Your Bookshop Holiday Questions Answered

1. What is Read & Rabbit?

Read & Rabbit is a second hand bookshop in North Yorkshire that also offers a self-catering bookshop holiday stay, ad hoc community wellbeing events, weekend reading retreats, self development courses, bookish gifts, local art and much more

2. Can you stay overnight in the bookshop

Sleeping is only permitted in the flat above. Read & Rabbit has a small double bedroom on the top floor (3 storey building built 1870) with a cosy reading space on the landing, a large bedroom/living room on the middle floor with window seats overlooking the market place (king size bed and optional campbed), creating private self-catering holiday accommodation attached to the bookshop. All giving guests a unique book-lover’s retreat and opportunity to run the shop part time or even full-time if they wish to.

You can work or read in the bookshop as long as you wish but at night is warmer upstairs where the central heating is too.

3. Is the bookshop stay similar to The Open Book in Wigtown?

Yes. The experience is inspired by The Open Book concept, offering guests the chance to rent a working bookshop and enjoy a literary-themed holiday.

4. What can I do during a bookshop holiday?

Guests sell items on Read and Rabbit's behalf acting as shop keeper ensuring the shop is open to the public Thursday 10-2 and Sunday 11-3 - they also look through any donations before they are accepted to ensure suitability.

In addition they can be open more than this, browse the bookshop, organise the books within a genre as long as is creating order and not chaos, put donated books onto the shelves, relax with books in personal reading retreat, write among the books, explore North Yorkshire, enjoy local creative activities and join community events hosted by Read & Rabbit or other places in the area including a few weekly walking groups. You might especially be keen to attend the silent reading evening in cafe next door on a Thursday from 6.30-8pm.

Guests could launch their book or do a book signing but must be a minimum of two people to man the store and they are responsible for marketing such an event and crowd control - we will mention it on our facebook. They can sell their own items on a small table with prior approval as long as they meet all local laws. They can offer mess free workshops or courses for maximum 6 people, with no overnight stays by guest participants, by prior agreement.

If selling own goods (unless books) or running an event they must provide evidence of insurance when booking. Note there may be an additional fee if running an event.

5. Does Read & Rabbit host community or wellbeing events?

Yes. It runs workshops, wellbeing sessions and community events focused on creativity, social connection and local engagement - sometimes in the bookshop. If you run the bookshop is up to you what events are on if any and we try to avoid having events on at the shop if a guest bookseller is staying (vs a room only with shared bathroom/kitchen guest) but any events that are on run by R&R are free for the guest bookseller to attend during their stay.

6. What kind of books and items does the shop sell?

You’ll find second hand books that have been donated, amusing bookish items, funny cards, gifts and artwork created by local Yorkshire artists.

7. Where is Read & Rabbit located?

Read & Rabbit is located in Loftus market place at the top of the town, and is within the North York Moors National Park in North Yorkshire. Loftus, home to many artists, is between the picturesque fishing village of Staithes and larger Saltburn-by-the-Sea famous for its long pier and recently reinstated cliff tramway. Loftus is close to local villages, countryside walks, the coastal path and nearby attractions such as the breathtakingly awesome Cattersty Sands Beach and famous Whitby.

8. How do I book the bookshop holiday stay?

Guests can check availability by date and number of people on AirBnB and book there too. Links are on the holiday page in option s and prices section and at the bottom of this page. If you wish to book a discounted longer than 6 weeks room only (with shared bathroom n kitchen) stay during late autumnor winter please get in touch directly by contacting Marta using contact details given top and bottom of this page.

9. Is the accommodation suitable for writers or creatives seeking a place to work as a retreat?

Absolutely. Many visitors use the quiet, book-filled environment as a writing retreat or creative escape. Although on a main street it is an oasis of calm at the back and at night there is very little traffic. Breaks can be taken by doing one of the many local walks.

10. Is Read & Rabbit family-friendly? What about groups of friends or a book club reading retreat?

Yes, the bookstore holiday experience welcomes families with impeccably behaved children aged 10 and over as is home to a maximalist with some fragile items, and the accommodation is suitable for guests looking for a cosy, relaxed stay. Groups of friends are also welcome. Maximum we can accommodate overnight is 4.

11. Is Read & Rabbit dog-friendly - does it allow other pets?

We have taken the decision not to allow dogs in to the shop or rest of the building etc as there is no guarantee they won't 'do their business' in the carpeted bookshop, plus this means is suitable for guest booksellers with pet allergies which seems ever more common.

12. How many hours and when do guest booksellers man the bookshop?

The core hours are Thursday 10am to 2pm and Sunday 11am to 3pm. Guest booksellers can choose to be open more hours / days as part of their bookshop experience holiday. Footfall is best in the mornings til end of lunchtime - and when nearby cafes are open.

If you just want to enjoy the bookshop at your leisure and not run it and Marta is around - then you can stay over but not play bookseller. Get in touch with Marta to discuss. It will still open those days/times.

If you have no interest in bookshop access but would like to holiday in the flat, then you can book both bedrooms individually on AirBnB to have the place available to yourself - assuming both are available.

13. Will I get bored? What entertainment is there?

Join a Tuesday or Friday lunchtime wellbeing walk to meet others and see a bit more. On your doorstep calling you is the fabulous coastal walk past where Saxon Princess items were found in a dig and just behind the bookshop are woods with waterfalls. Walking over to Cattersty Sands Beach is a must.

There are live music and other entertainment events at venues in the town plus on Thursdays 6.30 to 8pm Brown Box Cafe next door have their quiet reading evening.

Detailed events list to follow but it is a lovely welcoming community.

14. Is any food provided?

No - this is a self catering stay. We offer room or flat only without any food, but are located directly opposite a small supermarket and surrounded by cafes/pubs/restaurants/pizza takeaway with more a short walk away. You can even have Canny Granny's Kitchen deliver meals to you which include gluten free options too and a very nice Sunday roast with choice of meat. Pizza Cottage do a whole varriety of takeaway food. And of course there is a fish n chip shop. We provide a list of recommended places to eat.

Tea and coffee is provided but grab your own preferred milk from the small supermarket across the road which is open daily 7am to 10pm.

15. Will I have my own bathroom and cooking facilities?

If you take the exclusive use option which is booking the bookshop holiday yes. Otherwise is shared. Make sure in the airbnb listing it says entire place or book both bedrooms.

16. What areas will I have access to?

Other than the kitchen and bathroom (bath with electric shower over), an extra toilet is on the ground floor in the courtyard. You can also enjoy the warm conservatory on a sunny day and the lovely roof garden looking over the rooftops and to the countryside beyond.

17. Is there bike storage?

There is a secure yard you can leave up to 4 bikes in.

18. How do you get there?

You could fly to Newcastle or Edinburgh and go by train to Saltburn. From Saltburn hop on a bus or is a ten minute taxi ride. If flying in to London train fares are quite high on that distance so do book in advance if possible for lowest fare to Saltburn.

You can fly to Teesside airport and preorder a taxi. See more ideas and link to maps on our holiday page.

19. What can I visit when there?

Please see our Visit section to learn more about the wonderful places to visit while staying in Loftus. You will be ideally situated for so much.

20. Do I need a car? Are there food shops and restaurants within walking distance?

No you don't need a car. There is a bus stop a few steps away. Coop supermarket is across the street and many eateries are nearby. Ready food or grocery shopping can be delivered to you too.

21. What is the minimum stay on what days of the week?

For the bookshop holiday option only the minimum stay is 3 nights with checkin days of Friday, Saturday, Monday or Tuesday but we recommend you stay as long as possible because the area has so many interesting places to see, the locals are friendly, eating out is cheaper than most UK places and the cake is award winning!

We can also chat about a long term discount if you wish to make yourself resident bookseller for a while or come here on your personal writing retreat / reading retreat.

22. Do I have to run the bookshop for a few hours as part of my stay?

Not if Marta is around at that time to do it. Get in touch to find out.

23. What is the cancellation policy?

See details on booking page of AirBnB.

24. How much does it cost to stay at the Read & Rabbit Bed n Bookshop?

Example prices are on our holiday page but for exact prices put in dates and number of guests into AirBnB.
3 night minimum starting Fri, Sat, Mon or Tues for the bookshop holiday option up to 4 people.
airbnb.com/h/englishbookshopholiday

Room only with shared bathroom & kitchen - this option you could be sharing with Marta or other guests unless you book both rooms.

airbnb.com/h/readingnookroom

airbnb.com/h/booksellersboudoir

Long term discounts available.

Groups: Why not bring the book club or your friends, and create your own writing or reading retreat in the best place of all - a cosy used bookstore in God's own country as the Yorkshire folk describe it.

We have two bedrooms that can sleep four in total but Loftus has many other self catering options close by you could also book such as The Brown Box with two bedrooms right next door.

Marta will give you lots of contacts and ideas to help you plan it.

You can also come by yourself or with a plus one to join one of our reading retreats or writing retreats etc - contact Marta for details (see top and bottom of page for how to get in touch).