A NEW independent bookshop opened its doors earlier in the summer. 

Situated in the Fairground Village Hall in Andover, Tea Leaves and Reads opened in June 2024 and will host a Bookshop Festival on Saturday, September 28 in celebration. 
 
The Bookshop Festival will include panels about character creation and representation in fiction, interviews with authors Daniel Cole and Judith Heneghan, as well as a live Q&A with Emily Critchley.

Festival goers will have the chance to meet authors and get some of their books signed. 

(Image: Contributed)
 
Originally started as a Little Free Library and subscription box services in August 2020 so husband and wife team Kathryn and William could send bookish gifts locally and across the country during a time when people had to socially distance and stay inside.

From there they have grown substantially as an online service, growing the book club from the internet to in person in September 2021.

The book club recently reached 40 physical members and a few hundred online. 
 
Continuing the dream of opening a real bookshop, Kathryn and William put their names down at the Fairground Village Hall, imagining it would take many years before they got the chance to open a physical store front.

Following a successful interview, they were offered a space that used to be a clock repair shop, which they have now turned into the Tea Leaves and Reads bookshop this summer. 
 
They had a soft opening in June 2024 with specific opening hours initially on Fridays, Saturdays and certain evenings.

However, from last week starting September 9 Kathryn has switched from working as a Policy Manager to being a full-time bookseller.

While Kathryn manages the bookshop solo, William, who works in I.T., has supported with the e-commerce, website and graphics creation side of the business. 
 
Tickets for the Bookshop Festival are on sale at: tealeavesandreads.co.uk/product/bookshop-celebration-day-28th-september-2024-event-ticket/