An independent bookshop in Stoke-on-Trent is marking two years of business in the city centre with a celebration this weekend. 

Vellichor Books first opened in Piccadilly Arcade, Hanley, on 3 February 2024. 

The shop will be celebrating its two-year anniversary on Saturday 7 February and is inviting local people to join in the festivities and enjoy cake and bubbly from 1pm. 

Mitch Hughes, director of Vellichor Books, said: "When we hit one year, it was amazing. That was the first hurdle. 

"Now, to make it to two years feels like we are on the right track."

For Mitch, Vellichor Books is much more than a booshop, and he places a strong emphasis on community. 

He said: "I always really wanted a bookshop, and I think having a community aspect is really important as well. 

"Not just to me, but I think for the area in general. 

"If you want people to come out for something, you need to do something special." 

Alongside selling books, the store regularly hosts a wide variety of events from Dungeons and Dragons and Warhammer evenings to life drawing classes and ghost hunts. 

There is also a room upstairs that available to book for a range of uses such as book clubs, tabletop games or studying. 

Mitch added: "Even though it's my dream, I'm helping other people have somewhere get involved with things that they might not otherwise have done.  

"So that's why I think that it's the people that I'm most proud of and the community we've built." 

As he marks two years of operating his own bookshop in the city centre, Mitch has encouraged other local people with dreams of opening a business to "just go for it". 

He said: "You don't have to be a millionaire to set up your own business and make a difference. 

"You see online a lot of time people say, 'I wish this was here' or 'I wish that was there'. 

"But you can do your own thing. You find a little niche of something you want to do and just go for it." 

Vellichor Books will be marking its second birthday with a celebration in the shop on Saturday 7 February from 1pm. Find out more here.

The shop is also offering double loyalty stamps from Tuesday 3 February to Saturday 7 February.