Book Barn International in North Somerset

They advertised over a million books and this you will think was probably true, when you saw rack apon rack, some 12' high, of books disappearing into the distance. It was possible to spend hours in there just browsing the titles of mostly second hand books. For the most part they wer incredibly inexpensive - thousands went out at a £1 apiece. You could have bought yourslf over a years worth of reading for the cost of a new Waterstones paperback. One area, The Darwin Room contained rare, first edition and antique examples. Those cost a lot more. There was a well found cafe attached - veggie only though, so asking for a bacon butty got one a severe look. The books have, on a much reduce basis, relocated to a Midsomer Norton trading estate - much reduced

Visited with a friend to have a catch up, we sat in a comfortable seat and were served by very friendly staff, will return.

We have been here before and we're looking forward to browsing the books. However we were very disappointed. They claim to have at least 500k books but the ones on display are very limited. The science fiction and fantasy section has about 20 books. Seriously!! Most other bookshops have 4 or 5 times the amount. Very poor transport section too. This is a section that most other bookshops like because it sells really well. The books are quite jumbled up as well and need sorting properly. I found a book on samurai warfare in the British history section. It's also a pain to have to use a computer to find books in their warehouse (which incidentally are more expensive). I think they keep the decent books off the selves and hide them in the warehouse. I won't be returning. It's much better to visit the cinema bookshop in Hay on Wye.

I recently visited for the first time with my mother. She ordered 2 coffees and 2 flapjacks.. the coffee was so small I drank it in a few mouthfulls, the flapjack was awful, full of some kind of greasy fat and it cost her almost £12!!! Nice to go but wouldn’t eat or drink in restaurant again

You must not miss this place if you love books. There are thousands of books all at a £1 or 50pence for children's books. Don't expect to go away with nothing and give yourself plenty of time because you need the time to browse through the shelves of books. There is a superb café serves great breakfast ,things on toast, cakes. visit Farrington Farm shop up the road in Farrington Gurney excellent for children

We went in to the Full Stop Café for breakfast during a very busy period (Sat 21st) and we were so impressed with the customer service and overall "nothing is too much trouble" attitude. The knowledge around allergies was very re-assuring and for once I didn't feel awkward or a nuisance for checking (which I have done in other cafés) The vegan and veggie breakfasts were first class and the breakfast teas and coffees were served for us to enjoy while we waited for our hot food. The breakfast tea was a speciality tea (not a bog standard tea) and this is what I was hoping for in a cafe that prides itself on locally source produce and didn't just serve up the same old weak brew. Highly recommend the Book Barn!

ordered a tea and coffee. got served coffee and a herbal tea . spoke to staff who said could have a breakfast tea , then rude manager said herbal is all we serve so i said ok its horrible and never asked for it . over priced and badly run. 4.75 for tea and coffee. we left never to return.

i visited the book barn with my work, i have an allowance of £2.50 for coffee/tea. I was charged £2.85 for coffee and £2.25 for tea, call it what you will but i think thats extortionate, whatever are they thinking, my coffee/tea wasnt particularly very nice either. i visit alot of places with my job, and the Book Barn is the most expensive i have had the misfortune of paying throughout the whole of the Bristol area.

I live locally but never really knew that much about the place untill one of my friends a couple of weeks ago mentioned about coming here, she heard really good things about the food and that’s all I really needed. We arrived and I can’t tell you enough how lovely and accommodating the staff were to us. There was a minimum wait for food of atleast half an hour which we already thought it was going to be something like that as the cafe was extremely busy but it was perfectly fine with us because we were surrounded by so many beautiful books! They even have a Darwin room!. Which is full of rare books The food was Incredible! Couldn’t asked for better staff or food! Overall it was a brilliant experience!

We had lunch in the Book Barn restaurant and my only comment is EXCELLENT, food and staff were really lovely. Will be back for books and lunch.

For all lovers of second hand books; only a £1 a book. When you’ve finished browsing it has a vegetarian cafe selling hot food, salads and sandwiches, all made using local produce. Cafe has plenty of room with good sized farmhouse kitchen tables and a log burner. This is a barn so can feel cool in the winter months so wear a coat. Cafe very welcoming. Has a large car park.

It was truly amazing! I'm bieng serious; not a hint of sarcasim- really, it's awsome. here are a bunch of letters to fill up the character space: Mary hade a little lamb tittle lamb little lamb mary had a little lamb for all eternityyyyyy. Thank you, thank you!

Popped in here with a friend to look for a few books & have brunch. Got a parking place OK, but inside was very busy. My companion walks with two sticks, & was unsettled by children running around in the book rows. We did not find the books we were looking for, sadly. We did a physical search & a computer search with no luck. Contrary to impression given by advertising - not all books are £1. There seemed to be various 'gifts' & 'crafted' wares available to buy in a separate area. We did not stay for brunch as all the tables were full, & folk were waiting for tables to be free. It was very noisy, mainly from all the Mums with pre-school kids. We did read the menu, which looked to have a nice variety of limited choices at average prices. We will have to try again another time.

This time I bought 30 books, All at £1 each and you could stay here all day. It was lovely to see so many schoolchildren there, I spoke to one and she said she could live in the Book Barn and I have to agree. No one bothers you but they are there if you need help. Also there is another depository where they can search for any book you can’t see on the shelves. A wonderland for readers.

We have been here several times on our visits to Somerset and always find at least one book we want. A fantastic place to go to keep out of the bank holiday rain. We didn't eat anything but had a drink in cafe. The food looked good and was mainly vegetarian I think. A great place to while away a few hours surrounded by books!

The cafe is ok, but badly arranged. Tables are placed immediately in front of several bookshelves, which means that anyone eating or drinking has to cope with other customers trying to peer past them to inspect the book titles. Please try to rearrange the tables! As to the bookshop itself - well, there are certainly plenty of books, and at very reasonable prices. Unfortunately many have not yet been placed in very good order, which makes the search for any particular book a lengthy and frustrating business. The Book Barn has all the makings of an excellent place to visit, but I felt it had quite a way to go yet.

We thought we would pop in and see what this place was about. There is parking on site.

A friend and I met here for lunch, the food in the cafe was simple but very good. There is plenty of seating and the furniture is a quirky mix that makes for a cosy atmosphere.

All the books you could ever need. Row upon row upon row of them. Be prepared to lose a couple of hours here and to have a browse of everything! Most of the books are sorted into subject or alphabetically by author but some are in unsorted bays, which field a few surprises. Lots of choice - everything from new books to old classics. Ideal also if you like vintage books - lots of lovely, colourful penguins and puffins. A varied children's section and lovely little cafe too.

All the food here is vegetarian so if you need meat then it’s not for you! I found the meals to be very good value and served promptly. The staff are always happy and very helpful. I had fried eggs (cooked to perfection) on thick cut brown toast and my friend had a beautifully presented omelette with salad and coleslaw. We finished off with a huge slice of coffee cake each and some nice coffee. Couldn’t fault anything. All very nice and will return again.

A lovely place to sit back and relax, sit back and peruse a book you fancy before buying whilst enjoying a nice coffee/tea and a slice of delicious home made cake also good range of meals on offer. Take your old books for others to enjoy and choose from thousands of others on offer. A really interesting space with more than books to entertain you

Literally thousands of books, the vast majority for £1, a cafe and a rare books room...what more could you want?

If one is a book-freak, the book barn should definitely be avoided at half term when it takes on all the characteristics of a crèche. Obviously though it gets full marks for introducing children to books rather than a key pad and it's brilliant to see mums (no dads, - perhaps they were looking at the books?) encouraging this so wholeheartedly. The staff are exceptionally helpful too. The café serves up wholesome food and is somewhat reminiscent of the hippy cafes-in-bookshops of the 1960s so a happy trip into nostalgia there.

We were a little unfair - end of a rainy Good Friday and not much left in the cafe! Notices say that they are also about to do the cafe up and I am sure things will improve. The average rating is because, despite there being 3 people working in the cafe and the rush of customers having died down, they took ages first to take our order and then to bring it to us. I'm not a complainer, honestly, but they seemed unhurried and how long does it take to get 2 hot drinks and plate up 2 bits of cake? The sitting area was cosy and the book barn, well, you could spend many happy hours nosing around there! Bit on the chilly side (it is a big barn!) so dress warm. I'm sure we will go back again soon (£1 a book!) but may not bother with the tea.

Great atmosphere and very friendly staff! Would recommend to everyone. I found a really good book that I was looking for ages!

Went there with my wife & daughter on Saturday 28th of Jan 2018, nice selection of tables ideal for a small family to a large family which is always good, nice selection of Hot Drinks aswell as cold. Food is more aimed at vegans & vegetarians than people who arent.

I met a friend here for coffee/tea and a chat here today. The place was wonderful with many wonderful staff. However, as I had driven from near Portsmouth to Somerset, so I had left at 6.45am and arrived just before they opened at 10am, I was waiting for my friend at the door. A wonderful man saw me getting cold and said to come in- all the other staff had arrived and walked past me. This one member of staff was great. I asked him if I could use the loo while I waited (it had been a long morning!!) and he said of course and pointed out the way to me. Sadly, one of the two members of staff behind the café counter, who were starting to get it all ready this morning (15/12 and she had pierced nose and +++ ear piercings so the manager can see who it was), shouted at me that I should not be in the store yet. The young man with her looked a bit embarrassed- it was only 5 minutes early! The lovely male member of staff who had let me in came over and told her that it was fine and so I was able to stay. She didn’t apologise.

They advertise over a million books and this you will think is probably true, when you see rack apon rack, some 12' high, of books disappearing into the distance.

Well to wall books, breakfast, coffee, teas, sofas .... What is not to like!! There was such a buzz about the place, kids sitting in beanbags looking at books, us oldies sitting in couches passing the time of day between browsing !m

Relaxed atmosphere in cafe within the book barn ,you can use screens to search for books while you wait for drinks and food to be delivered . Good range of quality tea and coffee with delicious selection of home made cakes .

Fui con mi madre en un domingo por la tarde. Ambos nos vinimos con un número de libros cada una, cuatro libros de historia elegí mientras mi madre eligió un libro de cocina y un libro de historia para mi hermana. Almorzamos en el café,...

Qué agradable sorpresa descubrir este lugar para la mejor desayuno vegetariano, he comido en Somerset! El café fairtrade es fantástico y todo el menú es muy buena la relación calidad-precio.

Un granero lleno de libros de segunda mano, la mayoría sólo cuesta una libra! Un maravilloso lugar para pasar el tiempo y venga con algunos libros para curiosear. Puedes comer algo delicioso y café y sentarse y examinar las compras posible.

Si tienes un poco de tiempo libre, y están cerca y tienen una llamada en el café de la mañana con un poco de diferencia.

Me encontré con este sitio y tuve que parar. Aunque sólo había café en esta visita la comida parecía increíble. Este lugar es como una enorme biblioteca con libros a la venta por £1 cada uno, también veladas de música en vivo. Qué gran idea

This place is a bit hidden away, off the main road, but well signposted. There are thousands of secondhand books on sale here (also some gifts, cards and rugs) but there is also a lovely unassuming cafe here too. I had a tasty lunch of homemade goats cheese and tomato tart with a selection of salads...it was really delicious and flavoursome. They serve a selection of teas, coffees, soft drinks and cakes. Staff were friendly, welcoming and helpful. Lunch couldn't have been better!

We met rellies here after staying in The Old Railway Inn just a few hundred yards away. Nice little open plan cafe set at the end of the book shelves. Simple menu with vegetarian sausages but the humus sandwich was lovely.

I had a look around at the Book Barn and came across the cafe so I decided to have a sandwichfor lunch. Great service from the ladies and relaxed by the fire with a book in hand.

Have been coming here for years. Love browsing for books. Dog friendly they let the doggies come in and browse which i loved although i dont own a dog. Fab cafe serving a small but perfectly formed menu. I ate mushrooms on toast which was yummy. Coffee was good and the cakes are always good.Another plus is that the bookbarn is now heated no more frozen fingers turning pages.

Came to browse through their selection of books, ended up coming out with 8 all at £1 each so a great bargain if you're not to worried about the condition of the books.

brilliant place to grab a book at fantastic prices, or pop in for a coffee or a snack in comfotable lounge, and talk to very knowledgable staff on books you require or order,

Definately worth a visit here, most books are £1 including hardbacks and such a huge selection with very friendly and helpful staff. Lovely cafe, vegetarian and with homemade cakes, apple cake and tiffin was gorgeous. Highly recommend here, plenty of free parking, small childrens area.

The cafe is called the full stop which I found very amusing as it is in the largest book store that I have ever been into, the staff are very friendly and everything is cooked on the premises including the bread and cakes, very clean and you can sit by a large log fire if that suits you.

Visited for a casual lunch and was very impressed with the care and choice of gluten free - lovely to have such knowledgable staff. And books - so many books, all for a pound each! Heaven!

What a find! We were mesmerised for a good hour or more, time flew by while perusing the vast bookshelves. Such a bargain - even hardbacks, cookbooks, old and new for ONE POUND. Needless to say, we got carried away. The cafes menu is vegetarian and they've got a good selection of cakes and drinks. Well worth a visit.

We enjoyed a cool drink and a snack when we visited on a very humid day.We were quickly served and the place was clean and tidy.

If I were to summarise The Book Barn by order of descriptive text, I would say it reminds me of a cool library (not sure if those two words have ever been plotted together before) from the 1960’s where your day can float by in the blink of an eye, as you are submerged into a world of fantasy, fact & fiction.OK, the purpose of The Book Barn is to sell used books for £1 each, although this isn’t done in a Carpet Showroom manner, where you are stalked, pressurised & made to feel awkward as you browse… oh no; this is a fantastic experience where you can mooch & meander through thousands of books in the comfort of your own time.If you find a book that interests you, why not sit in one of the many chairs around the premises & flit through the pages. To be honest, you could probably read the whole book without feeling you have outstayed your welcome.A huge recommendation & probably an area more relevant to Trip Advisor is the café. Keeping in line with the laid back feel, you can sit & read, talk, use the free WiFi, or stare pleasantly into space as you indulge in a host of delights such as soup, cake, coffee, tea & other such items that are very reasonably well priced & if I were to take an educated guess, I would say the food is all home-made.With ample parking on the cusp of Bristol & Bath, this is a must for all book lovers.

If you are in this area, it is raining and you enjoy a book, then this is a must for you.Thousands of books, all at £1 each, set out in categories for your enjoyment. There is a children's section with toys and a cafe where you can find some very nice food.If you go on a cold day there is a big woodburner with squashy sofas around it. As you sit and take refreshments your eyes will wander to the bookshelves that surround you, and you will probably add to your stash as we did!A lovely and special place, with free wi fi and very helpful and friendly staffThank you

The book barn has an incredibly pleasant atmosphere with more books than you've ever seen before in your life! You can find almost anything and it's all incredibly reasonably priced - £1 each! And if you can't find the one you're looking for amongst the shelves you can pretty much grantee they'll find it amongst their vast warehouse. With a pleasant little café and free wi-fi, it's well worth a visit.

I was here at the weekend passing through on my way to WSM and stopped in (having meant to stop in for the past few years!) After spending what seemed like hours in the aisles we had a quick coffee and cake in the café.Well priced and very nice - a good chance to start reading our new books.

A massive warehouse with shelves packed with books all for £1each and when you need a break there is a little cafe serving meat free food. The menu looks light but this belies the quality. I had tomato & lentil soup, £3.95, it was packed with vegetables and with the chunks of seeded wholemeal bread lasted me all day as did the cheese on toast for my friend.We arrived at 10am and left at 4pm a lovely day out and yes our bookshelves are fuller now