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Ken Spelman Books

Open Now: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Open today: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Review Highlights
An honest appraisal

I was disposing of a number of Victorian books dating from 1848 from a former grammar school... read more

Reviewed 27 August 2018
Steve M
,
Redcar, United Kingdom
Fantastical books and where to find them

A lovely bookshop that I could've spent hours in...and almost did! Full of fantastical and rare... read more

Reviewed 20 August 2016
GemBrow
,
Wrexham, United Kingdom
via mobile
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Traveller Overview
  • Excellent58%
  • Very good14%
  • Average0%
  • Poor0%
  • Terrible28%
27 Aug 2018
“An honest appraisal”
20 Aug 2016
“Fantastical books and where to find them”
About
"A true treasure trove" [The Times]"One of the 10 best rare bookshops in Britain" - [The Independent]"One of the best independent retailers in the country"[Royal Society of Literature] Established in York in 1948, with over 60 years of experience...more
Open Now
Hours Today: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
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Contact
70 Micklegate, York YO1 6LF, England
Website
+44 1904 624414
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Reviewed 27 August 2018

I was disposing of a number of Victorian books dating from 1848 from a former grammar school library.and sent a schedule of the titles to Spellman Books. We weren't able to do a deal but the reply from Spellmans was prompt, courteous and informative.

Date of experience: August 2018
Thank Steve M
myplectrum, Owner at Ken Spelman Books, responded to this reviewResponded 28 August 2018

Dear Steve, Thank you very much for your kind words. I hope you found a home for the books. Tony

Reviewed 20 August 2016 via mobile

A lovely bookshop that I could've spent hours in...and almost did! Full of fantastical and rare finds with history literally sitting on the shelves. Books to suit all tastes and pockets.

Date of experience: August 2016
1  Thank GemBrow
Reviewed 19 June 2015

Wonderful book shop; huge range, helpful, knowledgeable and friendly; so much more of a pleasant experience than chain book stores. i wish more shops like this thrived.

Date of experience: June 2015
1  Thank Sarah R
Reviewed 31 January 2015

Great place - less like a shop than an old eccentrics house. A huge and varied selection of 2nd hand books, piles of brand new bargain price ones and ultra rare volumes locked in glass cabinets. There is something interesting for everyone in here, just...More

Date of experience: January 2015
3  Thank Cjtopman
myplectrum, Owner at Ken Spelman Books, responded to this reviewResponded 2 February 2015

Thank you so much for such a wonderful review. The coal fire is burning brightly, and is very welcome on this cold day.

Reviewed 12 January 2015

Very disappointed with my visit to this shop, I felt we were looked down upon and made to feel inadequate. Staff may be well read 'educated academics' but they need to take a lesson in customer service and develop their limited people skills, they are...More

Date of experience: January 2015
9  Thank Catherine W
myplectrum, Owner at Ken Spelman Books, responded to this reviewResponded 2 February 2015

I can only apologise for this member of staff, as we pride ourselves on our customer service, with nearly 70 years in business. It appears to have been very much a one-off incident, and I held a staff meeting to re-iterate that this must not...More

Reviewed 17 June 2013

These days, when book shops on the high street cannot beat prices online, the only thing they can win on is good customer service. What a shame this shop falls well short of that. The woman I spoke to was rude, unhelpful and not completely...More

Date of experience: May 2013
6  Thank Rosanna B
myplectrum, Owner at Ken Spelman Books, responded to this reviewResponded 2 February 2015

I am very sorry for this, and it was a member of staff who left us shortly afterwards, for this very reason. I hope next time you visit York you will come and see us again.

Reviewed 21 October 2002

This is how bookshops used to be, with thousands of great titles on display - a real coal fire - friendly staff, and the books still individually wrapped for you in neat green paper packages. They are also on the internet and I ordered more...More

7  Thank Venture32178
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