Atticus

Opened in 1974 by Tom Flemons and Liz Mac, Atticus was a bookshop and coffee bar specialising in plays, poetry, philosophy, politics, secondhand books and home to the famous Atticus chess club.

Its first premises was at 38a Clarence Street Liverpool, above the legendary Probe Records.

When Probe moved into the city centre, Atticus found larger premises on Hardman Street.

The bookshop began hosting readings with authors including William Burroughs, John Cage, Brian Patten, Michael Horowitz, Ramsey Campbell and Gilbert Shelton.

Due to financial difficulties, during the 1980s, Atticus focused on increasing their secondhand stock and relocated to smaller premises at 2a Hardman Street. One of the familiar faces of Atticus was a cardboard cutout of James Joyce.

The Liverpool shop closed in the 1990s.

During this period, a second Atticus bookshop was opened in Lancaster.

Manager Tom oversaw a Ghost writing competition, Dada Feast and writing group.

After closing in 2001, Tom returned in 2014 re-opening Lancaster’s Atticus as a not for profit shop supporting the Tasikoki Animal Rescue Centre in Indonesia.

Sources:

The Radical Bookseller, No. 75, 1991

Atticus Books: wonderful pictures of Atticus

To learn more about the history of Atticus Chess Club