With the promise of ‘civilised shopping, great books, great people’, book stores across the country are offering services such as book curating and wrapping, free glasses of prosecco, sandwiches and cakes. The Edinburgh Bookshop will also have a singing butler on hand.

Some retailers are offering discounts on books but in moderation. As Rik McShane, retail director at Waterstones, tells The Bookseller, "Black Friday is interesting because it does bring people onto the high street. We don't do a huge amount to change our shops because we think coming into our bookshops should be a relaxing experience and a distraction from the madness of the high street."

Lesslie Oliver from The Bookworm in Selkirk, Scottish Borders, said: "Last year Black Friday was all a little bit bonkers, wasn't it? I don't think the Black Friday proposition - everything sold at a huge discount - is really the right proposition for books and book lovers. I think Civilised Saturday works much better for bookshops and our customers. I think it is a lovely idea."

Black Friday (27 November) this year is set to be the biggest shopping day in the UK with sales expected to pass the £1billion mark (last year £810m was spent). But booksellers and avid readers alike have been tweeting their support for the alternative event this week.

Bookshops launch ‘Civilised Saturday’ in response to Black Friday mayhem