The owner of Kenilworth Books is celebrating 10 years since she bought the business, as the Talisman Square shop also reaches its 56th anniversary.

Over the past decade Judy Brook has taken the shop from strength to strength, with Kenilworth Books now well known for its friendly customer service, its eye-catching window displays and its wide range of literary events.

Having worked at a high street bank for over 20 years, and then as a teacher, Judy realised back in 2014 she wanted a change and decided she was going to run a business in Kenilworth.

After looking at a few premises locally, it was the bookshop that she had an instant affinity with. 

"After about eight years of teaching I decided it was time for a change and I started Googling businesses for sale in Kenilworth," Judy explained to Nub News.

"My husband and I had chatted about what a lovely place Kenilworth is, and wouldn't it be a great place to work and live. 

Kenilworth Books is well known for its eye-catching window displays (image by James Smith)

"We saw a B&B, a dry cleaners and the bookshop, and looked at a couple of empty shops - but it was always Kenilworth Books that we wanted.

"I think the lovely thing about the shop is the community side of it, that is what I love so much.

"I do love books and have always enjoyed reading.

"But it was the shop, running the events, getting to know the customers, getting involved in things locally that I wanted. So it was a perfect fit."

Before taking on the shop full time, Judy actually worked a few shifts to get a feel for the place, with her husband joking she was "buying it one book at a time" as she would return every Saturday having bought more to read.

Kenilworth Books was recently involved in Indie Publisher Day (image via Advent)

But since then, she has not looked back, and has worked to expand the business by building up a programme of events in the shop and by collaborating with other venues.

Kenilworth Books has worked with some really well known authors and illustrators over the years including Dan Snow, Cressida Cowell, Joanne Harris, Gyles Brandreth and David Dimbleby. 

And on the back of the very successful Indie Publisher Day this June, there are more events coming up over the rest of the year, including a night with Michael Palin in conjunction with Warwick Arts Centre.

"We have had to build our credibility over the last ten years to get bigger names," Judy explained. 

"But also we want to get as many local authors in as possible. 

"Having a combination of things is lovely and now we are at a point where we work with Warwick Arts Centre and we put on events in venues around Kenilworth and locally."

Kenilworth Books regularly hosts events with authors (image via Kenilworth Books)

As well as the bigger events, Kenilworth Books also hosts a monthly book club - born out of the pandemic - as well as regular Saturday Signings with local authors.

But in particular Judy highlighted how much the team enjoys running events in local schools, and bringing children's authors to Talisman Square.

"When I first started working in the shop, I was a bit surprised at how much the kids love meeting the authors," she explained. 

"You can see how an adult would like to meet their favourite writer, but I wasn't entirely sure how that would translate into kids. 

"But they absolutely love it, and it gives them a real sense that writing is a real job, illustrating is a real job, that is something you can aspire to be. 

"I'm not sure we class art as a job as much as we do other industries, so it is great to see that message getting out there."

And looking back over the past decade, Judy said she definitely made the right decision in buying Kenilworth Books.

"I enjoy the job as much now as I did then," she said. 

"Probably because the job changes all the time and has evolved and grown. 

"And the team here, we all love what we do, love the books and enjoy working with the authors. 

"I think book selling is such a lovely industry, it is creative and the people who come in the shop love coming here and the events. 

"You also get to know a lot of the customers, and it feels like Kenilworth Books is valued in the community. I am proud to think we make a difference locally."

To find out more about Kenilworth Books, head to the website here.

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