2024 marks 25 years of Goldsboro Books.
25 years of selling beautiful books, championing new authors and growing our much-loved book clubs.
If you’ve ever wondered about Goldsboro Books' history and how we came to be, let us take you on a journey from opening our first shop down a gas-lit pedestrian-only street in London to creating our renowned book festivals and literary awards and much more.
Who is Goldsboro Books?
We are a small but mighty team with a global fan base.
We are the only bookshop in the world that specialises in signed, hardback first editions (as well as rare and collectables).
We have two shops in the Laines in Brighton and our flagship store in London, situated on the famous Diagon Alley-inspired Cecil Court. Our seamless online store offers 24-hour service. Our passionate and knowledgeable team hand-picks a carefully curated range of books, providing everything from hard-to-find collectables to brand-new signed first editions from future bestsellers.
We are the creators of PREM1ER, the original book subscription box, the home of the renowned Glass Bell Award, and the team behind London’s annual Capital Crime Festival.
Where did it all begin?
In 1999, two friends and book collectors, David Headley and Daniel Gedeon, formed Goldsboro Books. Their reputation for spotting quality books early on and their expert eye on future collectables helped transform Goldsboro into the world-famous and much-admired bookshop it is today.
Their first bookstore on the famous Cecil Court opened in London in 1999, and 20 years later, in 2020, they opened their Brighton store.
One of our pivotal moments arrived in 2013 when we were the only bookshop in the World to have signed copies of The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith, who of course turned out to be none other than J.K.Rowling. At the time of publication we did not know the true identity of the author, we simply chose the book on its own merit. We had 250 copies, and we continued to sell them at cover price when we could have sold them for many thousands of pounds each. Newspapers worldwide heard about this, and Goldsboro Books was on the front page of many newspapers, including the Sunday Times. We featured on radio and television news bulletins.
Pioneering book clubs
Goldsboro pioneered the original book subscription box and still remains a leader when it comes to uncompromising quality and collectability.
PREM1ER was launched in 2005, offering book collectors and fiction readers a new way to find treasured books and future bestsellers. PREM1ER breaks free from mainstream initiatives, offering readers diverse genres and unique editions..
Our GSFF book club launched in 2020 due to the rising demand for fantasy fiction and Sci-Fi. This club is so popular that it has a waitlist and it helps raise the profile of emerging talents in the genre.
Each month, the Goldsboro team aims to find the most incredible page-turners for our GSFF and PREM1ER book clubs. We prioritise passion over what’s trending, only choosing books we truly love and expect to be well received. And the results speak volumes…
- 10 out of 12 PREM1ER choices became Sunday Times bestsellers in 2023
- 7 out of 12 GSFF choices became Sunday Times Bestsellers in 2023
Not only do our subscribers get a curated hardback fiction book delivered to their door each month, which inspires them to keep reading, but they also benefit from unique discounts that they can use in-store or online, regular exclusive author content, prizes and giveaways, and, of course, collectible books that are treasured items.
Flagship events that inspire and connect
It’s not just bookselling that Goldsboro is famous for…
We also host an array of exciting events and workshops, often a sell-out success, from exclusive author launch parties to community initiatives and even festivals.
History in the Court annually celebrates historical fiction that brings authors and readers together.
Fantasy in the Court brings together top fantasy authors and enthusiasts each year for a much-loved event in the inspiring surroundings of Cecil Court.
Goldsboro Writing Academy. Offers a nurturing space dedicated to supporting aspiring authors, guiding them from the initial concept to the completion of their final draft.
Capital Crime Festival
Capital Crime welcomes the world’s favourite authors and filmmakers to London for a fresh and innovative festival. We bring the best of everything crime and thriller to fans for an engaging three-day weekend event that grows in strength (and numbers!) each year.
Accessibility underpins our festival strategy. We offer heavily discounted tickets for low-income individuals and key workers, and our Capital Crime Social Outreach initiative aims to demystify the publishing world. This initiative provides state-funded students with free day passes to attend Capital Crime, full access to all the panels, and the opportunity to meet established authors and publishing professionals.
Home of The Glass Bell Award
Goldsboro’s renowned Glass Bell Awards is the only award that showcases books from all genres.
Launched in 2018, the award receives national attention and showcases authors we feel deserve the spotlight. Over the years, we’ve seen some remarkable authors win or be shortlisted, many of whom became bestsellers.
Confessions of a Book Collector
In 2022, we launched Confessions of a Book Collector. The podcast emerged from a desire to deepen connections with our audience. It has become a powerhouse in driving awareness of books by featuring interviews with both rising and acclaimed authors, insider glimpses into the publishing world, and book recommendations.
With an uptick in monthly episodes in 2023, it proudly claimed a spot in Buzzsprout's top 25%, showcasing its impactful reach and resonance within our community.
The Heart of Goldsboro Books: Our Team
At the core of Goldsboro Books lies our dedicated team of book enthusiasts.
They genuinely care about books, about Goldsboro Books, and our loyal readers, many of whom regularly turn to them for personalised book recommendations (some of whom have been visiting our shops for 25 years!).
What started with two passionate readers is now a 17-strong independent team.
Thank you to our loyal customers, dedicated staff, and vibrant book community, which have made Goldsboro Books a cherished institution. Here’s to the next 25 years.
