I own a small, but superb, New, Remaindered and Hard-To-Find Bookstore
in Whitstable, Kent, England. This year I hope to start publishing, as
a PROPER publisher, some works by friends and clients. I have done the
usual A4/A5 printing off and spiral binding with a colour cover, but
now want to do it PROPER! My first paid-for commision is a mans
biography of his wife and is 64000 words. it isn't illustrated, but
could easily be supported with photos. I simply want to become a
proper publisher taking commisions and arranging printing and
distribution etc myself. My question? How do I start as a publisher in
the UK and are there different catergories for photobooks (which we
aim to start soon)  from the biography described above? Will I always
have to raise the capital to actually publish or can I expect zero
advance payments if the first book is a winner?

Well, I do not know the answers to your questions.

But the website of The Publishers Association (London) is rather detailed:
http://www.publishers.org.uk/paweb/paweb.nsf/pubframe!Open

e.g. "Guidelines for Publishers":
http://www.publishers.org.uk/paweb/paweb.nsf/homepages/guidelines+(public)!OpenDocument

Sorry about the second link not working.

Please copy and paste the entire link into your address bar or go to
http://www.publishers.org.uk/paweb/paweb.nsf/pubframe!Open
and click on "Guidelines".