Shop of the Week: Bloom & Curll

Venturing in to Bloom & Curll feels like walking in to someone’s home. The books seem to be in disarray, but there is order in the chaos; a stack of children’s books sits in a corner next to a selection from the Brontë sisters. Jason Beech, the owner, sits behind his desk sipping a cup of tea, completely surrounded by books. Before, starting Bloom & Curll he worked as a dressmaker, and now he uses these practical skills for bookbinding, which he does in the back of the shop.

Bookbinding is offered in-store to repair old and damaged books

When looking for a space in Bristol to open the shop he came across what would eventually become Bloom & Curll. “It was literally a white cube and a great big sign saying ‘For Rent’.” Luckily, he’s never had to move location thanks to getting a good deal from his landlord.”You don’t hear good stories about landlords usually. I think I just got very lucky!” This has allowed him to run the business as he wants, rather than focusing on making money.

The first couple of years were a struggle to get the shop off the ground and Jason couldn’t afford to rent a flat as well as the shop. “Essentially I live here and I did live here for 3 years. I’d sleep in the back.” The area where he now binds books used to be his bedroom. The shop itself is extremely small, you can barely move without bumping in to some shelving, so the idea of living here shows Jason’s dedication.

A customer walks in, picks out a book and goes up to the desk. Jason chats to him like an old friend and offers him a chocolate from a bowl in front of him. It’s easy to see why people become regular customers here, there’s no pressure to buy, the whole process is relaxed; it all seems a world away from your typical Waterstones.

There is a large stock of new and second-hand books

Bloom & Curll very much feels like a reflection on Jason as a person, the whole shop is understated and welcoming. “Bookshops are one of those places where you can go in and not necessarily have to buy. You can stop and have a chat and not feel too commercial about it. It’s a free space where you hang about. People just come in for a chat and a cup of tea.”

He takes great care with the shop making it how he would want a bookshop to be. “I guess people like that because when you walk in it does feel more personal, more considered.” The shop is also wonderfully old school, the walls are white and the shelves mismatched, because all that matters to Jason are the books. The stock is also personal to Jason. “Because I’ve picked everything, I pretty much know that I like it and that means that someone else should like it.”. His taste dictates the stock and from a browse of the shop his tastes must be very varied. Bloom & Curll stocks a bit of everything, from poetry to science to politics and everything in between.

He says that “people always come in with interesting book tales to tell you or reasons why they like such and such.” Jason takes these suggestions from his customers, stocking what they find interesting, expanding further the range that he offers. All of his books are on display at all times, if he has any extra then they are stacked in the corner as he has no stockroom.

There is a corner dedicated to a wide array of children’s books

Jason looks at the internet as a useful tool rather than the threat that it appears as to many. “The flipside of the internet killing books, which it hasn’t, is that now I don’t have to advertise . If you type in ‘Bristol bookshops’ you’ll find me on a blog. Well, it’s good unless they say something bad, but it’s a bookshop so what can they say.” If you give Bloom & Curll a search online you can see what he means, with bloggers raving about the tiny independent store.

Jason seems content with Bloom & Curll saying that the pace is sufficient “that it doesn’t really feel like work still.” Indeed, it doesn’t feel like a shop, but instead seems more like a meeting place for the community. You can pop in for a cup of tea, to chat with Jason about books or simply to take a break from the world. In modern-day Bristol these places are becoming increasingly rare, so next time you’re looking for a good book go and have a chat to Jason.

Bloom & Curll
74 Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5BB
07718 597761