The Booksellers Association, the membership organisation for booksellers in the UK & Ireland, is welcoming Day’s Books and Records, a new independent book and record shop located in the heart of Forest Row village, East Sussex.
The shop – offering a carefully curated selection of new and used books and vinyl records, celebrating literature and music from the past, present and future – will officially open its doors on Saturday 11 October at the former butcher’s shop in Lower Square.
Owned and operated by Fergus Day, Day’s Books and Records is the realisation of a long-held ambition. Fergus spent over a decade at Dorling Kindersley publishers, progressing from researcher to book editor, before moving into digital content development, project management and academic editing.
His work enabled him to travel extensively as a digital nomad in Sri Lanka, Costa Rica and Italy. Returning to the UK, he was inspired by industry changes, including AI advancements, to reconnect with his passion for analogue media, literature and music.
Since early 2025, Fergus has researched and planned the venture, testing the concept through pop-up shops at fairs and festivals, which received very positive feedback.
After exploring potential locations in the South East and South West, he chose Forest Row for its vibrant creative community of artists, academics, musicians and writers.
Fergus said: “My aim with Day’s Books and Records is to create a space that champions popular culture, the natural world, folk and myth, and counterculture alongside a broad range of fiction.
“I want to curate a collection that is unique, creative, conscious and inclusive, blending new and second-hand titles to celebrate forgotten works and expand horizons.
“The shop will offer an antidote to the data-driven digital age, nurturing creativity and reminding us all of the enduring wisdom found in books and music.”
Amy Bradley, interim membership manager at the Booksellers Association, added: “Day’s Books and Records and Fergus’s vision exemplify how modern bookshops continue to evolve into vital cultural hubs – places that not only connect readers with books but also serve as dynamic catalysts for the creative industries.
“Independent shops like these play a crucial role in nurturing local talent, fostering community and spreading the inspiration that fuels art, music and literature.”
