Poetry pharmacy opens another dispensary in York
Do you fancy a career change where you can still use your independent prescriber skills?
Luckily enough, a job is available where you can learn to “train as a poetry pharmacist” and offer “signature poetry on prescription consultations”.
Read more: Plath Distilled: How a new pharmacy is prescribing poetry
The role is for a bookshop manager at the new premises of The Poetry Pharmacy, which is set to open in one of York’s historic shopping streets at the 20 Coney Street location in early 2026.
The new location opens after the success of its flagship store in Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire in 2019, and the second branch inside Lush Spa on Oxford Street, London in 2023.
C+D visited the London store last summer to see the poems and quotes from literary texts placed in capsules inside prescription bottles addressing themes such “hope”, “courage”, “love” and “mindfulness” to medicate for a person’s mood or feelings.
The new store will sell prescription bottles, literary non-fiction, wellbeing gifts and will also have a reading room for visitors where they can enjoy complimentary tea and coffee.
Perfect location
The Poetry Pharmacy founder Deborah Alma said she has been “overwhelmed” by the response to the store, and opening in York “feels like a natural step”.
“A city with such a rich literary and cultural history is the perfect place for our third home,” she said.
Alma revealed her and her partner had lived and studied in the city, so it felt like a homecoming.
Read more: The Poetry Pharmacy secures Pan Macmillan anthology series
She will use her connection Yorkshire poets to help develop a programme of readings, workshops and community events in the new store.
The bookshop manager job opening for The Poetry Pharmacy in York is a full-time role at £30,000 per year and perks include mending broken hearts, getting a staff discount on books and products, as well as the opportunity to job-swap with the Shropshire bookshop.
Read more: ‘I’m never finished writing’: Community pharmacist releases first poetry book
In January, Alma released the first two of eight poetry books in collaboration with the UK publisher giant Pan Macmillan.
The 80-page, pocket-sized hardback books cover themes of the bookshop, such as ‘Comfort’, ‘Words for Love’, ‘Wild Remedy’, ‘Becoming’, ‘First Aid’, ‘Inspiration’, ‘Joy’ and ‘Calm’.
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Is the paper sterile ? Perhaps there should be a warning on the container . Do not take till 7 days after dispensing !
The four tested organisms showed differences in length of survival depending on environmental room conditions, but were stable on paper for up to 72 hours and still cultivable after seven days.
Perhaps it should have said on the bottle rather than in the bottle ?
The bookshop that dispenses poetry in prescription bottles !