Here’s when you can get ‘poetry on prescription’ in York.
We reported back in October that The Poetry Pharmacy was set to open in York early next year, and now poetry lovers can know exactly when they can pick up their literary prescriptions.
The unique book and gift shop will open at 20 Coney Street, York, on Thursday 6 March 2026.
It will be open from Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm, and Sunday, 12pm to 6pm.
The Poetry Pharmacy is described as ‘part bookshop, part apothecary’ and stocks poetry and non-fiction titles curated according to emotional states – such as ‘Inspiration’, ‘Comfort’, and ‘Joy’.
It was founded by poet and editor Deborah Alma, along with partner and poet James Sheard, with its flagship store opening in Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire, in 2019.
A second location as a concession inside Lush Spa on Oxford Street, London, opened in 2023, and York will be the shop’s third location.
The York shop will aim to continue the Poetry Pharmacy’s vision to bring poetry and wellbeing to a vibrant community of readers, residents, and visitors, and will offer a dedicated retail space for poetry, literary non-fiction and wellbeing gifts.
There will also be ‘poetry consultations’; a programme of readings, workshops, and community events; and a Reading Room where visitors can browse and enjoy complimentary tea and coffee.
Number 20 Coney Street has stood empty for a few years, and was previously home to a Carphone Warehouse.
The Grade II listed building has an interesting literary connection, as Oxford Literary Guide to the British Isles states that famous poet Percy Bysshe Shelley stayed at 20 Coney Street in October 1811.
It says: “Shelley’s letters state that he was stayed at Miss Dancer’s, Coney Street, and from contemporary local newspapers that Miss Dancer was a haberdasher and perfumer on Coney Street.”
To find out more about the Poetry Pharmacy, visit their website here.
