About us
(and FAQs).
Opened in 2021 and formerly known as Glass House, The Common Press is a proudly Black queer and trans-led, consciously intersectional bookshop and café celebrating writing by LGBTQ+ authors, Black authors, people of colour and the wider Global Majority. We became a Community Interest Company (CIC) in July 2024 and opened our second location in Dalston in June 2026.
Since launching, we’ve gone from strength to strength, receiving warm reviews in the national media and collaborating with an incredible range of performers, musicians, artists and writers. Together, we’ve built a space that serves marginalised communities across London through literature, arts and culture.
Above all, we’re grateful to the communities in Shoreditch and Dalston who have embraced The Common Press as a third space and a sanctuary to connect, feel at home and find belonging. Our community and supporters make everything we do possible.
If you have any questions about the project, please get in touch or scroll down, we may have already answered them below!
FAQs:
What are your opening times?
The bookshop is open Tuesday - Sunday from 11 am to 6: 30pm. We are open from 7pm until late for a range of events and private hire. Sadly our events space is currently under construction and not available.
Can I run an event with you?
Absolutely! We run a huge range of events: book launches, club nights, private parties, burlesque lessons - you name it! You can find out more about working with us here.
Is The Common Press wheelchair accessible?
The Common Press bookshop is entirely wheelchair accessible and also has accessible toilets. Unfortunately, the events space is in the basement and is not currently wheelchair accessible. We are actively exploring solutions for this. A lot of our events take place in the bookshop if you aren't sure whether an event is wheelchair accessible, drop us an hello@commonopressbooks.com
Is The Common Press dog friendly?
Yes. Both service animals and pets are welcome throughout the site.
I have published a book. Can you stock it?
The Common Press stocks a lot of books from small and independent presses and self-published authors. All stocking decisions are at the discretion of the manager - please get in touch using the, and include as much information about your book as possible.
I would like to work at The Common Press. Do you have any vacancies?
We aren't able to update this page with openings in real time - it's a good idea to keep an eye on our instagram page where we usually post about hiring, or send us an email with a cover letter and CV attached. We don't always have time to respond to unsolicited emails, so if you don't hear back from us within two weeks unfortunately we don't have a suitable position for you at this time, but your CV will be kept on file in case one opens for as long as data protection permits.