An independent bookshop & wine bar is coming soon to Chester

Founded by childhood best friends Megan Nicolaides and Megan Yapp, Chapters will offer a “cosy corner to hide away in with your favourite book” . The new venue, scheduled to open this summer at a venue to be confirmed will provide a space to share stories and stacks of handpicked books.

“We met at playgroup on the Wirral when we were around two years old” say the two Megans “After many playdates, sleepovers, holidays (and eventually nights out) later, we’re still as close as ever. We’ve both always been creative and a bit dreamy – happiest when lost in a good story – so it’s no surprise that we grew up with a shared love of books. A few years ago, we even went on a weekend trip to Hay-on-Wye – the world’s first book town – and it was absolute heaven for us.

“Like a lot of women, we’d always daydreamed about opening a cosy bookshop / café / flower shop hybrid. But it wasn’t until one summer evening last year over dinner (and a couple of glasses of wine) that we really started to take it seriously. We ended up planning the whole thing out that night.
“As we talked, we realised there just wasn’t anything like our dream space in Chester – a place where you could browse beautiful books, sip a glass of wine and feel completely at ease whether you’re enjoying a peaceful afternoon alone or catching up with friends. There’s something magical about bookshops and pairing that with the warm, relaxed buzz of a bar felt like the perfect match. And that was the beginning of Chapters.”

The pair were attracted to Chester by its old world charm and its hidden gems found in alleys and walkways. They describe the city as the perfect place for a bookshop wine bar with its listed buildings and romantic character. “Chapters just felt like it belonged here.”

Megan and Megan grew up on a steady diet of fantasy literature.
“We both grew up on a steady diet of fantasy – we were classic Harry Potter kids – and that love for imaginative, expansive stories has never really left us. We love to see genres like romantasy having such a moment, and we’d count Fourth Wing and Throne of Glass among our favourites in that space.
“One of the best (and unexpected) things about opening a bookshop is that it’s pushed us to explore beyond our usual tastes. We’ve been reading more thrillers, dipping into historical fiction, and diving deeper into non-fiction – and it’s such a joy to discover new favourites and then share them with each other. We’re still working up the courage for horror though… baby steps!”

For Megan Nicolaides, a few that top the list of favourites tare Hons and Rebels by Jessica Mitford, Just Kids by Patti Smith, and Heartburn by Nora Ephron – all brilliant female authors with fascinating lives and unforgettable voices.
And for Megan Yapp, Sarah A Parker’s When the Moon Hatched comes to mind and two recent additions to the favourites list are The Nightingale and The Women both by Kristin Hannah.

When Chapters opens in the summer , readers can expect a beautiful curated space that they will want to spend time in.
“We’ve handpicked every book, bottle and detail to help you discover something a little special.
That might be a stunning special edition of a favourite novel, a glass of wine you didn’t expect to love, or an event that introduces you to your new go-to author or genre. We’ll be hosting regular author evenings, creative workshops and bookish experiences like blind dates with a book and wine tastings – all designed to bring people together and spark connection.

“Think of us as your book-loving best friends, always hunting for the stories, moments and experiences that might just make your day. If you leave feeling relaxed, inspired or excited to come back, then we’ve done what we set out to do.”

To sign up for email updates visit Chapters website or follow
@chaptersbookbar] on instagram.

Home