Frequently asked questions

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Being a co-operative means that the owners of the shop are our shareholders and local community. Shareholders get a democratic say in what we do with the future of the bookshop.

There have been two great bookshops in Wood Green over the last 20 years. Both of them closed down their local branches, despite being profitable – one for corporate reasons, and the other for personal reasons. Both of them left an indelible mark on the local area, and were a big part of our lives. 

This is why we (the co-op team) approached Tim West, the former co-owner of the Big Green Bookshop, to find a way to establish a new, permanent bookshop and event space in the local area.

Tim West has passed the baton onto Stephen Fitzsimons who has worked under him for two years, teaching him all his book wisdom. 

So far, we’ve:

• created and registered a co-operative
• created a business plan for the first two years
• created a website 
• put together an acting group of trustees
• drawn up guidelines for the co-operative
• opened the NEW All Good Bookshop in Turnpike Lane!

We want to make sure we're a permanent part of Haringey, so we need your help to make sure the project is a success.

 Glad you want to join in! Check out how you can help. 

Bookshops are great for the local area. We’ve seen this over the last 20 years, with Wood Green’s bookshops having been a central part of our community. Our bookshop will support reading groups, writing groups and author visits, along with so many other events, from comedy to quiz nights. And importantly, it’s all curated – the person managing the shop is a bookseller with many years’ experience, stocking the shop with books tailored to local tastes, and always ready with recommendations for customers, whatever their tastes. 

None of us in the campaign team are doing this to get rich. We’re doing this because we believe in the immense social value of independent bookshops.

Yes, it is. It’s a huge corporate entity that can afford to sell books at the lowest possible prices. But that has problems too. Buying from an independent bookshop usually means that more money goes to the publisher, and in turn that can mean more of your money going to the author. 

We’re also going to get authors in to do events for adults, families and children, and we will work with local schools to supply them with the best books. Supporting your local bookshop therefore also means creating a local cultural hub, supporting writers and supporting your local community.

No. The Big Green Bookshop closed down its physical premises in Wood Green and moved to become an online-only bookseller. You can find them here.

All kinds! Here’s just a taster of planned regular events:

• Reading Groups (monthly)
• Writing Group (every two weeks)
• Under-5’s Storytelling (weekly)
• Music night (monthly)
• Dramatrain (monthly)
• Board to Death boardgame group (monthly)
• Irish speaking pop-up Gaeltacht (monthly)
• Philosophy (monthly)
• Creative arts meet-up (monthly)
• Knitting club (monthly) 

Yes! We have two events spaces that you can rent. Get in touch to find out more!