Fancy a night out with craft beer, small plates of food, DJ sets and a good book?
No, you didn’t read wrong, there was a compelling novel on that list. While older generations may consider reading a more introverted activity, it’s quickly becoming an essential part of Gen Z’s nights out.
More and more young people are abandoning traditional clubs and bars and instead heading to their neighbourhood night libraries to let off steam.
These new establishments seek to capitalize on the resurgence of reading as a popular pastime, offering a selection of books alongside local craft beer, cocktails and live music.
The venues, located in places including London, Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow, also host a series of book launch events and workshops, where popular BookTok authors perform live readings of their works in a bookstore-meets-bar setting.
Young people have been seen enjoying books and alcohol at a Book Club Scotland event in Glasgow.
More and more young people are ditching traditional clubs and bars and instead heading to local nightclubs to blow off steam (pictured: Bookish Babe Book Club event)
The venues also host a series of book launch events and workshops, featuring readings and talks by popular BookTok authors in a bookstore and bar setting.
One such place is the Hyde Park Book Club in Leeds, which offers people a space to watch emerging musicians and comedians, while looking for something to read.
The site’s social media pages show customers enjoying a book or a vegan meal surrounded by plants in the modern, intimate space that functions as a bookstore, bar and home to an independent record label.
In Manchester, people are encouraged to “come and read books, listen to records and drink wine” on the eve of P3 Annihilation.
Described online as a “cultural store and drinking spot,” the site is a library-meets-record store, with DJs playing until midnight on weekends and a “reading conclave” for people to enjoy some food while reading.
Meanwhile, London’s stylish crowds are flocking to Reference.Point to explore rare artworks and iconic 90s magazines while sipping cocktails and listening to DJs or talks from poets, authors and BookTok influencers.
All of these venues also host regular book club nights, where reading enthusiasts fill these spaces to discuss their latest read with other like-minded people and enjoy tasty food and drink.
The growth of nightly libraries and reading in general among young people is largely due to BookTok, a subcommunity of the TikTok app that focuses on books and literature.
Creators make videos reviewing, discussing, and joking about the books they read, with over 32 million posts and over 167 billion views on the platform.
All of these places also host regular book club nights, where you see reading enthusiasts discussing their latest read with others while enjoying some food and drinks.
The growth of nightly libraries and reading in general among young people is largely due to BookTok, a subcommunity of the TikTok app that focuses on books and literature.
The popularity of a book on TikTok can now be decisive depending on the number of sales it achieves (pictured: an author speaks during The Bookish Babe Book Club event)
The Hyde Park Book Club (pictured) in Leeds offers a space to see emerging musicians and comedians while also finding something to read.
In Manchester, people are encouraged to ‘read books, listen to records and drink wine’ on the eve of the P3’s annihilation
The popularity of a book on TikTok can now be decisive in terms of the number of sales it achieves.
Popular books on BookTok often feature the “romance” genre, a combination of romance and fantasy, such as books by Sarah J. Maas.
In July last year, Rebecca Yarros’ Iron Flame became Waterstones’ biggest-selling title ever after the first book in the series went viral on TikTok.
The owners of London’s Notting Hill Bookshop said their sales have increased by “100 per cent” since the pandemic, which they attributed to social media.
With over 167 billion views on TikTok, reviews and recommendations across BookTok’s global community have inspired Gen Z to ditch their screens in favor of a good old-fashioned book.