Citadel Books

When author and current Edinburgh Makar Alan Spence retired from his post as a professor of creative writing at the University of Aberdeen, he found himself in somewhat of a pickle; mostly because he needed a new work space and also because his flat was, qutie literally, bursting at the seams with books. He wanted somewhere to store and to pass on his beloved literary treasures but also to write, and then came the brilliant idea to combine the two.

Spence began Citadel Books, an independent bookshop, with the intention that he could use the office space in the back to write in the mornings and then open up the shop for fellow bookworms to peruse come the afternoon.

With the colourful Abbeyhill as its backdrop, and with its smorgasbord of indie coffee shops and studios popping up, it's a welcome addition to this up-and-coming area, and we at The Skinny are looking forward to the literary events and readings this wee nook can offer. Watch this space!