A Destination Bookshop

a homely refuge and social hub

Nestled (or hidden), as we are, equidistant between Matlock Bath and Wirksworth – even within the tiny village of Cromford itself, the bookshop is somewhat tucked away, overlooking the pond – we are not necessarily the kind of place you just happen to stumble upon but more of a ‘destination bookshop’; one that you decide to seek out, to deliberately pay a visit to and we do our utmost to show our appreciation for your efforts by attempting to give you the ‘compleat (sic) bookshop experience’. This shouldn’t just be another retail experience, where you pop somewhere to pick up a necessity, but rather somewhere you come to savour, to escape to – to enjoy. 

We are not perfect, far from it. When books are coming through our doors at an alarming rate (which is often), we can be more than a little untidy, and finding what you are after can sometimes feel like something of a quest, but we try our very best. And we want you to feel relaxed, to be a part of what Dave Mitchell, our semi-retired proprietor, describes in our video as “a sort of museum that visitors are allowed to buy a little piece of”.

You will never feel pressured to have to buy something (though of course it’s always welcomed if you do) by pushy staff (we have a WONDERFUL team). I hope you will always get a warm welcome and we are always bursting with advice and recommendations should you choose to seek it. But if you would rather curl up quietly in an armchair somewhere (the Art Room is a particular favourite of many regulars) with a book or two to look through, then please do just that. Or perhaps you are here to meet friends and have a natter over a cuppa and a slice of cake in our wonderful vegetarian cafe – what could be nicer?

There are always events planned – author signings, interest group meetings, discussion groups, etc – and you can find out more by viewing our ‘What’s On’ board on the ground floor or by checking this website or our social media pages.

Over the fifty years we have now been trading we’ve built up an incredibly loyal customer base and it’s often recommendations from frequent visitors that brings in the new. 2015’s Crowd Funding campaign to raise money for urgent building work was an incredible – and deeply humbling – reminder of how well loved Scarthin Books has become and we are deeply appreciative of the continued support our customers give, especially in a troubled climate for retail, and for bookshops in particular. However, we continue to thrive and the years 2023-2025 saw the sharpest rise in takings for many, MANY years and we plan to be a fixture of Cromford and a destination for book lovers for at least another fifty years.

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David Booker, General Manager (2025)