As Oxford is the home of world-renowned book chains Blackwell’s and Waterstone’s, the city’s literature fans are in a good place.

And with the arrival of Daunt Books in Summertown last year, there is now even more choice for readers.

But other smaller players in the bookselling game have managed to survive the coronavirus crisis and are taking steps to stay competitive.

Back in November 2019, before the pandemic struck, Jake Pumphrey opened The Book Stop in Magdalen Street, between Costa Coffee and the Randolph Hotel.

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Now he and Nick Walsh, the owner of The Last Bookshop in Walton Street, Jericho, have launched a new online bookshop billandbenbooks.co.uk.

Mr Pumphrey, 53, who lives near Faringdon, said: “The pandemic had forced many businesses to think creatively in order to survive.

“These challenging times motivated us to set up this new way for customers to buy books online.

“We provide a cheaper alternative to many online book retailers and I think this new sales channel is a very positive development for our business.”

The reduction in footfall due to the coronavirus restrictions motivated the pair to develop the website where customers could buy direct from them online.

Mr Pumphrey and Mr Walsh have access to a wide range of stock from their wholesale business which they run out of their warehouse near Steventon near Abingdon.

This sustainable initiative recycles books that the publishing industry has finished with - office copies, returns, remainders and samples.

Long-term residents of Oxford will recall Pumpkin Books in Gloucester Green, established by Mr Pumphrey in 1994.

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Since that beginning, Mr Pumphrey and Mr Walsh have operated their business from a series of pop-up and permanent shops all over Oxford.

Jake Pumphrey outside The Book Stop in 2019

Jake Pumphrey outside The Book Stop in 2019

They also have a shop in Park Street in Bristol.

Recently the pair have been building up their collection of second-hand books, largely stocked from local house clearances.

They are known for their eclectic collection of quality titles, all at reduced prices - The Last Bookshop sells secondhand books but The Book Stop does not.

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Mr Pumphrey added: “In one sense we are competing with the likes of Blackwell’s but in another way we are not because we are catering for a different market. The more bookshops there are in one town or city the better as its reputation as a place for books grows - like Hay-on-Wye, which is teeming with bookshops.”

Mr Pumphrey said he and Mr Walsh were now preparing to reopen their bookstores on April 12, when non-essential shops will be allowed to reopen under the Government’s plan to ease coronavirus restrictions.

Jake Pumphrey at The Last Bookshop in 2014

Jake Pumphrey at The Last Bookshop in 2014

Pubs and restaurants will be allowed to reopen outside.

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He added: “The lockdowns have been difficult for everyone and we really hope this one is the last. It takes a couple of years for a bookshop to get established - we are looking forward to reopening.”