Mostly accessible, lovely staff, fantastic books
3
3
Date of visit: March 2024
overall Rating Text
Average
This lovely old bookshop is a joy to visit, but there are problems if you need step-free access, there is a large mezzanine area upstairs which is not step-free and a wheelchair user is unable to browse in this area.
disabled Access In AndAround Text
Poor
For a wheelchair user it's difficult to get into the shop, the doors at the step-free entrance are heavy and stiff. It's easy to get around the ground floor. The step-free entrance is on the Trinity Street side of the shop. There is a lift to the upper floor, which has recently been refurbished and is in good condition. It's a tight fit but I think most wheelchair users would fit in. Stay well clear of the folding doors on the inside of the lift, they spring open and shut with remarkable speed and it would be unwise to obstruct them. On the first floor there is a large raised mezzanine area which does not have step-free access, but the very sweet staff are happy to fetch any books you'd like to look at if you can't access that area. Nevertheless, it is impossible to browse there if you can't get there, so that's only a partial mitigation of the lack of access to that area.
parkingTransport Text
0I don't know enough about public transport or parking arrangements in Cambridge to comment.
accessibleToilets Text
0There are no customer toilets of any kind.
staff Text
Excellent
The staff are delightful, friendly, courteous and helpful. Top-notch customer service. One of the staff made me laugh when I commented on the range of wonderful books available in this shop, and I added "I could bankrupt myself here!" - his response was a witty, tongue-in-cheek "Please go ahead!"
Additional Information
Check out the gorgeous ceilings and the mouldings around their edges. They are part of the pleasure of shopping here. Although the shop is very old, it has been recently refurbished and is very clean, smart and tidy: it's a pleasure to shop here.
