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Barbican Bookshop, York


AWFK10

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I remember from other threads that several Britmodellers know this shop, which has a specialist aviation section (both new and secondhand). I've suspected for a while that it was in difficulties, as it's been offering a third off all its secondhand stock for months. Sadly, the local press has just published the news that it's to close in the New Year. It'll be greatly missed.

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Hi Tony. Yes, that's the one - although the Army Surplus shop that used to be on the corner has packed up as well. The model shop is P & S Hobbies: at least there's no sign of them closing down.

Regards

Patrick

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What a great shame, as it's a real treasure house, especially for those with an interest in aviation. I try to go for a nosey whenever I'm in York, and my wife always gives me that look as she knows I rarely come out empty-handed. Unfortunately, in my view, it lets itself down badly by not clearly advertising its full range to the passing punter. While there are generally a few aviation (and other transportation) books on display in the window, to reach them inside you have to go through the main Christian bookshop section and through a small doorway to reach the new aviation/transport books room, and then again to reach the large second-hand area, from where I have picked up some gems. I only went in initially because I knew what it stocked from its previous premises on The Shambles, but the religious-theme main shop area will undoubtedly have put many potential punters off. If you've got it, flaunt it. In retail you can't afford not to.

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I'm trying to resist the onslaught of the Kindle (other reading machines are available!), I like to have a real book to hand. Unfortunately this may be a futile effort on my part. It's sad when another shop closes, especially one as good as this. I blame Roswell!

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Sorry to hear this, I always go in when I visit York but as others have said it has not been the same since it left the Shambles.

There is another smaller bookshop on the opposite side of the street and I picked up one of my most prized books in there!

Cheers

Tony O

Edited by tonyot
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Dam I don't think I ever found this shop though I've been to York plenty of times. There used to be an aircraft specialist in the Shambles and I know this moved many years ago, was this the same shop?

I remember that shop well.

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Dam I don't think I ever found this shop though I've been to York plenty of times. There used to be an aircraft specialist in the Shambles and I know this moved many years ago, was this the same shop?

It's just a bit off the beaten track for visitors to York, though still very near the centre. The shop in the Shambles was Pickerings, which used to have a big secondhand section upstairs plus a separate room of 'quality' books that you had to ask the owner to let you see. Both it and the Barbican were in business at the same time but I've got a feeling there may have been some sort of relationship between them and that they both used Pickerings own printed bags. Certainly, when Pickerings closed down (late '90s?), the Barbican acquired its specialist aviation section - before that, it just used to have general secondhand stock.

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I do recall that after "Pickerings" closed I wondered into a second hand bookshop that had a lots of Christian books in the front and there was a back room with what I assume was stock from Pickerings. I picked up a profile on the SARO SRA1 at the time.

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I`m thinking of having a trip over the border this week during half term, is the shop closed on any particular day/s?

Cheers

Tony O

Only closed on Sundays. Open until 5:30 Monday to Saturday.

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Thanks very much,...hoping to get over today

cheers

Tony

No problem. Hope you enjoy. When you enter the shop, the aviation section is through a small door at the back of the shop. But the real 'treasure' is to go even further back through another two doors in the second hand section.

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Cheers Tom,

I remember the shop and visited yesterday,.......coming away with 3 bags full of books including the Air Britain Halifax File which I`ve been looking for, for ages and it only cost me £15!!! There re some nice books in the new section too including the Airdoc Sea Fury, Seafire, Firebrand, Swift books etc plus Sqn Sig `at war' books and Warpaint books too!

If anybody visits remember to ask to look upstairs in the `locked room' for some gems.

All the best

Tony O

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Cheers Tom,

I remember the shop and visited yesterday,.......coming away with 3 bags full of books including the Air Britain Halifax File which I`ve been looking for, for ages and it only cost me £15!!! There re some nice books in the new section too including the Airdoc Sea Fury, Seafire, Firebrand, Swift books etc plus Sqn Sig `at war' books and Warpaint books too!

If anybody visits remember to ask to look upstairs in the `locked room' for some gems.

All the best

Tony O

Nice one. Glad you had a productive trip. I have yet to check out the locked room upstairs and may do ob Saturday.

Cheers,

Tom.

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