Wigtown is Scotland's National Book Town and therefore might be expected to be ideal territory for coffee shops and tearooms. However, we were rather disappointed in those that we visited. Perhaps the most interesting is ‘Reading Lasses’ which has a small coffee shop at the back of the bookshop. No surprise here, it works for Waterstone’s and Ottakers.
The surprise might be that the bookshop majors in new and second-hand books in Women's Studies, social, and gay and lesbian studies. Of course it also sells a complete range of books, magazines and papers and everyone is welcome here. An online catalogue is promised soon. Pamela Carter Hood and Angela Everitt, formerly academics in Newcastle-upon-Tyne specialising in the above subjects, started Reading Lasses in 1997. I was particularly taken by the 1955 ‘Women's Own’ (original price 4d) and 1937 Daily Mirror (Coronation Edition) selling for £8 and £40 respectively.
The shop outside is bright, attractive and pink, with hanging flowers and plant pots. Inside the coffee shop is tucked away at the back with an open outlook onto a small, slightly untidy garden. You can sit by the fire, and there is a settee as well as tables and chairs. On a good day you can also sit outside at the front.
The coffee shop offers speciality coffees, a range of teas and home baking and cooking. Additionally there are soups, home made bread, homity pies and cakes. The Reading Lasses kitchen uses locally sourced produce.
Why would I go there? Interesting bookshop.
Any Negatives? Even if we set aside our ‘bad day’ experience, I do feel that some TLC is required.
Before or After:
1. Visit the twenty or so bookshops all a short walk within the town. ‘The Book Shop’, across the square, claims to be the biggest second-hand bookshop in Scotland (we believe it) and caters for every conceivable taste. The Scottish Book Town Festival is held in late September – in 2005 Magnus Magnusson, Joan Bakewell and Kate Adie were amongst those appearing.
2. Drive down to Whithorn to visit the ‘Whithorn Dig’ – an archaeological site.
Coffee Shops and Tearooms Scotland Scottish Tearooms and Coffee Shops Coffee Shops and Tearooms Scotland Coffee Shops
