Café Royal Books is an independent publisher founded by Craig Atkinson in 2005, dedicated to post-war photography from Britain, with a particular interest in unseen or overlooked work.

Published weekly in an accessible and affordable zine format, they have a broad appeal for their photographic and historic interest, charting a fascinating route through British social history. Now spanning 700 issues, Café Royal provides a large and unique printed archive of documentary photography with historical significance and have opened up the work of whole generations of documentary photographers especially to new audiences.

Each book focuses on a single body of work by a single photographer, and each book is part of the larger, extensive series. As a series, they provide a valuable resource into cultural and social change in Britain. Subjects are wide and varied and include folk customs, protest, street photography, mining and industry, community and place or city, architectural change, music and youth culture, politics, and religion.

Many of the photographers published by Café Royal either had their first ever exhibition at Impressions – such as Martin Parr and Daniel Meadows, or have shown at the gallery including Jo Spence, Chris Killip, and more recently Sophie Gerrard. Also included are publications by Ian Beesley, who since the late 70s has been documenting the changing social landscape of Bradford. 

All seven hundred zines will be available to browse and are accompanied by printed posters on the gallery walls, highlighting the variety of photographs featured within the publications. The exhibition will also showcase a specially curated collection of both Daniel Meadows’ 1972 Butlin’s By The Sea photographs, and Syd Shelton’s seminal Rock Against Racism series from the late 70s and early 80s.

In 2022, Craig Atkinson was the recipient of the Royal Photographic Society Award for Photographic Publishing. The award is given to an individual for outstanding achievement or sustained contribution in the field of photographic publishing.

Coinciding with the exhibition, our annual Photobook Fair will take place on Saturday 12 October 2024, with a focus on independent, non-mainstream, grassroots and self-published photobooks and zines.

Image top: Butlin’s By The Sea: Butlin’s Filey, Yorkshire, 1972 © Daniel Meadows.