We are delighted to announce that the Ullapool Bookshop is re-opening today 30th June. Our initial opening hours will be Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4pm (closed for lunch 12.30-1.30pm) and we will be closed on Sunday and Monday.

On entry you will be asked to use the hand sanitiser, gloves are also provided for those who wish them. The shop doors will remain open throughout the day. We have a new perspex screen around the counter and a one-way system around the whole shop. Can we please kindly ask that you follow our new procedures and also we request that no more than 5 people at a time are currently allowed in the bookshop.

We are very much looking forward to reopening and welcoming you all back. Thanks for your continued support to the bookshop, it is very much appreciated.

FOLLOWING LIFTING OF GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS WE WILL BE RE-OPENING ON TUESDAY 30TH JUNE.

INITIALLY OUR OPENING HOURS WILL BE –

TUESDAY TO SATURDAY 10 AM TO 4 PM

(closing for lunch between 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm).

For now, we won’t be open Sundays or Mondays.

Please note there will be a maximum of 5 customers allowed in the shop at any one time so you may have to wait for entry and all social distancing must be respected both within and outside the shop.

Hand sanitiser will be available and we ask that you use this as you enter and exit.

Thank you for your support, patience and understanding as we navigate our way through these challenging times.

If you are unable to visit the shop we will happily take an order by telephone/email and arrange for the item to be posted to you or collected on your behalf.

Telephone 01854 612918 Email : [email protected]

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING AND WELCOMING YOU BACK AGAIN! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PATIENCE AS WE REOPEN UNDER THESE NEW GUIDELINES.

ULLAPOOL WORDS 500 (UW500) PRESS RELEASE:

The Ullapool Bookshop is delighted to announce the launch of a new Creative Writing competition for Adults and Children. The ‘Ullapool Words 500’ (UW500)’s was inspired by the recent local Creative Writing Course, led by Poet Stephen Keeler, to write or create a story of up to 500 words. The UW500 has its own identity.

It is hoped that the competition will generate some wonderful creative writing during these difficult times and also that perhaps whilst people have a little more time on their hands, this may be a fun way of passing some time and also the added bonus of winning a Competition in its first year.

Competition Details

Deadline

LAUNCH DATE: 1^ST JUNE 2020

ENTRIES OPEN: 14^TH JUNE 2020

ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY: 12NOON ON 14^TH JULY 2020

PRIZE WINNERS WILL BE CONTACTED BY: 8PM ON 30^TH JULY 2020 AT THE LATEST

Entries will only be accepted from the Ullapool and surrounding catchment area (extending from Ullapool, Lochinver, Achiltibuie and Dundonnell only in its’ first year).

The theme in this inaugural year will be ‘HOLIDAYS.’

Categories

1)  Adults: are invited to submit a short story of no more than 500 words.

2)  Children from both Primary and High School ages: There are 2 sections for the Children’s Area: a) for those from 5-8 years old: a short story of no more than 300 words b) for those from 9-18: A short story of no more than 500 words.

Judging

The Adult entries will be judged anonymously by Stephen Keeler (Creative writing teacher) for Adults and Ruth Thomson, English Department, Ullapool High School for Children. Other helpers will read the entries and make comments and overall general recommendations to the judges.

JUDGE: Stephen Keeler is an award-winning poet. He regularly reads from his work at poetry events and book launches and is widely published in journals, magazines and anthologies. His chapbook, ‘While You Were Away’ is published by Maquette Press. After a forty-year career in international language education, he moved to Ullapool ten years ago, where he has now taught over 30 creative writing courses, residential weekends and poetry workshops.

JUDGE: RUTH THOMPSON: Ruth Thompson has over 10 years of secondary English teaching- and still one of the things that inspires her is excellent writing from young people.

6 prizes of National Book Tokens (donated by Ullapool Bookshop) will be awarded to the 6 top stories, 3 in each category. The 6 prize winners will be Invited to read at an Ullapool Bookshop event during the Winter season 2020. The Ullapool Bookshop also intends to publish a small book later in the year containing all 6 prize winners stories, which will be made available for sale in the bookshop and also via the Ullapool Trading website. The Proceeds from the sale of this small book, will be put towards encouraging further Creative writing projects and hopefully towards future competitions.

Prizes

National Book Tokens will be awarded to the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Prizes in both the Adult and Childrens section. The prizes can either be redeemed in person when bookshops re-open or can also be redeemed over the phone when placing an order for books.  Prizes will be awarded in 2 Categories:

ADULTS:

1^st Prize: £50 National book token / 2^nd Prize: £30 National book token  / 3^rd Prize: £15 National book token

CHILDREN:

1^ST Prize: £50 book token / 2^nd Prize: £30 book token / 3^rd Prize: £15 book token

FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR PRESS CONTACT:

KATHARINE DOUGLAS, ULLAPOOL BOOKSHOP MANAGER (ADMIN MANAGER FOR UW500)

ULLAPOOL BOOKSHOP, QUAY STREET, ULLAPOOL, IV26 2UE

[email protected] or [email protected]

PHONE: 01854 612918 OR 07742 191 210 (KATHARINE DOUGLAS)

JUDGES:

ADULT: Stephen Keeler, Creative Writing teacher

CHILDREN: Ruth Thomson, English Department, Ullapool High School

OVERALL ADMINISTRATOR: KATHARINE DOUGLAS, Ullapool Bookshop Manager

ADMIN ASSISTANT: JILL BRUCE

LOGO DESIGNER: SHIRLEY ROSE, ULLAPOOL

We look forward to reading your stories.

SPONSORS OF PRIZES:

The National Book Token Prizes will be provided and donated by the ULLAPOOL BOOKSHOP (OWNERS WILLIAM AND KATRINA THOMSON).

A HUGE THANK YOU ALSO TO THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS FOR DONATIONS TOWARDS THE PRODUCTION OF THE BOOKLET. ANY PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE BOOKLET WILL BE RE-INVESTED IN FUTURE CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITIONS:

ULLAPOOL HARBOUR TRUST

ANGUS BRUCE PHOTOGRAPHY

2 ANONYMOUS DONORS

Dear all,

Here at Ullapool Bookshop we had hoped to be able to trial a home delivery system, whereby books could be ordered via a Home Delivery service supported by our main Distributors and sent to you via Royal Mail. However, it has now become clear that this is not possible at the moment. Our hope is that this could start at some time in the near future, and if so, we will inform you as soon as possible.

Thank you so much for all of your continued support for the Ullapool Bookshop and for independent bookshops nationwide.

Katharine Douglas, Ullapool Bookshop Manager

LOCHBROOM HARDWARE; ULLAPOOL BOOKSHOP AND
CAPTAIN’S CABIN NOTICE TO ALL CUSTOMERS

As of Monday 23rd March 2020 we are sadly closed for business.
This decision has been made in line with the latest government advice,
for the safety and welfare of all our staff, families, friends, customers and
the community during this Covid-19 Pandemic.
It is impossible to predict when we will be allowed to re-open but we will
keep you informed of developments during the coming weeks through
our social media pages and notices on the shops.
Thank you to each and every one of you for your loyalty and
understanding.
We wish all of you continued good health and please stay well and
safe in these difficult times.
We look forward to welcoming you once we’re able to open again.
Best wishes from all of us.

We were thrilled to welcome classes from Ullapool Primary School to Ullapool Bookshop on Thursday 5th March. In total 6 different groups come and we had 113 World Book Day vouchers which were redeemed in total in one day, surely a new record for the bookshop. Clearly a lot of effort and thought had gone into the day, we saw some fabulous outfits from teachers and children alike and the final group were even treated to storytime from the Bookshop Manager too! Here are a couple of photos from the day.

ULLAPOOL BOOKSHOP WELCOMES

WORLD BOOK DAY ON THURSDAY 5^TH MARCH

REDEEM YOUR WORLD BOOK DAY TOKEN AT THE ULLAPOOL BOOKSHOP FROM THURSDAY 27^TH FEBRUARY-SUNDAY 29^TH MARCH.

When you get your book token, all you need to do is to take it to your local bookshop, where there are TWELVE exclusive, new and completely FREE World Book Day books. Or, if you’d prefer, you can use your book token to get £1 off any full price book instead. And if you’d rather get an audiobook, that’s fine too! It’s your choice, just as long as the book or audiobook costs at least £2.99

Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm / Sunday 10am-5pm / 01854-612918

Shortlist 2019

The 2019 Highland Book Prize saw over 80 books by 50 different publishers submitted and reviewed by a panel of 105 volunteer readers comprised of industry professionals and avid readers.

We are delighted to be able to reveal the books on the shortlist for the 2019 Highland Book Prize. They are:

The Frayed Atlantic Edge: A Historian?s Journey from Shetland to the Channel by David Gange (William Collins)

Surfacing by Kathleen Jamie (Sort of Books)

Spring by Ali Smith (Penguin Random House)

Moder Dy by Roseanne Watt (Polygon)

Author / photographer visit:

I was thrilled to have an unexpected visit from Author and Landscape Photographer Colin Prior today at the Ullapool Bookshop. It was a real privilege to talk to him about the Bookshop, his landscape Calendars and also to hear a little bit about 2 new books which are in the pipeline. Thanks for stopping by Colin,? and it was lovely to chat to you and to show you our bookshop.