Instagram story viewer> @queerlituk> Posts

Queer Lit

@queerlituk

25.4K

followers

1404

following

Europe's largest LGBTQ+ bookshop. Award winning. Over 6000 LGBTQ+ titles in store and online.

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

TICKETS ONLINE - Social Refuge Events page

As the leaves turn and the nights draw in, Queer Lit and Social Refuge are thrilled to welcome India-Rose Bower for a special evening celebrating the paperback release of their bestselling horror debut, We Call Them Witches.

Hosted by Emma Hinds, the evening will see India-Rose in conversation about their haunting dystopian pagan world, exploring the dark folklore, fierce women, and sapphic romance at the heart of this spellbinding story.

Once we've delved into the secrets behind We Call Them Witches, the floor will open for an audience Q&A, giving you the chance to ask your burning questions and discover what lurks beneath the surface of this captivating debut.

Join us for an enchanting evening of witchcraft, storytelling, and autumnal thrills as we celebrate one of horror's most exciting new voices.

Oct 26th - 2026
7pm Door
Social Refuge | Queer Lit
Fully Accessible by @queerlituk

100

4

a month ago

Queer Lit and Social refuge are delighted to welcome back Dean Atta, to celebrate their new book Big Man and we're inviting you to come along and be part of the conversation - Chaired by good friend and author Kai Spellmeier, together we'll take a step into Deans world and explore the themes and inspirations behind his latest title.

- Oct 20th - 2026
- 7pm Door
- Social Refuge | Queer Lit
- Fully Accessible

BIG MAN follows the life of Big, a middle-aged, Black British gay man who lives a gentle life with his boyfriend, Little, in their home in East London. Big and Little enjoy evenings out and group holidays with friends, as much as practising yoga together at home, and running side by side along the Hackney canals.

Come along and bring all the question your dying to ask and we welcome Dean for this next chapter in his career. by @queerlituk

60

5

3 months ago

Queer Lit and Social refuge are delighted to welcome back Dean Atta, to celebrate their new book Big Man and we're inviting you to come along and be part of the conversation - Chaired by good friend and author Kai Spellmeier, together we'll take a step into Deans world and explore the themes and inspirations behind his latest title.

- Oct 20th - 2026
- 7pm Door
- Social Refuge | Queer Lit
- Fully Accessible

BIG MAN follows the life of Big, a middle-aged, Black British gay man who lives a gentle life with his boyfriend, Little, in their home in East London. Big and Little enjoy evenings out and group holidays with friends, as much as practising yoga together at home, and running side by side along the Hackney canals.

Come along and bring all the question your dying to ask and we welcome Dean for this next chapter in his career. by @queerlituk

41

0

2 days ago

TICKETS ONLINE - Social Refuge Events page

As the leaves turn and the nights draw in, Queer Lit and Social Refuge are thrilled to welcome India-Rose Bower for a special evening celebrating the paperback release of their bestselling horror debut, We Call Them Witches.

Hosted by Emma Hinds, the evening will see India-Rose in conversation about their haunting dystopian pagan world, exploring the dark folklore, fierce women, and sapphic romance at the heart of this spellbinding story.

Once we've delved into the secrets behind We Call Them Witches, the floor will open for an audience Q&A, giving you the chance to ask your burning questions and discover what lurks beneath the surface of this captivating debut.

Join us for an enchanting evening of witchcraft, storytelling, and autumnal thrills as we celebrate one of horror's most exciting new voices.

Oct 26th - 2026
7pm Door
Social Refuge | Queer Lit
Fully Accessible by @queerlituk

53

1

4 days ago

Celebrate Bookshop Day with us in-store!

Pick up any 6 books and we'll treat you to a free coffee while you browse.

The perfect excuse to add a few extra titles to your stack, discover something new, and spend a little longer surrounded by books.

See you in the shop!

*** purchase must be made in store ***

#BookshopDay #QueerLit #IndependentBookshop #QueerBooks #BookLovers #SupportIndieBookshops #LGBTQBooks #ManchesterBooks #CoffeeAndBooks #ShopLocal by @queerlituk

132

1

7 days ago

Happy Bookshop Day!

To celebrate, we're giving you 10% off all online orders today only.

So go on... treat yourself to those titles sitting in your basket and discover your next favourite read.

Use code: BD26 at checkout.

#BookshopDay #QueerLit #IndependentBookshop #LGBTQBooks #Bookstagram #QueerBooks by @queerlituk

33

2

7 days ago

Queer Lit and Social refuge are delighted to welcome back Dean Atta, to celebrate their new book Big Man and we're inviting you to come along and be part of the conversation - Chaired by good friend and author Kai Spellmeier, together we'll take a step into Deans world and explore the themes and inspirations behind his latest title.

- Oct 20th - 2026
- 7pm Door
- Social Refuge | Queer Lit
- Fully Accessible

BIG MAN follows the life of Big, a middle-aged, Black British gay man who lives a gentle life with his boyfriend, Little, in their home in East London. Big and Little enjoy evenings out and group holidays with friends, as much as practising yoga together at home, and running side by side along the Hackney canals.

Come along and bring all the question your dying to ask and we welcome Dean for this next chapter in his career. by @queerlituk

87

5

9 days ago

Happy International Lesbian Day!

To help you celebrate, we're offering 10% off all sapphic books and accessories.

Simply use code ILD26 at checkout and treat yourself, your partner, a friend, or someone special in your life.

Today, we celebrate lesbian voices, stories, identities, and our incredible community. We see you. We celebrate you.

Be bold. Be proud. Be you.
Have a wonderful International Lesbian Day!

Use code ILD26 and enjoy 10% off all sapphic titles and accessories.

#InternationalLesbianDay #LesbianDay #SapphicReads #SapphicBooks #QueerBooks #LGBTQBooks #QueerLit #Bookstagram #IndieBookshop #ReadQueer #LesbianVisibility #LoveIsLove #QueerJoy #RepresentationMatters #BooksOfInstagram #ProudToBeMe #SupportQueerAuthors by @queerlituk

82

2

9 days ago

BANNED BOOKS WEEK

Many of the titles in this collection are now regarded as literary classics, award-winning novels, and landmark works of LGBTQ+ literature, yet each faced challenges, bans, censorship, or fierce opposition because of the identities, relationships, and ideas they dared to explore.

All of these books challenged social norms long before many readers were ready to confront them. Some were banned outright, some were censored, and others became flashpoints in wider debates about gender, sexuality, and freedom of expression. Their stories remind us why access to diverse voices matters, and why the freedom to read should never be taken for granted.

Which of these titles have you read? Let us know in the comments, and tell us which title deserves a place on everyone's reading list.

#BannedBooksWeek #bannedbooksweekuk #FreedomToRead #ReadBannedBooks #Bookstagram #BooksOfInstagram #LGBTQBooks #QueerLiterature #LiteraryClassics #IndependentBookshop #ReadingCommunity #BookLovers by @queerlituk

147

3

10 days ago

Manchester are you ready!

Nov 18th
7pm door
Social Refuge
Fully accessible

After setting the neurodivergent scene ablaze in London, Attention Seekers is bringing The Hyperfixation Presentations to Social Refuge in Manchester for a chaotic night of learning, laughter, and joy. You can expect unabashed neurodivergent passion and silliness!

Our roster of presenters are ready to bring you down the rabbit holes of niche research and interests, with an opportunity to present on your own hyperfixations too with an open-mic quarter. From unconventional pens, regency ball rules, and a study on Ian Curtis and Joy Division, get ready to learn about a range of topics which are (aptly) diverse.

So come and join us for what's going to be an interesting evening to say the least.
You can check out Attention seekers here: www.instagram.com/attentionseekersevents by @queerlituk

96

1

11 days ago

COMPETITION TIME!

Queer Lit has teamed up with small independent publisher Lurid Editions and we’re giving away a copy of A Way of Love!

Written by James Courage, A Way of Love was originally published by Jonathan Cape in 1959, before its distribution was banned in James’s native land New Zealand in 1961. Since 1998, New Zealand has marked ‘Courage Day’, commemorating the banning of the book and highlighting ongoing concerns around freedom of expression.

Lurid Editions is a small independent publisher dedicated to republishing forgotten and banned works by queer authors, reconnecting readers with pieces of queer history that might otherwise be lost.

So far, they’ve brought five titles back into print.

To show your support and learn more about Lurid Editions and their growing list, visit:
lurideditions.com

To celebrate Banned Books Week, we’re giving one lucky reader the chance to WIN a copy of A Way of Love!

HOW TO ENTER:

- Follow @queerlituk
- Like this post
- Tag a fellow book lover in the comments!

Competition closes on 10th October 2026, when we’ll announce our lucky winner!

*** prize sent to UK address Only ***

#QueerLit #QueerBooks #QueerReads #BannedBooksWeek #ReadBannedBooks #QueerHistory #JamesCourage #AWayOfLove #LuridEditions #IndiePublisher #BookGiveaway #Bookstagram #QueerBookstagram #LGBTQBooks by @queerlituk

58

19

12 days ago

BANNED BOOKS WEEK UK
4–10 OCTOBER 2026

Next week is Banned Books Week UK, a celebration of our freedom to read and a stand against the censorship of stories, voices and ideas.

For us at Queer Lit, that freedom matters enormously.

LGBTQ+ books give people the opportunity to see themselves, discover stories beyond their own experiences and understand that they are not alone. At a time when books are being challenged, removed from shelves and targeted for the ideas they contain, we want to make sure queer stories remain exactly where they belong: out, proud and accessible.

And we need your help.

We’ve set up a donation page on the Queer Lit website, and every penny donated will go towards books for our local communities. It's Simple! Each £5 = ONE BOOK

We know things aren’t easy right now and we’re all feeling the pinch. But if you can afford to give just £5, you can help us put LGBTQ+ books into schools across Greater Manchester and get them into the hands of young people who need them.

Got books rather than pounds? We want those too.

Bring your pre-loved LGBTQ+ titles into Queer Lit and we’ll give them a new lease of life by pledging them to our Banned Books Week book drive.

Donate £5.
Donate a book.

Help keep queer stories on the shelves.

Because our stories deserve to be read.

#BannedBooksWeekUK #BannedBooksWeek #QueerLit #LGBTQBooks #QueerBooks #ReadQueer #QueerLiterature by @queerlituk

447

7

15 days ago