We can do anything!’, Jo exclaims. The Red Lion Books’ shop floor team are passionate about helping their customers and their wider community. When I asked Jo about the perks of bookselling she replied, ‘finding the customer and the book and seeing that joy – you cannot beat it’. This truly is a shop for everyone, local college students especially - ‘it’s your shop!’ 

Red Lion Books runs frequent and well-loved evening events, which take place in the cosy, downstairs space at the shop and provide something a little different from the average evening entertainment. For example, the shop regularly hosts author talks, an evening of two published authors engaging in stimulating conversation. Jo excitedly promotes these events, and all information can be easily found in shop, or online at redlionbooks.co.uk. The book club run by Jo, however, needs no extra promotion. At around 50 members, the Appetite Book Club has grown in its 15 years to become a lively, local legend – even recently featured by Sky. ‘Our book clubs are really vibrant’, attracting a range of people and acting as a gathering point for the whole community.  

Indeed, the shop is a community hub, providing entertainment, advice and support to the local clientele. As the epidemic of loneliness in the elderly rises, Jo poses the question to young people of ‘where are you going to go when you're old?’ She points out that enterprises like Red Lion Books are a key support system for the local elderly and if the youth of today don’t help and support these businesses now; where are we going to go in the future? Jo and her team are dedicated to their regulars, ‘we really care about these people’. As Jo points out, ‘it’s an investment in your future, but it's also your present.’  

Red Lion Books is a constant presence in the community yet is continually evolving to further help its loyal customer base and as Jo explains, supporting the bookshop is more than just a purchase - ‘it’s a relationship really.’