Pickering Book Tree - new book and art store opens in town

The Pickering Book Tree opened in late August 2022, on Market Place, and boasts over 3,000 books, along with a range of art supplies including water colours, acrylics, pencils, and brushes.

On its shelves are everything from new releases to classics and poetry.

If you can’t find the book you're looking for, the shop has an order in policy where books can be sourced from suppliers.

The store is a family venture by Andrew and Stephanie Bundy, along with their daughter Cathy.

Andrew worked as a teacher in Norfolk and came out of retirement to open the store with his family.

The family moved from Norwich to Pickering in 2018.

“The key thing is that regardless of all the bills, we just want to make this work,” said Andrew (Image: Dylan Connell)

The idea of the bookshop came from Andrew and Stephanie’s daughter, Ella, who died last year aged 27 of cancer.

Andrew said Ella was a ‘devoted reader.’

“Whenever (Ella) visited she would say ‘I love Pickering dad, but this is a town that could do with a book shop,” he added.

With Ella’s recommendation in mind, the family jumped at the opportunity to take over the 18th century home on Market Place and open a book shop.

Since opening, Andrew said: “Business has been good. There’s been a lot of interest in the shop.

“We’ve had such a mix of people coming into the shop - it’s very hard to pinpoint a particular interest.

“It’s just great meeting people talking about books, helping them find books they want – point them in directions for books they might not have thought about.”

The store is a family venture by Stephanie, Cathy and Andrew Bundy (Image: Pickering Book Tree)

Andrew explained that the community is at the heart of the store and in the future, they hope to host book club meetings and work with schools to give pupils the opportunity to read and develop habits early on.

While juggling challenges such as the rise in the cost of living and supermarket prices, Andrew said: “The key thing is that regardless of all the bills, we just want to make this work.”

His wife, Stephanie, added: “We’re doing this for the love of the bookshop and for the community.”

As well as selling instore, the shop aims to start selling directly from their website.

The website and social media pages have been created by the couple’s daughter, Cathy.

At present books can be purchased from the store online via bookshop.org – an online store supporting independent bookstores.

Along with supporting the community, the shop aims to be as sustainable as possible.

The store run a loyalty card scheme where points can be collected, with a tree planted for each completed card.

A contribution is also made towards planting a tree for every 50 books sold at the shop.

The bookshop plants a tree for every 50 books they sell, and for every completed loyalty card (Image: Dylan Connell)

The Pickering Book Tree is open 10am to 4pm and closed on Wednesdays and Sundays. 

More information about the shop can be found on its website, Instagram and Facebook pages.

The shop will hold its opening event on Tuesday, October 4, from 7pm with travel writer, Jules Brown. Tickets can be purchased in store or online here.