Cover Story starts popping up around the city this month, with plans for a permanent home to follow
For anyone who still gets a small thrill from an exceptionally good magazine rack, Brighton is about to get a new place to browse and buy.
Cover Story is a new independent magazine shop from Brighton-based print obsessive Leah, launching with a series of pop-ups from 25th September while she searches for a permanent home. The plan is to stock an eclectic mix of magazines from around the world, spanning fashion, art, photography, music, culture, food, interiors and some pleasingly niche corners of print.
And this isn’t Leah’s first brush with the magazine business. A former primary school teacher, she stepped away from teaching after having her second child four years ago. Her husband runs Brighton-based online magazine store Your Celebrity Magazines, which Leah has helped with, although she says celebrity titles were never really her thing.
Her own weakness is the beautifully produced stuff. Current favourites include Interview, particularly its Zendaya and Robert Pattinson cover earlier this year, and surreal art magazine Toiletpaper.
“I’m a self-confessed magazine obsessive,” she told BOTI. “The kind of person who can’t walk past a good newsstand without having a look, and probably doesn’t need another magazine but buys one anyway.”
She came up with the idea for Cover Story after moving to Brighton and wondering why there wasn’t somewhere dedicated to the magazines she loves. So she decided to create it herself.
Of course there used to be – the much-loved and -missed Magazine Brighton. There’s a nice bit of Brighton print history behind this too. Before going ahead with the project, Leah tracked down Martin, who ran Magazine Brighton, to talk through her plans. She told us he was keen to support the new venture and remains so excited about it that he texts her almost every day.
Where to find the Cover Story pop-ups
Eight pop-ups have been confirmed so far – each will have a different selection of magazines to browse and buy. The first lands at Starfish & Coffee on Egremont Place on Friday 25th September from 5pm – 8pm. Then it’s over to Spro Coffee Co. in Norfolk Square on Friday 2nd October, and on to Dukes at Komedia on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October. On Sunday at Komedia (2pm – 3pm), there’s also a special Q&A with the managing editor of Sight & Sound film magazine. They’ll be discussing all things editing, commissioning and putting together an edition of the magazine. If you fancy that, just buy a copy of the magazine through Cover Story’s website to collect at Komedia and secure your spot. Leah told us that more Q&As will be coming soon!
The following week sees the turn of Bearly Awake (for a curated selection of LGBTQ magazines and queer print, plus the launch of new magazine Boys Boys Boys) on Friday 9th October and over to The Archives on North Road on Sunday 11th October. Just added is a takeover of women’s sports bar Crossbar on Friday 16th October with a special focus on magazines that showcase the women, athletes, creatives and voices changing the game.
On Wednesday 21st October, it’s all about Harry (Styles, that is) with a ticketed (but free) Rolling Stone UK cover launch party at Bison Beach Bar complete with friendship bracelet-making, a quiz, Harry-themed food and drink, goodie bags, and the opportunity to get your picture with Harry (ok, the next best thing – a cardboard cutout). Then, it’s the turn of Pink Moon on Friday 23rd October and finally, Helm on Sunday 25th October.
The website already gives a pretty good indication of the breadth Leah has in mind, with everything from Dazed, Apartamento and ArtReview to Vittles, Delayed Gratification, The Gentlewoman, BUTT and Rolling Stone UK among the titles listed. You can already buy these in her online shop and readers can also suggest other magazines they’d like Cover Story to stock.
Ultimately, the pop-ups are paving the way for something more permanent. Leah is aiming to open a small space around the Lanes in October, with the hope of eventually moving into a bigger shop.
And she wants Cover Story to become more than somewhere to buy something glossy for the coffee table. Events, launches and discovering new titles are all part of the plan, with the eventual bricks-and-mortar shop shaped in part by the people using it.
“I want Brighton to have a say,” she said. “I don’t quite know exactly what Cover Story will become yet. And I think that’s the fun bit.”
