Great Pen Stores - Europe - England/ UK
Brighton, England
Pen To Paper
4 Sydney Street
Brighton, BN1 4E3, England.
Very friendly staff, quite knowledgeable and happy to let you dip and try to your heart's content. The store stocks pens by Lamy, Cross, Rotring and Pelikan as well a good range of inks and high quality French writing paper and Moleskin note books. It is a very cosy little store. They seem to keep a good range of Moleskine notebooks in stock, too. Fully stocked with Herbin bottled and cartridges. (Thanks P Venton)
Webster's Pen Shop
10 Brighton Square
The Lanes
Brighton, BN1 1HD.
The store is hard to locate if you're not familiar with the South Lanes area of the city, being nestled in a pretty little square accessible only via several small alleyways, but it's worth the effort. The staff are happy to give directions over the phone if you get lost. Quite a good-sized store for the location, very bright and modern in feel with lots of sunlight - great for seeing a prospective ink's true colours. A very broad range of pens on offer, all attractively displayed. The staff were friendly, and a young trainee was being shown the ropes while I was there. He seemed keen and well informed. Well worth a visit for both the shop and the location. (Thanks P Venton)
Websters Pen Shop
Bluewater Shopping Centre.
A remarkably good stock for this high street retailed. (Thanks, D. Osgood)
Cardiff, Wales
The Pen and Paper Stationery Company Ltd
13-17 Royal Arcade
Cardiff CF10 1AE
Tel: +44 02920 373738
Fax: +44 02920 373038
Website
I am told this is a rather good pen shop that is located in the Royal Arcade, right in the centre of the city. They stock a decent range of fountain pens and inks, including the Diamine line. The staff are very helpful and friendly. So, now I have family from Cardiff, here is another reasons to visit Cardiff. (Thanks G. Strong)
Dublin, Ireland
The Pen Corner
12 College Green
Dublin. Tel: 679-3641
Dublin's fountain pen specialist since 1927 and the Pen Corner sells all types of writing instruments. Calligraphic supplies, artistically designed writing cards and stationary, and Irish art postcards. (Thanks G. Harris)
Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh
Pen Shop
194 Rose Street
Edinburgh
Tel: 0131 226 3624
The shop is a family run business backed up with a good dose of experience. I am told the shop is one of six in the UK that is recommended by Parker to repair their vintage pens. Ask for Jim or Janet. They are willing to answer questions and advise on the pen that will meet your needs. Open Monday to Friday 1-:00 - 5:00 pm and Saturdays 9:30 - 5:00.
Jenner's of Princes Street
Edinburgh, Scotland.
An independent department store, they specialize in Montblanc, Pelikan, Shaeffer and Parker pens. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the assistants offer good advice. And, what every pen shopper looks for while we try out every pen in the store, their patience is endless. (I. Bryson]
London, England
Green and Stone
Kennington.
This is an art supply store but they carry a good range of pens.
Harrods
The department store in London has a vast pen department that is well worth a visit. The staff will help you along with the purchase of the right pen for you. When you start to get the shakes, they will simply ask: "Do you want blue or black ink with the pen?" That seems to conclude the decision making process and the next thing you know you are leaving with your pen. I bought my Waterman Opera pen there, telling my wife that it would probably satisfy my pen needs forever! Oh yeah!
Penfriend (Burlington) Ltd;
34 Burlington Arcade
Piccadily, London W1V 9AD
Tel/Fax: 0171--499-6337.
Blush House Arcade
located off The Strand
I remember buying a set of Mont Blanc pens here on one of my first trips to London. The store was great then, and I regularly hear positive comments about Penfriend right up to today.
Comments consistently note how well stocked the store remains. They also carry a good selection of nibs and is one of those rare stores where they will actually match the nib to your writing needs. Dave Osgoode notes they will even grind a nib for you if you need that done! The store has knowledgeable staff willing to let you try any pen before you try. My kind of place! Great service department. They stock a range of pen parts.
The Pen Shop
Liverpool Street Station
London EC2 2AA
Tel: 020 7628 4416 - Fax: 020 7247 3482
London is one of those cities with a good selection of pen shops. One, the Pen Shop has a small branch in the Liverpool Street Station. Although it is a small shop, they have a reasonable range of pens in stock. The customer service is excellent. They will check around with other stores for stock items. Being located in a train station it is easy to find and connected with London's famous "Tube". (Thanks: J Hards)
Selfridges
400 Oxford Street
London, W1A 1AB
Tel: (0207) 318 3822
When visiting London you will sure to be on Oxford Street at one point. This will place you in the right spot to visit Selfridges, a major department store that has one of the largest pen departments in the United Kingdom. I have found the staff to be friendly and informative. They will help you with the necessary VAT paper work if you are a tourist. You will find all the major brands in magnificent fixtures. Thanks to M. Stein, based in London, for his prompt to include Selfridges on the Page. Selfridges is a must for all pen aficionado's visiting London.
Kent, England
Websters
Blue Water Branch
Kent England
The staff there are exceptional, and they carry an excellent range of stock. They will even offer an exchange if your are purchasing the pen as a gift. This is a store that goes all the way in letter you try our various pens to ensure you have the right one. (Thanks P Venton)
Manchester, England
The Penshop
South King Street
and
Trafford Centre
The stores carry a large selection of pens and have staff that are both knowledgeable and friendly. The Penshop also has a web site. (Thanks: D. Smith)
Nottingham, England
Pen Sense Ltd.
5 King Street
Nottingham, England NG1 2BH
Tel/Fax: Nottingham 472724
Website: www.pensense.co.uk
A key aspect of a great pen store is the attitude of the staff. Joseph Green notes that Amarjeet Panesar the Managing Director of Pen Sense makes that store special. A great guy that shows his personal collection of vintage pens.
Oxford, England
Pens Plus
69-70 High Street
Oxford OX1 4BD
Tel: 01865 241174 | Fax: 01865 726845 | E-Mail: sales@pensplus.co.uk
Operating for over 40 years under various names and ownership I can remember picking up some Parker Penman ink here many years ago when I was in Oxford. I hear the current owners provide great service and have the patience to help you out in the process of matching the right pen for you. Some say this ranks as one of the best stores in England. The store is open Monday-Saturday 9.00am-5.30pm. (Thanks: Thad Parsons)
Scriptum
3, Turl Street
Oxford, England 0X1 3Dq
Tel: 01865 200042
This is not descripted as a 'Pen Shop', as Scriptum specializes in fine quality paper and note cards. They sell dip pens and a fantastic selection of inks. The selection of papers includes fine Italian made note books, and superb hand made paper that comes from one of the last European paper mills. They also stock a great range of seals and sealing wax. Turl Street is well worth a visit in itself; a lovely cobbled street containing small artisan shops including a Whisky specialist, a hand made shoe shop, a fine gentlemen's barber and a high quality gentlemen's outfitter. Thanks. T. Whitworth,