Durham's first independent LGBTQ+ bookshop is set to expand less than a year after opening its doors in the city's Market Hall.
Chris Larmouth and Miles Nelson, the married couple who own BookWyrm, hope that by using a vacant stall that was previously for storage, they will be able to host events with local authors, writing workshops, and run their newly launched online shop. As well as selling books, it will give a space for author-in-residence Miles to write as customers browse.
And the expansion wouldn't have been possible without the reception they've received, with BookWyrm being welcomed wholeheartedly by the residents of Durham and beyond since its opening in July 2022. Co-owner Chris said: "The reaction has been really, really good and we've been quite surprised.
Read more: Eight of the best independent bookshops in the North East
"Going into it, we were expecting some unsavoury attention, but honestly, it's been minimal. We've had so many lovely people in from a range of ages.
"We've been quite popular with the students, there's a big LGBT presence in the university with each college having its own society. The students have been one side of it but Durham has got a massive LGBT community who have never had a sober space to come together, which has been quite a big thing that we weren't quite expecting and we've since found out about loads of different LGBT groups from Durham and into the wider North East."
However, Chris and Miles intend their expansion not only as a safe space for the LGBT community, but also for neurodiverse customers. Chris continued: "Sometimes the indoor market can be quite loud and one of the things we want from the shop is to be a neurodiverse safe space as well.
"We're planning to Perspex up one of the sides to have a little more of an enclosed area to help with that. Hopefully it will reduce noise and make things a little more comfortable for us when we're in the shop."
Despite the expansion, Chris and Miles hope the BookWyrm that its customers have come to love won't change too much. He said: "Our plans aren’t too extreme, you’ll still find the books and our magnificent chair in their usual places, but it will give us the space to spotlight local authors, host writing workshops and also run our brand new online shop!"
As well as expanding the store, BookWyrm is leading the city's first ever queer craft market during the weekend of Durham Pride. Taking place on Sunday May 28, a bunch of queer creatives and LGBTQ+ businesses will sell their wares in a first of a kind event that aims to celebrate the joy of queer identity in the Market Place.
Miles said: "We're really, really excited. We've worked a lot with Durham Markets and the Market Place is a great place to find out how the demand is for your stuff and we wanted to give that platform to other people in a way that wouldn't be too costly for them, as well as sharing all these cool queer craftspeople with Durham."
Chris added: "The other side is that though Pride is great and they always put on a wonderful event, once the parade comes through the town you don't see or hear anything of it in the rest of the city. It's going to be great to have that in the Market Place and just spread the queer joy throughout the city."
Lastly, the couple have launched a pay-it-forward system, where customers can gift a monthly book of Chris and Miles' choice to someone in need, with the first The Trans Guide to Mental Health by Katy Lees. Miles said: "Whether it’s guides to mental health, identity and neurodiversity or highly anticipated new releases, we believe that everyone should have access to the books that bring them joy, and we hope that Gift-a-Book opens that door to more of Durham’s LGBTQ+ community than ever before."
For more information on BookWyrm and its newest chapter, visit the website or follow them on social media.
Where is your favourite independent bookshop in the North East? Let us know!
Read next
Independent bookshop specialising in women's words opens in Durham after starting from a van
Forum Books in Corbridge wins Independent Bookshop of the Year title - again
Whitley Bay breakfast spot slammed over 'poor taste' April Fool's Day joke
Hairy Biker 'keeps coming back' to award-winning Northumberland chippy
Man travels to Newcastle Beer and Cider Festival from Texas as Microbus crowned pub of the year
