PDSA

Ah, another wonderful charity shop with a decent book selection. Although this shop didn’t have many of the classics, they had an good selection of mainstream fiction, and some literary fiction as well. I was able to purchase a copy of Zadie Smith’s White Teeth for a very nominal cost, and I consider that to be quite the find. Thinking back, I don’t think they had that good of a book selection, but the joy that my find brought me has forced me to have a distorted perception of what was actually there. And as with other charity shops, they sell clothing, gifts, trinkets and other small accessories.

This PDSA shop just off London Road is a must for your charity-​shopping spree. It doesn’t have the boutiquey attitude of the inner-​Brighton charity shops, but is instead the traditional mix of lovely grandmas, terrible clothes and odd bric-​à-​brac. Despite falling down resoundingly on the clothes front (unless of course you’re a big fan of beige imitation leather) it picks up at the book section, which is bigger than many charity shops’ and well stocked with both fiction and non-​fiction. This also seems to be the place to come for old books, with several visits over the last year yielding a stack of yellowing, spotted hardbacks in paper dust covers, emitting that delicious smell that only old books have. I like to think of it as the knowledge of centuries transmuted into aroma. Others call it mildew, but I stand my ground. Another high point if you’re a pet owner is the section for (new) pet paraphernalia — not only can you pick up all those little bits that your furface needs occasionally such as leads and new collars, but you can help out an animal charity at the same time that concentrates on equality of care for all animals, regardless of their owners’ financial circumstances. It’s also good to visit a charity shop where all the volunteers seem genuinely knowledgeable and interested in their charity, and happy to talk about its aims. Price-​wise it’s on the lower end, with many books under a pound and most clothes under four. Definitely worth a nose.

Charity shops have come under fire and lost a lot of credibility lately in terms of stock and pricing, which is unfair, after all they are fundamentally a charity. Like all charity shops PDSA sometimes still has the odd hidden gem in the midst. The book section isn’t upto much but the vinyl section has come up trumps in the last few visits I’ve made. The staff are lovely and even let me into the hallowed back room of the glorious non display items, it was my Graceland.

The London Rd is a charity shop haven… I love nothing more than a lazy day meandering from shop to shop, picking through other people’s old tat to see what I might lay my hands on. Brilliant though they all are, one shines out above the rest… the good old PDSA! Tucked away on Oxford St, the PDSA always seems to deliver, which really isn’t something you can normally expect from a charity ship, given the inconsistent nature of donating. But seriously, I struggle to leave the place empty handed! The shoes are usually quite dodgy, all a bit Shoes Fayre circa 1983, but they often have great jackets and jeans. The tops are organised by colour, which is very visually pleasing, and makes life easy, especially if you have an idea of what you are looking for.
The book section used to be really good, lots of great authors like Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou. Last time I went in there wasn’t so much, but they may just have been experiencing a bit of a book drought.
The ladies that run the place are amusing, to say the least– they usually have some anecdotal tale that is rarely related to what you’re buying. And if you’re a pet lover you will feel especially good about shopping for this wonderful cause!