Choose Books opens on Newhaven Road in Leith as a tribute to Trainspotting

Thirty years after Trainspotting hit cinema screens, Leith has a bookshop that tips its hat to the story. Choose Books opened in early March at 126 Newhaven Road, its bright orange frontage borrowing the shade and lettering of the film's promotional material and echoing Renton's famous speech.

The shop is run by Shaun Baskind, who is originally from South Africa. He previously ran Ballard Books there, a shop named in tribute to the writer J.G. Ballard, and he has named his Edinburgh venture in honour of Irvine Welsh, whom he describes as one of the best contemporary authors alive.

Shaun has said he is fairly sure Welsh knows about the shop through mutual friends, but admits he does not necessarily like to meet the people he idolises.

Despite the name, books are only part of the offer. Shelves hold secondhand paperbacks across every genre, from horror and science fiction to romance and children's books, alongside LPs, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and VHS, comics, graphic novels, Pokemon cards, collectable toys and vintage finds. The shop accepts donations and will also buy collections.

Shaun has said he wants it to be a community bookshop, with affordable prices across the board and small treats for children whose parents do not want to spend a fortune on a toy. When it opened, the first stock on the shelves was made up of items Shaun had been collecting over the years. His own tastes lean towards contemporary fiction and science fiction, but the mix is deliberately eclectic.

His wife Kezia has spoken about their excitement at the shift towards physical media among younger people.

The idea, Shaun told Time Out, was to open a bookshop near where the family lives and create its own atmosphere in the community, rather than trying to break into areas of the city that are already well served. He says local people have responded very well and been very supportive.

There is also a seating area by the front window, where visitors can enjoy a coffee from local roaster Ride and Grind while watching Newhaven Road go by.

Choose Books is at 126 Newhaven Road and opens Tuesday to Friday from 8.30am to 3pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 4pm.