Scarthin Books: The family home that became a famous bookshop

Now Mr Mitchell has stepped back from the day-to-day running of the bookshop, he describes it as his “wayward child or grandchild”.

“It’s got my genes, most of the shelving and the design and the layout and all the different rooms, that’s all down to me, but what’s actually happening there, the books that are purchased and the way it’s all laid out and displayed, that’s all down to David and Eve and Bev, and all the members of staff who are doing their own thing,” he said.

Looking back at the bookshop’s history, Mr Mitchell described it as “a series of crazy mistakes”.

“I shouldn’t have bought the place in the first place, I should have bought a quick and easily-sold semi so I could move on, and I certainly shouldn’t have allowed what was a lovely family home to become a business,” he said.

“It was a very stupid thing to do, but these mistakes have somehow proved fruitful.”

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, external, on X, external, or on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk, external or via WhatsApp, external on 0808 100 2210.