Derby's quirky silent book club lets you read in peace alongside other bibliophiles

Book fans can also enjoy a bite to eat before the Quiet Reading Hour at Carnero Lounge

When is a social not really a social? It may sound like an odd proposition, however the ethos behind Silent Book Club is nothing short of amazing.

Books and coffee go hand in hand and now you can indulge in some quiet reading time at a Derby restaurantplaceholder image
Books and coffee go hand in hand and now you can indulge in some quiet reading time at a Derby restaurant | Priscilla Du Preez

Silent Book Club is a reading group with a series of funky plot twists that you won’t see coming.

You can bring along a book and read in silence, while sipping coffee or tucking into a tasty meal at Carnero Lounge in the city centre.

The reading group in Derby comes together several times a month and it is free to attend - you only pay for what you consume.

Read what you want

This is not the only quirky aspect about this book club.

There is no assigned reading, so you can bring along anything you’d like to read.

This could be a novel, comic, magazine, newspaper, or even an essay if you’re a student and just want some peacetime to catch up on reading.

The format is also your choice, which means you can bring along a physical book, ebook, or listen with earphones to an audiobook.

As the venue is a restaurant, people can enjoy a bite to eat by purchasing food and drink before the main event.

The format of the evening is arrive at 6pm, meet other readers then hunker down for the Quiet Reading Hour session that runs from 6.30pm till 7.30pm.

People can stick around to chat or even continue reading if they like.

A message from the event organiser says: ‘We usually start the reading hour with quick introductions and sharing what we’re reading. Don’t worry if you’re running late, just pull up a chair and join us when you can!

‘You might want to bring along earphones or earplugs as there’s usually some hustle and bustle or music in the background.

‘Meetings are always free to attend, but we encourage you to support our hosts by buying a drink or something to eat if you can.

‘We'll be meeting at Carnero Lounge again, we'll be on a table upstairs with a sign on the table so you can find us.’

There are two Silent Book Clubs running this month in Derby.

They fall on Wednesday May 1, and Wednesday May 29, 2024.

Address: Carnero Lounge, 10 St Peters Stree, Derby DE1 1SH

For more information about the event visit the MeetUp website by clicking here.

Follow us
© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice