Welcome to House of Books & Friends
Welcome to House of Books & Friends. We are a purpose-led independent bookshop, cafe and events space with an important mission – to combat loneliness through bringing people together and to build and rebuild communities. All of our profits are reinvested in to this mission.
Our stunning bookshop, cafe, and event space is located at 81 King Street, Manchester and is home to our knowledgeable bookselling team (who eat, sleep and dream books) and we hope this will become a home away from home for you too. Our events programme and the work we do with our not-for-profit partners are designed to inspire connection, collaboration and connectivity.
We sell a well curated selection of titles, so come and immerse yourself in a world of books, pick up that perfect present and chat to likeminded book lovers. If you’re looking to meet people similar to you, or totally different, this is a place for you. Find us here.
We sell books online via Bookshop.org, run virtual book clubs and have a range of Pay It Forward options, so if you can’t visit or just prefer buying online, you can still be a part of and support what we do.
We’ve also ensured that despite being in a Grade II* listed building, that we have accessible toilet facilities and access via a temporary ramp -information about our accessibility can be found on our Accessibility page. If you need any assistance or have queries please just contact us on 07597 365380.
Opening Hours
Monday-Saturday: 9am-6pm
Sunday: 11am-5pm
Browse our Bookshop
Enjoy a Tasty Treat in the Cafe
When is a cup of coffee, more than a cup of coffee? When the coffee gives back!
Not only does every penny of profit we make go back in to addressing loneliness and creating opportunities to bring people together, you can also support others through our Pay It Forward scheme. This will enable someone who has perhaps forgotten their wallet or struggling financially to enjoy what we do, courtesy of you.
A good coffee and a brilliant bookshop are the perfect pairing; together we hope to do Manchester proud!
Latest Updates
Posted on: July 14, 2025
Category: News
We have an exciting opportunity to join our team at House of Books & Friends in Manchester city centre. We are looking for: 1 x Bookseller/Barista – 10 hours per week over Saturday and Sunday, must be available Saturday & Sunday, with some other availability Monday-Friday. Immediate start possible. Candidates …
Posted on: March 7, 2025
Category: News
Unfortunately, our afternoon tea dates for 2025 are all sold out until the end of November. We will be releasing more dates for the months following later in the year. Keep an eye on our socials and newsletter as we release the dates there. If you wanted to just pop …