For years, Megan Nicolaides and Megan Yapp dreamed of opening their own bookshop.

Now, the lifelong friends are preparing to launch Chapters, an independent bookshop and wine bar set to open in Chester this August - though its exact location remains under wraps for now.

Nicolaides told Chester Nub News the venue will be "Chester through and through".

"We've found somewhere that we love," she said. "If I asked you to draw what a Chester bookshop would look like, I think you'd draw this place."

The pair have been close since meeting at nursery and say their shared love of books has been "brewing forever". But it was a spontaneous trip to Hay-on-Wye - the Welsh town known for its abundance of bookshops - that turned the idea into something more concrete.

"Last year we had a dinner and things got serious," Nicolaides said. "We planned the whole thing out in that night. We were just so aligned with each other. I don't know, it felt like it was meant to be."

Chapters is designed to be more than a traditional bookshop, combining literature with a relaxed wine bar setting.

"It will basically be the kind of place that Meg and I would want to hang out in ourselves, " the co-founder added. "We've kind of created our own dream hangout spot in essence."

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The concept also reflects a wider resurgence in independent bookshops, something Nicolaides finds encouraging.

The co-founders have been friends since they were two-years-old (Image via: Kurt Thomas)

"Even in Chester, we've seen new bookshops open recently," she said. "It's really exciting."

Both founders bring professional experience to the venture. Yapp runs her own accountancy business on the Wirral, while Nicolaides will focus on running the day-to-day operations of the bookshop.

As introverts, the 36-year-olds wanted to create a space for people like themselves, whilst producing a sense of community and comfort.

"I think it's just a case of creating somewhere where we both wanted to hang out," Nicolaides added. "When you go to a bookshop, there's this gorgeous magical feeling that you get and I guess the bar creates a reason to stay longer.

"I mean, why wouldn't you have a bar in a bookshop."

Key to the book bar's mission will be hosting a wide range of events which aim to "bring people together".

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"We have that unique concept of having a bar there, which makes it a slightly different space to your typical bookstore," Nicolades said. "It is perfect for paint and sip type workshops, things where you can be a bit more creative and do something different.

"There are so many creative and different options you can do because of the concept of the store."

You can find the website here, or be the first to find out its location on Chapters' Instagram.