Loyalty definitely pays at Stray’s (is that poetry?)

Whether you’re a loyal supporter of our bookshop, coffee bar or both – we thank you for shopping with us. And not just with words, but we put our money where our mouth is…

Our belief at Stray’s is that the best things in life are not always free, but often simple. So, as you’d expect, our loyalty card is a simple offer:

Coffee Bar:

• Get a stamp for every regular drink you buy at Stray’s (excludes alcohol)
• Get 8 stamps to fill your loyalty card.
• present your full card to claim your FREE regular drink.

Bookshop:

• Get a stamp for every £5 spent in the shop
• Get 20 stamps to fill your card
• Present your full card to claim your £5 voucher to spend in the bookshop

Sorry it’s not any more hi-tech than that. Just ask for a loyalty card next time you’re with us.

And thanks for continuing to support Stray’s…

Kiss and Tell - Martin Taylor

Not to everyone’s taste, if this album were a coffee, it’d be a large mocha – technically coffee but with an added ‘choccie’ sweetness for those who aren’t coffee purists…

This is a smooth album, from the get-go. And I say ‘not to everyone’s taste’ as to some degree, it sums up that ‘niiiiiiiiiice’ sketch from the fast show! Some beautiful guitar playing by the master, Martin Taylor, with accompaniments from all sorts of people, with a slightly ‘cheesey’ feel.

With big bold pianos, string sections, electronic bits and bobs thrown in here and there – this is a very easy listening album and reminds me of warm summer days, sat along by the river, beer in hand, with nothing much to do but enjoy the moment.

My favourite tracks are ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’ which at 59 seconds long, captures the soul of the hymn in less than a minute! Then, I also just love his version of Mona Lisa. Absolutely spellbinding solo guitar, with some beautiful chords and progressions – reminds me of being in Spain, early evening, sipping beer (I don’t drink beer all the time, honest!), watching the sun go down, itching from sunburn!

Full of expression, this album is very smooth indeed and if you like your jazz laid back – you won’t find a better album to ‘chill’ to.

Martin Taylor at his smoothest!

Shazbatta won a post at a local beauty spa, where she will be working on fixing all the ablutions of the various people she’ll be meeting in her new job.

We wish Shazza all the best in her new job and want to say a BIG THANKS for her 4 years at Stray’s.

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

by Hilary Mantel

“the sequel to Wolf Hall”

If you have read the brilliant “Wolf Hall” you will need no encouragement to buy this book about the bloody theatre of the fall of Anne Boleyn. If you haven’t tread “Wolf Hall”, probably the best historical novel ever,  you are to be envied – you still have a treat in store. (and you do need to read it before this one).

Published price: £20.00  |  Our price: £17.00

Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops by Jen Campbell

by Jen Campbell

“Is this book edible?”

From the customer who wanted to know if Anne Frank had written a sequel to her diary through the one who wanted to know if he had left his bicycle in the shop to the one who, failing to find a medical text, requested a book on sewing instead it’s hilarious and very, VERY true to life!

Published price: £7.77  |  Our price: £6.99

If you’ve never visited Stray’s, you’re missing out – Not just because of our great coffee, cakes etc but because you won’t meet the great people that make up our truly dynamic team…

What makes our team work so well?

Partly it’s because the owners work in the business, so from the get-go, there’s no theoretical management – it’s all real stuff.

Then, there’s the characteristics we look for in a person – self-motivation; the ability to focus on the task at hand; a keen eye for detail and above all else, the desire to genuinely care about people and look after them.

We don’t tend to look for previous experience as a must-have. We believe in hiring nice people and teaching any new skills required as we go along – that’s why none of our Baristas have had any previous experience. That way, Mat knows he can start fresh and pull out real potential and nurture it within the team.

That said, experience is also very useful – Our Chef Warren has a phenomenal CV – but he’s also great with people!

This is not meant to be a guide to what to write in your CV – rather to let you know that we hire nice people and train them to do all the other stuff, as we don’t believe you can train people to be nice in the first place!

Successful players in the team at Stray’s demonstrate their desire to put customers before themselves – the nature of our business means by definition, it’s often tough work with high pressure. But the rewards are big too. Not least, the fact that 75% of our business is from repeat customers who’ve made coming to Stray’s part of their day. Our staff take pride in their work and are committed to delivering consistent service to everyone in the building.

So before you put pen to paper to paper, please remember that team Stray’s can only accept new members who strive to be the best – anything else, just wouldn’t be right.

Dancing in the Glory of Monsters by Jason Stearns

by Jason Stearns

At the heart of Africa is the Congo – a country the size of western Europe, bordering on nine nations that since 1996 has been wracked by a civil war so brutal that it has almost become institutionalised and, apparently, hardly seen by the outside world as worth recording. This book is brilliant example of a journalist delving into the history of the Congo and producing an enthralling and accurate account of fifteen years of brutality and five million deaths. Thought provoking, shocking and horrifying but, for all that, very readable. Highly recommended.

Published price: £11.99  |  Our price: £10.99

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

by Ann Patchett

Shortlisted for this year’s Orange Prize “State of Wonder” is a Conrad-like tale following the tracking down of a dead researcher in the Brazilian jungle. Set within the neo-colonialism of modern day drug companies this is Patchett at her best – dry, controlled and astute.

Published price: £7.99  |  Our price: £6.99

The Great Sea - A Human History of the Mediterranean by David Abulafia

by David Abulafia

An epic new history of the Mediterranean told from the human perspective, ranging from Minoan palaces to modern day tourism and seen through the eyes of a range of characters – explorers, traders, pilgrims, warriors, politicians and refugees. While there is something of an emphasis on the sea’s most unified period under imperial Rome all the great civilizations are covered in this lucidly written and sweeping study. A magnificently satisfying read.

Published price: £14.99  |  Our price: £12.99