Books & Bevs

What it’s like

A café and bookshop in York running storytelling sessions, clay jewellery classes and writing workshops for kids aged 8 to 12.

This is a bookshop with a café attached that also puts on proper workshops rather than just selling paperbacks. Interactive storytelling sessions run for younger kids, and there's a creative writing workshop pitched at 8 to 12 year olds, which is a decent age to actually get something out of it rather than just colouring in.

The polymer clay jewellery classes and pebble painting workshops are the sort of thing you book for a wet Tuesday afternoon, and they've done World Book Day activities tying nature into the books on the shelves too. It's not a soft play or a big attraction, so go in expecting an hour or so of a proper craft or story session rather than a whole day out.

Opening hours shift through the week: shorter on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, a bit later Thursday and Friday, and Sunday's just a morning until 1pm. Monday it's shut. The café does hot and cold drinks, so there's somewhere to sit with a coffee while the kids finish whatever they're making.

They'll also host birthday parties and other events if you ask, which is worth knowing if your child's already keen on the workshops and wants their friends in on it too.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

8 to 12s for the writing workshops; younger kids suit the storytelling

Food

Café serving hot and cold drinks

Parties

Can host birthday parties and other events on request

• Monday's a closed day, so don't turn up expecting the shop open
• Sunday hours are short, just a morning session until 1pm
• There's a gift shop alongside the books if you want a present sorted at the same time
• Writing workshops are pitched at 8 to 12 year olds specifically, not younger kids

Plan your visit

See all Reading, Book Clubs & Storytime in York · Things to do in York