Where stories become adventures
We’ve moved from Hay-on-Wye to Lion Street, Brecon — same heart, new home. Our promise is unchanged: a magical, child-centred space where books, play, and wellbeing weave together. Families drop in from the T6 route, from the Usk valley to Ystradgynlais — some for a quick browse, some for an afternoon of story-making and a quiet cwtch (a cosy nook; Welsh word of uncertain origin, meaning a cuddle/safe place).
At our core sits a feeling the Welsh call hiraeth — a longing for home and belonging (from hir “long” + the abstract noun suffix -aeth). We hold that door open.
Read Well. Live Well. Be Well. — Darllen yn dda. Byw’n dda. Bod yn dda.
More than a bookshop, more than a playroom — the Lab is a living stage for imagination. Alongside everyday browsing, we run a year-round programme that turns stories into experiences:
We welcome local schools, home-education groups, and clubs for mornings that blend literacy, play, and wellbeing. Pupils co-create props and installations, try their hand at performance and design, and see their ideas taken seriously.
We work across Brecon and the Upper Swansea Valley — think Ystradgynlais–Builth–Hay-on-Wye — so the Lab feels like a shared project, not just a shop. Teachers tell us it’s a rare space where “reading time” and “making time” happen side by side.
If you’re a teacher or group leader, drop us a line — we’ll cwtch together a visit that fits your learners.
“Children thrive when imagination, play, and wellbeing are woven together. Stories are more than entertainment — they’re tools of resilience, empathy, and growth. By bringing the Laboratory to Brecon, we continue a journey that began in Hay-on-Wye: shaping places where families feel welcome, inspired, and empowered.”
— Rebecca Watkins, CEO of ElixirCorp & Director of The Literature Laboratory
“If Rebecca’s vision is the map, my role is to plant signposts that lead people to it. Marketing here isn’t noise — it’s storytelling. Every poster, brochure, and whisper of word-of-mouth should carry the same magic you find inside. The welcome downstairs and the wonder upstairs are one shared adventure.”
— Toby Godden, Marketing Director
Step upstairs into a world transformed. Beneath skylights that catch the stars, the room unfolds as a glowing laboratory of wonders: deep blue walls traced with constellations, brass dials and levers humming with hidden magic, and a central dais where the Time Machine itself thrums with light.
At the heart stands the Queen of Quirk — a spectacular Art Deco wardrobe painted in rich blues and purples with emerald trim. Push open its mirrored doors and you’ll find the shimmering gateway to other worlds, plus a secret store of enchanted packages for each child.
Potions bubble at the alchemist’s desk, telescopes sweep the heavens, and hidden archways lead to secret chambers. Every corner feels like a film set brought to life — designed to spark awe. Perfect for children’s parties, creative workshops, and storytelling adventures; not just a room, but a stage where memories are made and every guest becomes part of the story.