By Nova Dudley-Gough 

I first encountered The Honey on Instagram; a post of theirs showed their beautiful colour-coordinated books. As I order my books the same way (it just looks so pretty and tidy!) and there really aren’t enough book shops in Brunei, I felt that I already had a connection to this place. A couple of meetings at the Art and Eat Fair showed me the quality of books that the owner, Sally, has in stock and so I was desperate to go and see what else this place had to offer.

Tucked away upstairs in the same block as the Higher Hotel in Kiulap, The Honey is open by appointment only. It’s a cosy, safe, space, with a mixture of second hand and perfectly curated books, including a small children’s selection and plenty of classics and modern Bookstagram and BookTok friendly titles too. It’s appointment only because this place is more than just a shop: it’s an event space, a personal reading nook (cushions and rugs line the floor, and there is a comfy armchair for reading too), even a spot to work on art or watch a movie.

The Honey was inspired by bookshops in the UK, where people can spend time browsing a wide variety of titles, have a cup of tea and sit and enjoy the atmosphere. Indie bookstores have a unique feeling, a magical place, and that’s what The Honey is trying to create. It’s a safe and inclusive space, no matter where you come from or what you believe — the expat community is very welcome as are local readers. 

Sally really believes that the culture of reading for fun has been neglected in this part of the world. While reading books in international schools is encouraged and seen as a good thing, it can take second place to sports in some local schools. Sally makes sure she stocks a wide variety of books to try and spark some excitement about reading to young people who may not have had the exposure to reading or don’t know where to start with titles they might enjoy. 

Some recent activities that have been hosted by The Honey include art sessions, movie nights, group reading and even private sessions, where you’re left alone with just a cup of tea and a book of your choosing. I know I’d pay for that privilege! 

Sally likes books that are second hand, finding handwritten notes and forgotten bookmarks inside them. She is also involved in hosting literary events with non-profit group Bruneians:Read (Instagram: @BruneiansRead), and initiating charity book donations to instil the love of reading in Brunei. The years of volunteering, hustling and connecting with people have  created a very aesthetic location with an eye for how it will look on social media as well as for the people who are also there just for the books — because if you can get people in the store because of the vibe or how pretty is looks, they’re more likely to buy a book (or two) and share the experience with their friends. And if that makes more people read, that’s great.

The Honey plans to have more pop-ups in malls and also in Panaga, so keep an eye out. And the next time you’re planning to head up to Kiulap, make an appointment and enjoy this literary oasis. 

Owner: Sallyhani Hazman
Email: hello@thehoneybn.com
Address: Block A, First Floor, Higher Point Complex, Kiulap, Brunei
www.thehoneybn.com
Instagram: @thehoneybn FB: The Honey BN