While the festive season can be one of the most joyful periods of the year, for many it can also be one of the loneliest - and it's becoming a bigger issue all year round. As we emerged from the pandemic, it came to light that many of us were experiencing feelings of loneliness and social isolation.
Data has shown that in total 45 per cent of adults in England feel occasionally, sometimes of often lonely, equating to 25 million people. Meanwhile, the number of over-50s experiencing loneliness is set to reach two million by 2025-2026.
Seeking to address this 'silent epidemic', the founder of law firm gunnercooke and its charity arm set about creating a space where people could connect, find contentment and settle down with a good book. The result is the House of Books & Friends - a purpose-led, independent bookshop, cafe and events space.
Based in the Manchester Club building - owned by developers Bruntwood - at the top of King Street in Manchester City Centre, it opened its doors just before Christmas and is aiming to combat loneliness by providing a space for local people to establish connections. The Grade II-listed building, which curves around to Spring Gardens, was once Manchester Reform Club - a site which boasts its own storied history.
The historic building was constructed in 1870-71 in a Venetian Gothic style, which can still be seen in the book shop's events space. Designed by architect Edward Salomons in collaboration Irish architect John Philpot Jones, it was originally built as the club house for Manchester's Liberal Party and was opened by then Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone in 1871.
Among its members were David Lloyd and Winston Churchill, the latter holding his victory speech for the Manchester North West seat on the Venetian balcony of the club in 1906. The club merged with The Engineers' Club in 1967 to form the Manchester Club due to low membership, before it eventually closed for good in 1988.
In the years since, it has been home to a variety of bars, shops and restaurants - and now the House of Book & Friends. As an avid reader himself, Darryl Cooke, founder of gunnercooke and the brains behind the new bookshop and cafe, could think of nothing better than the power of reading to connect people.
Commenting on the opening, Darryl said: "It’s well documented that loneliness is a pernicious issue in society, and we’re pleased to have opened ahead of the festive period at a time when many people can struggle. One hundred per cent of our profits go back into the organisation, so every purchase someone makes and every amazing event they attend means we can make a difference to those experiencing loneliness.
“We’re very much in a contract with the local community where we only exist because of them. It means there’s a real focus on quality, community service and being as supportive as possible if people are having a difficult time.”
While the shop will stock a wide range of fiction and non-fiction suitable for adults and children, the main focus will be on the events held throughout the year, which have been curated to bring people together. As well as 'meet the author' events, there will be a range of book clubs tailored to different social groups, music evenings, children's story time and talks hosed by charity partners.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News , Naomi Self, House of Books & Friends manager said: "Loneliness is a problem that's been growing in the past and one that grew massively during the pandemic and I think a lot more people are aware about it now and would like to help mitigate the problem. Buying books here means you can help us fund our social mission, which is to try and connect people using the medium of books and try and mitigate loneliness and social isolation.
"We’re excited to open our doors and begin establishing connections between members of the community and making a difference through the power of reading. We’re also looking to establish a real community hub and welcome approaches from groups who would like to host regular meetings or events which align with our values.
"We’ll also be providing online services such as virtual book clubs and subscriptions for those who can’t reach us in person or live far away.”
House of Books and Friends has also partnered with the charity Independent Age which offers regular contact and free impartial advice to those in society who are getting older and want to remain independent and live life on their own terms. The bookshop will serve as the home for their ‘Change Maker’ who will use it as a base to reach out to the local community and work alongside other organisations to help those who may be experiencing loneliness.
Naomi adds: "It's a really important thing because some people don't know where to start when they feel isolated or lonely. It's really important to find people who might be hidden in their community, in their local area, and help them find people and events to connect with. We're hoping that liaison will help people connect with us and find the right fit. Not everybody's loneliness or social isolation can be solved in the same way, so it's taking that tailored approach to giving assistance to people in a way that works for them."
Those wanting to ease themselves in before registering for a book club, social mixer or author event can simply pop in for a coffee and cake - or browse the bookshelves and beautiful events space at the back of the shop. Whether it's a brew and Biscoff brownie, an evening with your favourite author, or a just a chat with other book lovers - the message is clear, everybody is welcome here.
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