Scone Spy: A tale of great value yummy food and comfy sofas at Waterstones

SO, they were going to go the way of the dinosaurs.

Or fax machines, pagers or VHS video recorders.

Books, that is.

Sure, we’d still enjoy the latest beach blockbuster, but only on our Kindle or tablet.

Books were SO yesterday. A bit like Mark Twain, though, rumours of their demise were somewhat exaggerated.

In fact, e-book sales have been on the slide and it’s the good, old-fashioned physical book that’s enjoying a buying bonanza.

Funnily enough, it’s the younger generations – yes, the ones who seem to spend all their time on their smartphones – who are driving the sales increase.

Waterstones, Sauchiehall St (Sunday Post)

There’s nothing, it seems, like holding the real thing in your hand and flicking through the pages.

It all comes to mind as a chum and I have popped in to what’s like the War And Peace of bookshops.

Waterstones in Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow boasts it is the biggest in Scotland.

And what’s attracted us in particular is that we’ve heard that the downstairs café has, like the book market, had a bit of a transformation.

It used to be a Costa coffee outlet. Now, though, it’s very much the shop’s distinctively own operation.

And going in-house is a very welcome development.

The look is a lot less identikit you-could-be-anywhere chain and more in keeping with the look of the rest of the store.

It’s the Sabbath and the whole place has that easy like a Sunday morning vibe.

The place is quiet enough for the staff to take the time to chat. So, we learn that the new look – it came in just last year – has a very local emphasis.

A city coffee merchant has come up with a special blend (and very tasty it was too) and everything from the bread, cakes, milk and more is sourced handily close by.

But my eyes have alighted on the all-important scones.

And – like the bookshop – they’re BIG. Yum.

“Grab a seat,” says the chap behind the counter which is filled with scrummy-looking cakes and pastries and edged with made-on-the-premises sandwiches, wraps and baguettes. “I’ll bring them over.”

When he does he tells us more about the new look being rolled out at the bookseller’s various stores.

While he does, we’re tucking into the scones.

They’re not just big, but firm, floury and fresh. They come with a jar of jam and a really generous ramekin of butter, all for a reasonable £1.80.

Settling back on the comfy Chesterfield sofa I can see fellow customers, both on the basement café level and the glass-fronted upper gallery, sipping and munching.

And, of course, reading. Books bought, books being browsed.

A high-tech future is marvellous. But sometimes back to the future is the way to go.