Pen’rallt Gallery Bookshop: Bookshop Day 2020

Saturday 3 October 2020 is Bookshop Day across the nation, a time when many show their love for their local bookshop. To celebrate, we have teamed up with some amazing independent bookshops which we want to highlight. One of our bookshop partners is Pen’rallt Gallery Bookshop, or galeri a siop lyfrau pen’rallt in its native welsh.

Situated at the heart of the beautiful historic market town of Machynlleth, Wales, Pen’rallt Gallery Bookshop has become beloved by its local community since opening in May 2011. The dark navy-blue storefront with a modish interior is owned and ran by the ever-friendly Diane and Geoff.

Originally started as a second-hand bookshop; specialising in photography books, they have expanded their stock to a carefully selected range of titles across a wide range of subjects and specialist areas, including some new titles as well as books in both English and Welsh languages.

Along with its function as a bookshop, the space doubles as a gallery with a regular arrangement of artwork among its rooms. Self-proclaimed ‘photography-philes’, Diane and Geoff are keen on curating exhibitions and have previously worked with the nearby MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) Machynlleth (previously MoMa Wales) – just a few doors down! A unique feature, the bookshop also has a photographic dark-room available for hire, so photographers are able to develop their work (unfortunately, with social distancing restrictions in place this is temporarily unavailable).

One cannot visit Pen’rallt Gallery Bookshop without admiring the superb window displays; consisting of thought-provoking photos that are sure to draw the eye. Their latest exhibition ‘Behind the Mask’ showcased the work of Glenn Dene whose moving photographs offer a powerful glimpse into the NHS frontline response to COVID-19.

Though the bookshop keeps them busy, Diane and Geoff manage to organise and host numerous events including poetry and writing workshops which attract a dedicated following.

When the pandemic struck earlier this year, like many bookshops up and down the UK, Pen’rallt Gallery Bookshop was forced to shut its doors. Thankfully, we are glad to announce that it was able to reopened on 2 October.

If you are visiting mid Wales we firmly recommend a trip to Machynlleth and Pen’rallt Gallery Bookshop.

3 Glasfryn, Heol Penrallt, Machynlleth, Powys, mid Wales SY20 8AJ

Tel: 01654 700559

You can find out more about Pen’rallt Gallery Bookshop on their website: https://www.penralltgallerybookshop.co.uk

Read about our other bookshop partner Mostly Books, here.