New queer and feminist bookshop opens in Bristol city centre

A new queer and feminist bookshop which sells books exclusively by women and non-binary authors has opened in Bristol city centre.

Aphra Books has opened in Sparks in Broadmead, which the owner hopes will become a ‘safe space for queer and feminist members of the community to feel seen’.

Owner Molly Masters founded Aphra Books six years ago, which until now has run online as a subscription box service.

“I’ve always wanted to have a physical space,” Molly said on opening the bookshop.

“I’ve always enjoyed the more intimate book clubs and smaller spaces where we can connect with our audience, so it was always my mission to bring that to life.”

“We’re one of very few queer bookshops in Bristol,” added the 26-year old who lives in Brislington and moved to Bristol from Dorset after studying English Literature at university in Brighton.

“It’s important for us to be identified as a queer-owned, feminist bookshop because people then know that everything in here is by a woman or non-binary author.

“We say ‘bestsellers, no fellas’. It’s a space where we have curated that specifically because it’s so important for woman to have that and especially women and queer writers to have a platform that they don’t usually get.”

Originally called Books That Matter, Molly renamed her company Aphra Books as a homage to 17th century writer Aphra Benn, who she says ‘brought women and especially the gay community together through her theatre, writing and activism’.

The bookshop owner even appeared on Dragons Den in 2022, where she turned down Dragon Touker Suleyman’s offer for 30 per cent of her business in exchange for his £50,000 investment.

As well as having regular book clubs, events and author talks at the space, Molly is also hoping to eventually open a library there.