Bell, Book & Candle

Bell, Book and Candle used to be called Hocus Pocus, but it is still run by the same people. It’s the kind of shop that will be popular with teenage ‘witches’ or by those starting out of an occult or metaphysical path.
They have a respectable book section on tarot, druidry, Wicca and the religions of the world. They also stock a wide range of tarot decks. You can also expect the obligatory crystal cabinets with prisms and stones available at fair rates (don’t expect a range of crystal skulls however).
If candle magick is your thing they stock a good range of solid colour candles (cheaper types will be white tallow dipped in a colour coating) at good prices. They also have a limited range of athames (ritual knives) and voodoo ingredients (like st. John the Conqueror root), but there are more specialised shops in the city for such items.
The staff are friendly and happy to advise those without a lot of knowledge of the occult. There are also classes and readings that happen on the premises and I would suggest enquiring in the shop for details.
Even if you aren’t particularly curious of the ‘New Age’ etc, there are enough present items in the shop to make it worth stopping in.

Taking its name from the James Stewart witch caper, Bell, Book and Candle is a new-​age shop with a penchant for all things spiritual. The queenbee of the lot in Brighton, it is an elegant shop full of esoteric delights, with gold and black walls and mosaic-​tiled rafters. An eclectic mix of world religions, BBC does incense, prayer beads, statues, herbs, crystals, jewellery and athames (ritualistic knives). With a range of specialist books from philosophy, faith and self-​help, there is an ever-​expanding stock on offer. Upstairs tarot reading is available, and t night, the Iambic Arts Theatre, a new creative venture of the owner, comes to life.

I’ve always had a deep interest in tarot and astrology, but this interest is something that I always kept solely to myself (similar to the way I never tell anyone that I listen to «Love Machine» by Girls Aloud every morning). My research into tarot and astrology has always been done online, and, for me, online research never gives me the same satisfaction I get from reading a book on the subject. There’s something about holding a book in your hands, and giving your mind the freedom to wander as you contemplate the information you have just read. Whereas if you do research on the internet, a drifting mind will cause you to go to YouTube.
For those who believe in spirits, guides, magic and… magick, this place is a wonder. They have an impressive selection of astrology books and tarot guides, and healing stones and crystal bowls that will help cleanse your aura and clean your mind, body and soul. If new age strikes your fancy, this is a fantastic place to go.

Like Retail Therapy, Bell, Book & Candle is a new age store that specialises in distinctive and unusual gifts of a spiritual /​religious nature. There’s a big selection of aromatic candles, incense and herbs alongside a mix of precious and healing stones, crystals and jewellery. There’s also tarot and astrology cards and a variety of books, CDs, calendars and journals on everything from aromatherapy and alternative medicine to magic and paganism.
If you believe in angels and auras, this is the place for you!

This is a curious little shop, and I’m sure it would be decidedly out of place if it were anywhere other than Brighton. Since my housemate is a dedicated spiritualist, the two of us have spent hours in here pouring over gorgeous little crystals and trinkets, beautifully illustrated oracle cards and books about crystals, fairies and witchcraft.
Okay, so if you aren’t that way inclined it may all sound a bit too wacky, but there’s definitely something just a little magical about stepping in here, with its perpetual smell of incense and soft, celestial, jingly-​jangly music.
Everything, in my opinion, is a bit pricey (I’ve never bagged any bargains in here) but I’ve been assured that it’s the best place for genuine spiritual accessories from sacred statues to crystal balls and incense to singing bowls.
So, whether you’re committed to the spiritual faith, or just feel like you sometimes need a little nudge towards self-​discovery, then this is a place worth visiting. If you really aren’t that way inclined though, they do some lovely hand-​made greetings cards that are worth checking out if you fancy being a bit over-​sentimental.

Bell, Book and Candle isn’t a shop I’ve ever found a specific need to head to before, but I have been drawn in a few times when gift-​hunting. It’s lovely just for a wander round, with calming music and incence scents. The stock is pretty specialist — focusing on magic, spirituality and religion — and stocks an excellent range of books on these kind of subjects. Like Sophie W., incense, tarot cards, and a guide to astrology aren’t things I personally require very often, if ever, desire, but this is still an excellent little shop.

Bell, Book and Candle is a great little shop located in Sydney St in the North Laines. If you’re interested in spirituality and magic, this shop will be right up your alley! The air is filled with the scent of incense and crystals and other semiprecious stones hang suspended– which really sets the scene for a truly mystical, magical shopping experience.
There are all sorts of interesting books, covering topics like tarot, astrology, and alternative medicine. There are also really fascinating fact cards that give you bite-​size introductions to topics such as ‘Angels’, ‘Auras’ and ‘Aromatherapy’. This would be the perfect place to pick up an unusual gift– they sell lovely candles, calenders (my favourite was a calender of Environmental art), jewellery and much more. The jigsaws are really cool– there is a yoga one that is especially interesting.
This is the kind of shop that I easily pass by, until someone I’m with wants to go in. Probably because I don’t have much need for tarot cards or crystals. But there is much more to this shop than initially meets the eye– definitely worth a visit.

Walking into the Bell Book and Candle shop on Bond street gave me a warm fuzzy feeling. Of course, it’s always nice to walk inside from the rain, but it was also the sense of harmony at seeing world religious paraphernalia together on the same shelves. Buddha and angels and Egyptian pharaohs… happily hanging out together.
I worked in a new age/​spiritual bookshop in Canada for awhile, and this one easily brought me back to that time, with the smell of incense and the ethereal music playing as customers wander slowly around. Bell offers books on various spiritual and religious topics, supplemented by sections of tarot cards, journals and calendars.
Precious stones and crystals are sold as part of jewelery or on their own, with healing properties clearly marked by each section.
Near the back of the shop are boxes of incense and herb collections, also marked with names and uses. Shop windows advertise for various upcoming spiritual events in the area, and I was intrigued to discover that members of staff give daily tarot readings.
I enjoyed how the sales clerk was sitting comfortably reading whilst customers perused the shop, looking up every once and awhile to smile at anyone near the counter.
Bell Book and Candle is a great place to look for gifts of a spiritual nature, or to stock up on necessities for your upcoming pagan ritual. I will likely return — possibly for a tarot reading.

This is a very interesting shop. Their philosophy is that all faith stem from a common core. The shop holds various trinkets, ornaments and books from every faith. I think it’s a nice idea and the shop certainly will interest spiritual types although I’m not sure how many statues of deities I’m ever going to need A very interesting browse though and the staff were very nice.