Stock includes rare copies of Jane Austen novels, a 1700s copy of Paradise Lost and plenty on Liverpool’s history
12:51, 09 Nov 2025Updated 12:53, 09 Nov 2025
Gina Aldous, 59, and Steve Aldous, 61 in Aldous Books (Image: Aldous Books )
A paradise for book worms, antiquarians or anyone seeking a quiet moment in the city centre is Aldous Books. Fittingly housed within central Liverpool’s oldest surviving building, The Bluecoat, the small tucked-away shop sees leather-bound books, centuries-old classics and rare signed copies fill its wooden shelves.
A labour of love, the bookshop has been family-run for over twenty years, most recently by couple Gina and Steve Aldous who took over from previous owners Kernaghan Books in April 2024.
Having met while working as intensive care nurses, the couple both still work second jobs alongside running the shop with Steve now spending some of his days tracking down literary treasures from collectors across Merseyside.
Inside Aldous Books (Image: Ray Bonsall/Liverpool ECHO )
“I always wanted to circle back to books,” says Steve, 61, who studied English and now works in clinical trials.
Among some of the rarest the shop has held are a 1750s copy of John Milton’s Paradise Lost, worth around £4000, Gustave Doré illustrations from the 1870s and early and rare editions of Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and Charlotte and Emily Bronte novels.
Other collector’s items include 1930s Penguin Classics as well as books from the Folio Society with the store spanning everything from literature, non-fiction, art and politics to natural history and religion with a focus on rare and antiquarian books.
Books on a shelf in the store (Image: Ray Bonsall/Liverpool ECHO )
“You don’t get time to yourself but it’s invigorating. We both love our day jobs but running a bookshop is new and exciting. You wear a lot of hats – the accountant, stock taker, health and safety, paying the electric bill. It’s a bit like running another house”.
A seven day work week hasn’t dampened the couple’s spirits and their new found careers as booksellers has driven them to open another store in Chester too.
The store also runs author events and its atmospheric wooden shelving and cosy antique-styled reading nook have been the backdrop to various film productions too.
A cosy reading nook at the back of the shop (Image: Aldous Books )
“The joy is that in our small way we are helping to educate the people of Merseyside,” says Steve.
“Sometimes someone will come in 25 times asking for a particular book. They’ll be so delighted when we manage to get it in. I’ll say ‘leave it with me’ and I’ll go and look for it – the thrill is in the chase”.
Gina and Steve now have around 25,000 books in their collection with a constant stream in and out of their hands. “Before you had to ask the owner to reach certain copies but we have the store so that you can fully browse” says Steve.
Mostly focusing on pre-loved collections of everything from classic literature to cartography, a table dedicated to Merseyside authors sees some modern books including from children’s author, Jude Lennon and fiction writer Estelle Maher.
There is also a plenty dedicated to Merseyside’s history and present with maritime books and books on the slave trade with much of Liverpool’s wealth having come from slavery.
“We’re still learning”, says Steve. “Sometimes I’ll meet people who have been collecting for thirty years and I’ll feel like a novice again but I think it seeps into your blood over time”.
“You feel like a custodian. It’s like we’re looking after these books for the next generations. Sometimes they have little notes in like ‘to my darling wife’- it’s a little bit of history”.
A note inside a copy of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens(Image: Ray Bonsall/Liverpool ECHO )
“The beauty of The Bluecoat is people come for lots of things – music repair shops, art, jewellery makers. We’re happy and proud to be part of the creative community”.
Aldous Books can be found in The Bluecoat, School Ln, Liverpool L1 3BX.