Here is one alternative.
Blackwell's and the area it resides in.
This is the coffee shop of the much trumpeted Blackwell's bookshop in the Holborn area of London. Blackwell's has probably disposed of half its London floor space to reduce costs. The bookshops that remain are probably loss leaders maintained purely for brand awareness.
Blackwell sees itself as the 'serious' book chain and most of its branches are top be found in universities and museums. I picked up a loyalty card while I looked around. Blackwell's are now modest outlets that do not feel cramped despite their small size. I did not buy anything but felt inspired to visit their website which is where the money is made these days.
Amazon have recently turned full circle and opened their first bricks and mortar store that works in a similar way.
If we join Quidco from this site (and we should- it is free) we will receive ten percent cash back on everything we buy there.
Blackwell's used to be the finance and law bookshop. Evidence of this has largely gone from the shops as the company realise that minority interest books are better sold on-line. The thoughtful spirit lives on in other ways.
It is possible to receive on-line discounts, loyalty points and Quidco cash-back on the same purchases.
The chance meeting in a bookshop is a staple of the romance novel. There may even be some reality to it.
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