October Books (Southampton)
October Books was established in the 1970s and was operated by the International Socialists (IS) for three years.
It then transitioned to being a cooperative of at least seven people, some of whom worked at the bookshop. Ian Lamming was a longstanding manager of the shop and retired in 2017.
The bookshop moved from Onslow Road to 243 Portswood Road in 2003, a move driven by the poor condition of the original building and the need for a better location.
October Books specialises in books on social issues, feminism, gender studies, humanities, and political issues and offers a range of general popular fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books from the UK, Europe, and America with the capability to order any book in print.
Additionally, it sells organic and fairtrade food, cleaning products, and greetings cards.
In 2018, the bookshop faced a significant rent increase and the team led by Clare Diaper sought new premises. The old NatWest bank on Portswood High Street became available, and with community support, £330,000 was raised to purchase the building.
October Books has over 100 members with around a third being young people, and several young adults are on its Committee. The bookshop maintains a strong connection with Southampton and Solent Universities.
In 2022, October Books began transitioning from a workers’ cooperative to a community benefit society, reflecting its commitment to community engagement and sustainability. They are members of the Alliance of Radical Booksellers.
Sources:
October Books Case Study, Power to Change website [https://www.powertochange.org.uk/evidence-and-ideas/case-studies/october-books/, accessed 25.06.2025]
October Books website [https://octoberbooks.org/pages/about-us, accessed 25.06.2025]
The Radical Bookseller, Issue 75, 1991
Radical Bookshops Listing, Radical Bookshop History Project (November 2023) [Available online here, accessed 25.06.2025]
