The Poetry Bookshop

With our new central location, refurbishment and expansion we now have an attractive space for readings and book launches as well.

- Melanie Prince

Opened in 1979, the Poetry Bookshop is the UK’s only bookshop dedicated to poetry and one of the longest established bookshops in the town of Hay – which is famous for its annual literary festival in May and June. 

The Poetry Bookshop, which is owned and run by Christopher and Melanie Prince, specialises in every aspect of poetry, antiquarian, second-hand, out of print and now new publications. Titles sold at the store range from Keats, Byron and Shakespeare through to modern poets like Rupi Kaur, Luke Kennard, Rhiannon Hooson and Kate Tempest.

In 2017, they received a micro loan from us to help move their store to a more central location in the town, pay for renovations and expand their stock to include new as well as second-hand books.