Hot Off the Press: Behind the Scenes with Gomer

September 17, 2025

Tucked away in the rolling hills of West Wales is one of our best-kept secrets – and no, it’s not the location of the next Folio picnic (although, good idea). It’s Gomer Press, the multi-generational book bindery and printers we’ve been lucky enough to call our partner for the last five years.
Earlier this summer, Folio’s team paid them a visit, and we brought a camera or two along for the ride…

A Welsh Original

Founded by J. D. Lewis in 1892, Gomer began life as a small-town press producing Welsh-language books and newspapers. The first book rolled off the press in 1894, and they haven’t stopped since. Still family-owned and operated, Gomer has evolved into a cutting-edge printer & binder with state-of-the-art kit – but they’ve never lost their love for the traditional craft of bookmaking.

Today, they’re known across the publishing world for their precision, consistency and gorgeous results, whether they’re foil-blocking a literary classic or running vibrant colour across uncoated stock. From illustrated children’s books to award-winning poetry volumes, their specialism lies in producing beautiful books that are made to last – and to be loved.

Why Folio loves Gomer

When it comes to making our books, it’s not just about inks, cloths and machinery – it’s about people. You can tell Gomer’s team love what they do, it’s in every detail.

“What we love about working with Gomer is that they really care about getting every single book right,” says Kate Grimwade, Folio’s Production Director. “It’s got the same feel as a craft bindery... people all the way through the process are really passionate about our books” adds Tom Walker, Folio’s Publishing Director.

During the team’s visit, they saw production in full swing – from the printing of Beatles photographs for a new edition of Shout! to seeing A Bear Called Paddington getting its very smart new jacket.
In between all that, they found time for many enthusiastic conversations about book cloths, inks, and board-grain direction (trust us, it’s a real thing).

Why Gomer loves Folio

It’s safe to say the admiration is mutual.

“We’ve been working with the Folio Society for five years now,” says Jonathan Lewis, Managing Director and great-grandson of the original founder. “We have the same ethos, we want to produce beautiful books.”

He’s not kidding. Whether it’s foil-blocking a constellation of stars or getting the tone-perfect, ghostly grey endpapers just right for The Turn of the Screw, Gomer’s team approaches every brief with enthusiasm and expert hands.

A Shared Obsession

At Folio we’re obsessed with making the most beautiful editions of the books people most love. And it’s a joy to work with partners who feel the same. Gomer’s mix of old-school dedication and cutting-edge technology means they can pull off the kind of magic that turns a good book into a Folio book.

So next time you unwrap one of our books and admire the foil detail or the feel of the cloth, know that it might just have travelled through the heart of West Wales – via Gomer, where the presses run fast and the tea flows strong.

Folio books produced by Gomer Press

Printed with pride in Wales – books as finely crafted as the stories they hold.