The highly anticipated opening of "Europe's largest independent romance bookshop," is set to take place this Valentine's weekend.

Appropriately themed for its romantasy fiction genre, The Spicy Librarian bookstore will be opening on Valentine's Day (14 February).

The store will replace the former Altoria nightclub located on Warwick Street.

Visitors can expect beautifully curated shelves of romance in all its forms, from swoony contemporary love stories and spicy romantasy to darker romance, alongside a welcoming space to linger. 

There will also be a coffee bar by day and a wine and cocktail bar by night, making it a place to meet friends, attend events, or simply enjoy a great book with a drink.

Unlike other bookshops in the area, The Spicy Librarian is a genre-dedicated, adult-only and community-led, setting it apart from traditional bookshops or libraries.

Unlike general bookstores, it focuses entirely on romance, meaning deeper curation, better recommendations and a space designed specifically for that readership.

It will also act as more of a " social hub", with events, book clubs, a podcast, and a bar that encourages people to stay, chat and connect.

And unlike libraries, it will be a licensed, over-18 space where adult themes are "embraced rather than hidden," and where reading is "paired with pleasure, whether that's a glass of wine, a great conversation, or discovering a new favourite author."

Speaking about the inspiration behind it, founder of The Spicy Librarian, D shared: "The idea came from a lifelong love of books, and a growing frustration that romance readers don't really have a space of their own in the UK. 

"While travelling in the US, I discovered romance-only bookshops that were buzzing with energy, community and pride. They weren't hiding romance away on a single shelf — they were celebrating it. Coming home, it became clear there was nothing like that here in the Midlands, despite romance being one of the UK's most popular and fastest-growing genres.

"The Spicy Librarian was born from that gap: a desire to create a space where romance readers are visible, valued and celebrated, and where reading becomes something shared, not secret."

When asked if there was a specific target audience D further explained that the store is aimed at adult romance readers aged 18+, with a strong core audience of millennial and Gen Z women, "although everyone (over 18!) is welcome."

D shared: "From the books we stock to the community we build, we're committed to celebrating LGBTQIA+ stories and creating a space where everyone feels seen, respected and at home.

"Many of our customers are readers who've found their community through BookTok, podcasts and online fandoms, and are now looking for a real-world third space to connect. It's also for people returning to reading later in life, rediscovering romance as a form of escapism, comfort and joy.

"At its heart, the target audience is simple: people who love love stories and want to share that passion with others."

There will also be an array of events including a monthly in-store book club, meeting right in the bookshop, an indie author subscription book club, where readers receive curated titles and exclusive content, author signings, previews and launch events, particularly championing indie and emerging writers, and regular themed nights, discussions and community meet-ups and writer workshops.

Alongside this, there will be a weekly podcast sharing book recommendations, which feeds directly into the in-store experience and helps readers discover new titles and authors.

"The aim is to make the shop feel alive — somewhere people return to again and again, not just to buy a book, but to be part of something."

The Spicy Librarian has also launched a brand new podcast which can be found here.

The Spicy Librarian bookshop opens Saturday 14 February 2026 from 10am located at: 45 Warwick Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 5JX