The Gently Mad Book Shop & Bookbinder

★★★★★

“I recently had the pleasure of entrusting three cherished old books to Basil for rebinding at his enchanting workshop in Edinburgh. The shop itself is a true gem - a magical haven filled with the aroma of leather and history, and Basil's craftsmanship is evidently exceptional; his golden touch and the unique Art Nouveau Macintosh-style typefaces he keeps in stock are particularly inspiring. I was even contemplating future orders for bespoke leather bindings using that distinctive font. That said, my experience with the rebinding process has been somewhat protracted. I dropped off the books in June 2024, and during subsequent visits to Edinburgh, I found the work progressing slowly – the book blocks had been separated from the spines, but completion seemed always just around the corner. Basil assured me each time that they would be ready for my next trip. On my September 2025 visit, he promised readiness in a couple of days and suggested collecting them on my departure day. Upon returning, however, the books weren't finished. Basil kindly offered a discount for the wait and requested payment via bank transfer, with reassurance that he would post them within a few days. Since making the payment, communication has unfortunately gone quiet, and my messages have gone unanswered. I'm at a bit of a loss and dearly hope to reunite with my books in the near future rather than years down the line. Baz, if you're reading this, I'd be immensely grateful for an update - your talent deserves to shine, and I'd love to support your work again once this is sorted. Overall, a wonderful establishment with immense potential, though timelines could perhaps be managed more predictably.”

★★★★★

“10000/10 loved everything about this jam packed bookstore. It was a complete treasure hunt with absolutely gorgeous bindings. We picked up a stunning little teal copy of the Romance of Natural History that felt both special and easy to pack in our crowded suitcases.”

★★★★★

“I went to this bookshop because I saw it on social media and it is really cute. It is quite small so hard to move around when there’s so many people. I really loved how quirky it was and there were vintage postcards to look at that had already been written but empty ones too. I would say it is quite expensive and some books would be a lot cheaper if you bought them some where else. However there are some classic books and old books (we found one from the 1920s).”