In the small town of Alfriston, or maybe it’s a large village, is a gem of a bookshop called Much Ado About Books. And, there really is much ado, this is not a straightforward bookshop. The building was a house, so it is a series of small rooms, an interesting staircase and a back garden. As well as being well stocked with up to date books, there are sections containing second hand books and even antiquarian ones. So far so good but there is more. There are interesting pieces of art, lots of information about bookish things and community events, nooks to sit in as well as beautiful notebooks made from unwanted book covers. The owners of the shop, inevitably you will have realised it is independent, run Prospero’s Project which is a charity to provide books for deserving communities within the locality.
I haven’t visited since the pandemic but there were many delightful tea shops near Much Ado, I’m sure some of them have survived. I’m not expecting you to spend a whole day in the bookshop, so you need to know that Charleston is only a few miles away. If you have any interest in the Bloomsbury Set, whether the writing or the art, then this is not to be missed. Also, Berwick Church is close by which contains some amazing paintings, Charleston related.
I will go again.