“…opened up the work of whole generations of documentary photographers especially British, to new audiences. And at the same time charted a fascinating route through British social history.“ 


Kate Bush Senior Photography Curator, Tate Britain.

“I have never been so disappointed in a book. In fact, these definitely aren’t books”

A (former) Customer

"Café Royal Books is a remarkable achievement, and one without parallel in the world of photography publications."

Chris Killip, Photographer.

“Craig Atkinson at Café Royal Books occupies an important and central place in British photographic history, ensuring that work that might otherwise be lost or forgotten is reproduced and thereby preserved. These publications are unique, acclaimed and sought-after.”


James Hyman, Hyman Collection. Centre for British Photography.

“Café Royal Books are a model, in form and content…I love the format, small, easy, accessible, not too expensive, but good quality! Then I think it is an extraordinary way to discover great works that somehow were off the radar , so called “minor” photographers or hidden treasures of major ones.”

Gabriela Cendoya, Photobook Collector

"...the work you are doing with Café Royal Books and British documentary photography 1970-2000 is very important. That so much unpublished work is at last being seen, collected and entered into the archives of institutions is fantastic. Apart from the enormous amount of pleasure you generate, what you have done and are continuing to do will give researchers of the future some quality material to get their teeth into. You are literally making a new history. And I love it."

Daniel Meadows, Documentarist