City Books

City Books occupies two floors on Western Road in Hove, run by Paul and Inge Sweetman. The shop stocks fiction, poetry, children's books, cookery and a dedicated section of titles about Brighton and Sussex. Regular evening events have brought authors including Nick Cave, Grayson Perry, Mary Beard and Caitlin Moran to talk with local readers. Locals voted it the best shop in Brunswick, and it has been shortlisted twice for the national Independent Bookshop of the Year award, winning Muddy Stiletto's Best Bookshop in Sussex in 2018. Staff handsell across genres and keep a deep stock of local-interest and children's titles for browsing regulars who return through the week.