The Works

I have a problem and I’m willing to admit it, I am obsessed with going into The Works. I cannot walk past this shop without going in. It’s the part of me that loves books and the part that loves a bargain!
You can literally buy The Works from this shop. Primarily a book shop, The Works also takes a foray into the stationary store and art supply store worlds. Need a new diary? They’ve got some. Need art supplies for the kids? The Works have you sorted! Need a very obscure book on Scottish Railways? The Works will have it!
There is absolutely no consistency in this shop, it’s better that we all accept this now. Perpetually throwing a closing down sale, The Works are constantly refreshing their stock, once something’s gone, it probably wont be back. This is not like other high street book stores where you can go look for a specific title, and if they don’t have it they’ll order it in. Is it on the shelf? No? Tough? That is The Works way of life!
I really like their never-​ending 3 paperbacks for £5 deal, and they always have a good selection of romance/​family saga type books and crime books. They love a movie or TV show tie in, so it’s perfect if you’re looking for a quick present for someone! I think I’ve bought every Game of Thrones book they’ve sold! They also do a lot of deals on YA fiction boxsets (e.g. The Hunger Games, Divergent, etc). This branch in particular has a fantastic recipe book section, all heavily discounted! Why pay £20 for Nigelissima when you can get it here for £9.99?! They have also jumped on the adult colouring book band wagon and have lots of colouring books to choose from.
I think this store is also perfect if you have kids. Need some activities to occupy them? I guarantee you will find something in The Works to keep them busy for an afternoon without breaking the bank! Personally I’m currently coveting the «build your own Hello Kitty plush» kit, only £5! I better get down and buy it before they’re gone forever!

You can’t really go wrong in this place. It’s really a place where one goes when they’re looking for just about anything book, puzzle, stationary or gift related. I’ve been in this shop a few times before, sometimes just to browse, but sometimes on a mission to find the perfect gift.
Recently, Sophie K. and I were wasting time before heading to see a show that the Theatre Royal so we stopped in here for a quick wander. She was looking for a colouring book for calming herself. Sounds crazy, I know, but they do exist, and they’re pretty darn cool. I might actually go back for some myself, see what they’re all about.
The store is a bit haphazard in it’s set up, but if you give yourself enough time, you’re bound to get through it without running in to piles of merchandise littered about the place or the odd screaming child left unattended by it’s parent.
One thing to note for all my fellow students out there: they offer a 10% discount when you show your student ID. With classes looming on the horizon, this could be a go to place for supplies, as they have loads of school supplies at the ready.
The staff were in a giggling mood when we were there, but hey, it’s good to know they enjoy their jobs! Makes for a better shopping atmosphere!

Ok where to actually start, i have been a customer for many years, and i dont actually agree with most reviews about this shop i put up with it as it is much cheaper than W. H Smith etc.
So first of you walk in and the store us always a mess no matter what time of the day! usually looks like a jumble sale!
the staff are usually found hiding up at the back corner talking or standing chewing gum behind the counter, while shouting up the store to another member of staff. the store always looks very understaffed and when you do manage to draw the attention of a member of staff the seem very unknowledgable regarding books etc.
always a trip hazzard in this store, always things falling from shelves and laying around floor!
also usually floor is littered with reciepts etc and shelved always grimey and dusty!

I’ve been coming to The Works for many years.
Inside it’s jam packed but very well organised. There are sections for kids books, cookery, Scottish, history, art, celeb books and reference books. They have a pretty well stocked arts and craft section — I quite often grab pens and notepads for my nieces here.
They also sell loads of DVD box sets, games, jigsaw etc. Currently seeking calendar and diary sets for 2015 — I just got a diary for £1.50.
Did I mention, it’s really cheap?

I come here if i’m looking for black marker pens like Sharpie’s you used to be able to buy them here a pack of 12 for £1.99 when WH Smith would sell one for £1.99. they have some interesting DVD box sets for £2.99 mostly history, documentaries or even horror. I noticed today that they had candles there for £4.99 they look like the yankee candles but nearly 4 x cheaper. You can always find unusual cookbooks here, but sometimes the shop can look tatty just needs a broom and get round those corners. Yeah get in l will show them how it’s done.

Nice branch of The Works with plenty of cut price books, including a small range of books about Scotland. There are also special offer CDs and DVDs, plus many inexpensive toys, novelties and games. Lots of pens, craft items and stationery as well, including attractive notelets in presentation packs. In fact it’s a good place to shop for a gift or two! In the main pedestrianised area and easy to find; friendly and helpful staff too.

Justin Bieber hardcover biography for £5? Oh so tempting. Not for myself, mind you. Crosswords, gift-​wrapping paper, children’s puzzles, notebooks and more — there’s seemingly a smattering of all things made from paper here.
This bookstore takes its discount adverts in the windows seriously. I counted no less than three stacks/​shelves of books and other literature paraphernalia selling at an average of roughly £3.
Though there isn’t much that piqued my interest other than the latest tome of the Wheel of Time series, you could easily get away with nicking a novel or three for under £10, which seems more than reasonable to me.

I was attracted to The Works the other day after seeing a sign in the window advertising 3 books for £5 — bargain! Well, as long as you’re after Kerry Katona’s Autobiography or one of Jordan’s «novels». That doesn’t really float my boat but they did have other books on offer that looked a lot more appealing. I spied some cookery books with delicious looking recipes for £2.99 and they also have a recipe book with over 100 cupcake recipes, mmm!
Unlike some other discount book stores, The Works is very neat and tidy and all the books are very well organised so it’s easy to browse without getting flustered. I found the lighting a little bizarre though, it seems like it’s lit with a single 40 watt bulb as it’s so dark inside, maybe they’re trying to hide to rubbish books in darkness in the hope that someone will have forgotten their specs and snap them up.
They also have a good selection of gift bags for £1.99, some cuddly toys and a nice assortment of plastic garden rakes. I guess The Works is a bit of a Jack of all trades, or so it seems.

Ah The Works. The bookshop that has a permanent sale, and is so cheap you often wish that they actually had something that you wanted to buy…
This is a particularly big store — and as well as the books and stationary that you’ll find in all of their stores, it also has a «Scottish Section». Not quite sure what I mean? Well, this store has a whole section devoted to things-​with-​tartan-​on-​them. This includes books, place mats, fleecy blankets, maps, keyrings, magnets etc etc. You get the idea. Not really sure how useful that is to anyone except tourists — but I suppose you never know when some tartan coasters will come in useful.
Othe than that, this branch of The Works is pretty standard. I don’t think I’ve ever actually bought a book from here — instead I tend to pop in for the cheap stationary and art supplies. They don’t have a huge selection — but I don’t think you’ll find this stuff much cheaper anywhere else.

To be honest this place is a bit of a misnomer. The Works title insinuates, to me at least, that its the place to go to get everything you could ever possibly need form a book/​stationary store… what you get however is an increasingly shoddy looking store filled with books that no other store can sell… hence the cheap prices.
You know i think the only time i have ever bought anything out of the Works was when i was sending some cheap Scottish tat over to relatives in Canada… tartan wigs, coasters, books about funny Scottish words… other than that its hardly the place to find quality reading material.
Anyway, it may not be my cup of tea but hey they seem to be doing alright for themselves despite on their Dylanesque never ending sale.
Not quite a yay, but certainly far from a boo from me.

The Works looks like a shop that’s having an identity crisis. But it isn’t. In fact, I think it enjoys being the eccentric, patriotic neighbour of Bargain Books and the like.
They tonnes upon tonnes of cheap books, dodgy-​looking films on DVD, loads of tacky Scottish souvenirs, calendars, and arts and crafts materials. Although everything purports to be ridiculously cheap, the reality is that anything you’d actually seek is more expensive than you’d willingly pay for it.
The only things I actually recall buying here were some stationery and a (Raymond Bigg’s) Snowman themed stocking that played «Walking in the Air» when you pushed the button. Now that was a worthwhile excursion to the Works!
If you’re looking for a joke gift or just like to browse wacky stores like this on the off-​chance that you’ll find something you love, I say eff it, give it a shot!