Our Mimi and The Mountain Dragon windows!

Main entrance to our bookshop and cafe, with Helen at work

This year we were honoured to have super talented author/illustrator and friend of Mainstreet, Helen Stephens paint all five of our front windows. She has transformed our shop front into the wintry Alpine world of her new book, Mimi and the Mountain Dragon, her latest collaboration with another firm friend of Mainstreet, Michael Morpurgo. Click the link below for more...

Everyone's talking about...

GIRLS!
Not That Kind of Girl 
by Lena Dunham

A funny, poignant and frank collection of essays from the acclaimed writer/director/star of HBO's hit series 'GIRLS'. Lena Dunham offers brutal wit and stumbled upon self-awareness from the eyes of an honest young woman. This book is the most blogged about, most instagrammed 'IT' book of the moment and a sure fire win for twenty-something women in search of imperfect wisdom.


Theo Decker

The Goldfinch 
by Donna Tartt

The long awaited third book from Donna Tartt caused all kinds of excitement to ensue when it was released last year. The endeavours of perilous Theodore Decker and his Carel Fabritius missing masterpiece continue to be hot topic several months later. Tartt's characters are becoming household names, they have exceptional hold on you long after you put down the book. Full of big, complicated ideas beautifully constructed and passionately portrayed.

Mitchellian Charm
The Bone Clocks 
by David Mitchell

Metaphysical twitching, genre switching, narrative jumping, soul cycling. David Mitchell delivers a supreme free-wheeling exercise in first person narrative, telling the story of one woman's life through those that encounter her. This book begs to be taken apart, read twice and put back together again just to fully appreciate Mitchell's stylistic prose. A real feat of complex storytelling that will satisfy fans of 'Cloud Atlas'.

Good Art vs Bad Art

Playing to the Gallery
by Grayson Perry

While the majority artists manifesto's are an expression of personal taste or artistic beliefs, this book from self proclaimed 'Essex transvestite potter' Grayson Perry, turns this formula on its head. Based on his hugely popular series of Reith Lectures, Perry breaks down the taboos of the art establishment and encourages us to pose such questions as "Is art still capable of shocking us?" and "What happens if you  place a piece of art in a rubbish dump?" Full of  hilariously truthful illustrations and thought provoking comments on contemporary art today.

DELI OF THE YEAR 2014

Proud winners! - Vivian, Phillippa, Bill, Rosamund and Shaun in our deli

The Mainstreet Trading Company

DELI OF THE YEAR 2014

UK and Ireland

We are so proud to hold the title DELI OF THE YEAR 2014, awarded by the Farm Shop and Deli awards in association with Olives Et Al. To gain such recognition after only 2 years of business is a truly rewarding achievement for Bill and his team. Huge thank goes to all of our brilliant suppliers, producers and wonderful customers for making our deli such a success!

Welcome Back!

Andy McNab hiding in the shelves

After a temporary hiatus, THE MAINSTREET PRESS is back in the blogosphere! We welcome you back to our little online space with a quick catch up. Here is a quick round up of some of 2014's highlights so far...

To Autumn...

 Crab Apple, Golden Spire Apple, Rosehips, Haw and Rowan Berry

After a long and hazy summer, the season of 'Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness' is finally upon us - great news for the Kitchen team at Mainstreet! This week has seen vinegar vapours, sugary spoons and many a jar filled with jewel coloured relishes. And we've been foraging for treasures at home too, Vivian and Phillippa braved the thorns to gather all kinds of hedgerow goodies. Vivian made delicate Rosehip Syrup - (brilliant for adding to cakes and puddings) as well as super delicious Sloe Gin (despite limited berries on the Sloe bushes this year). And Phillippa gathered windfall Crab Apples, Rosehips, Haws and Rowan Berries to make Hedgerow Jelly - (great with cheese!)

Books Are My Bag

                             BOOKS ARE MY BAG                                             Last week, the Mainstreet Hare had a makeover...                                                                                                                                 The book selling world has gone ORANGE! Saturday the 14th of September saw the launch of a very exciting new campaign, kicking off with a Big Bookshop Party in celebration of bookshops everywhere! The first 50 people through our doors got a BOOKS ARE MY BAG tote bag and a free publishers proof, plus our team was of course on hand to offer advice and booky recommendations! There was a fair amount of cake involved too...

BOOKSARE MY BAG gallery - Clockwise L-R: Phillippa and our BAMB window, Scottish rugby legend Chris Patterson and Vivian's son Mully, MSP John Lamont shows his support, Vivian's frosted ginger cake, Super cool team of bikers en route to Lands End, A very orange table of goodies, lovely author Barbara Mellor, Bill's Late Summer Salad.

From Mainstreet, to Market...

Once upon a sunny Monday, Bill and Shaun left sleepy St Boswells, and headed for the busy streets of London - in search of Jamón and Cheese...

Humble By Nature

“I’ve spent a large part of my working life being upstaged by animals and although this book is ostensibly about the joys – and perils – of rescuing a farm, it is also a warning to anyone who loses their heart to a mongrel.  You will never be the centre of attention again.” - Kate Humble

In 2007, after nearly twenty years of living in London, Kate Humble and her Husband Ludo packed their bags and left the noisy city streets for the muddy hillsides of The Wye Valley. They rescued a smallholding from near closure, re-built it to its former glory and set up a rural skills and animal husbandry school alongside it. And is if that wasn't enough, Kate has continued to win her way into the nations hearts with her various TV projects and documentaries. 

"In A Shop With Books In..."

The Bookshop Band

@TheBookshopBand just had a customer in talking about last night - 'I'm lost for words...' (in a good way!).

— Mainstreet Trading (@mainstreethare) June 23, 2013

This tweet is the only way we could think to describe our evening with 'The Bookshop Band'! The supremely talented, (and equally charming) Somerset three piece, delighted our SOLD OUT audience with a whole library of bookish melodies and witty tales of bookshops past. All washed down with scrumptious Paella (made by Shaun and Vivian with game from Burnside Farm Foods, and seasonal local vegetables) and a pint or two of Foxy Blonde Ale from The Scottish Borders Brewery.

'Be Inspired' - We Are Reading

Circus & Other Stories BY SAMUEL MARSHAK

Reviewed by Rosamund

This newly translated collection of Russian stories was originally published in the 1920's. Each page is filled with a magical combination of fiction, poetry, painting and typography, based on the idea that children's picture books are valuable cultural objects in their own right.

The Set Table BY HANNAH SHUCKBURGH

Reviewed by Phillippa

If like me, you find endless pleasure in setting a table for an evening with

friends, you will love this collection of inspiring and resourceful ideas from

stylist and writer Hannah Shuckburgh. This thoughtfully put together book

celebrates the sharing of meals with loved ones, and the beauty in even the

smallest of gatherings.

The Great Gatsby BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD

Reviewed by Phillippa

As Baz Lurhman’s eagerly anticipated blockbuster has just hit the sliver screen, the

charm of F. Scott Fitzergerald 1920’s classic is set for a major revival. Re-live

the furtive charm of Jay Gatsby and the vulnerability of Daisy Buchanan, in

their timeless Jazz age love story.

Granny Torrelli Makes Soup BY SHARON CREECH

Reviewed by Vivian

One of my favourite children's stories to read aloud at bedtime. The wonderful Granny Torrelli, with the best Italian/American accent I could muster, solves her young grand-daughters problems while they chop veg for the evening meal. A joy to read & a heart-warming story too, what more could you ask for?