“PEOPLE say that the sign of a thriving town is to have an independent bookshop on the high street,” says Mike Sansbury, manager of The Grove Bookshop, which for more than 40 years has sat proudly on its corner spot in Ilkley’s most well-known and elegant street.
“If not an independent bookshop then Waterstones is the next best thing. A bookshop brings together people who all have different interests to browse and buy books. There is a special atmosphere in a bookshop.”
Opened in November 1979 by local couple Mr and Mrs Townson - who were determined that it should be on The Grove and nowhere else - the shop occupies an important place in the community.