The Common Press Membership
Last updated: 19 October 2026
A Common Press membership supports The Common Press, a not-for-profit queer bookshop just off Brick Lane in east London. There are four tiers, from £5 to £50 a month, and three of them send you the shop's Book of the Month every month. You can also pay yearly, and annual members get the first month free.
What a Common Press membership is
The Common Press is a community interest company that runs a queer intersectional bookshop and café. It opened in Shoreditch in 2021 and now has a second shop in Dalston, at 97 Stoke Newington Road, according to London On The Inside.
The shop stocks books by LGBTQIA+ authors, along with Black history, feminist theory, disability activism, poetry and children's books. It also hosts events most days, from book launches and book clubs to dance classes and yoga. A membership is a regular way to fund that work, and it comes with books and perks in return.
The four membership tiers
- Friends and Allies, £5 a month: 20% off the Book of the Month, free entry to the shop's book club and one free coffee a month.
- Friends With Benefits, £15 a month: the Book of the Month posted to you every month, the online book club, 5% off non-alcoholic drinks and discounts on selected books online.
- Anchor Partner, £25 a month: a welcome tote bag, the Book of the Month posted to you, an item of merch from queer artists every month, a free drink a month and early access to event tickets.
- Suga Zaddy, £50 a month: the Book of the Month, plus a book chosen for you by the booksellers, the online book club, merch from queer artists and event discounts.
Key facts
- Monthly prices: £5, £15, £25 or £50
- Yearly prices: £60, £180, £300 or £600, with the first month free for annual members
- Cancelling: you can pause, skip or cancel at any time
- Shops: Shoreditch, just off Brick Lane, and Dalston
- Run by: The Common Press CIC, a not-for-profit company
Who it suits
- LGBTQIA+ readers: the Book of the Month is picked by a queer bookshop.
- East Londoners: the free coffee, drinks and event perks are only useful if you can get to Shoreditch or Dalston.
- Gift buyers: a membership sends a book every month, so the present keeps arriving.
For a single book instead, our page on Big Man by Dean Atta covers his adult debut novel from Cipher Press.
The limits of a Common Press membership
It is a subscription, not a one-off present. If you buy it as a gift, you are signing up to a recurring payment until you cancel it.
Many of the perks need a visit. The coffee, drinks, discounts on events and early tickets only help members who live near the shops.
You also do not choose the Book of the Month. On every tier except the top one, you get the shop's pick, whatever it is.
Where to buy a Common Press membership
Memberships are sold on The Common Press's own online shop, monthly or yearly. The memberships page lists all four tiers and what each one includes.
FAQs
How much is a Common Press membership?
£5, £15, £25 or £50 a month, or £60, £180, £300 or £600 a year. I checked the prices on 19 October 2026.
Does the membership include a book every month?
On the £15, £25 and £50 tiers, yes. The £5 tier gives you 20% off the Book of the Month instead.
Can I cancel a Common Press membership?
Yes. The shop says you can pause, skip or cancel at any time.
Where is The Common Press?
Just off Brick Lane in Shoreditch, with a second shop at 97 Stoke Newington Road in Dalston.
Is The Common Press a not-for-profit?
Yes. It is a community interest company (CIC), a type of not-for-profit business.
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- Book of the Month: every pick in our own monthly series.
I checked the prices at The Common Press online shop on 19 October 2026.
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