diff --git a/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/__init__.py b/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/__init__.py
index 6337031367..d65c245a33 100644
--- a/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env  python2
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
 __license__   = 'GPL v3'
 __copyright__ = '2008, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>'
 '''
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ def compile_recipe(src):
         enc = match.group(1).decode('utf-8') if match else 'utf-8'
         src = src.decode(enc)
     # Python complains if there is a coding declaration in a unicode string
-    src = re.sub(r'^#.*coding\s*[:=]\s*([-\w.]+)', '#', src.lstrip(u'\ufeff'), flags=re.MULTILINE)
+    src = re.sub(r'^#.*coding\s*[:=]\s*([-\w.]+)', '#', src.lstrip('\ufeff'), flags=re.MULTILINE)
     # Translate newlines to \n
     src = io.StringIO(src, newline=None).getvalue()
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/collection.py b/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/collection.py
index 07eff6f545..3a4cedf829 100644
--- a/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/collection.py
+++ b/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/collection.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python2
 # vim:fileencoding=UTF-8:ts=4:sw=4:sta:et:sts=4:ai
-from __future__ import with_statement, print_function
+from __future__ import with_statement, print_function, unicode_literals
 
 __license__   = 'GPL v3'
 __copyright__ = '2009, Kovid Goyal <kovid@kovidgoyal.net>'
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def serialize_recipe(urn, recipe_class):
     if ns is True:
         ns = 'yes'
     return E.recipe({
-        'id'                 : str(urn),
+        'id'                 : unicode_type(urn),
         'title'              : attr('title', _('Unknown')),
         'author'             : attr('__author__', default_author),
         'language'           : attr('language', 'und'),
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ def serialize_collection(mapping_of_recipe_classes):
             traceback.print_exc()
             continue
         collection.append(recipe)
-    collection.set('count', str(len(collection)))
+    collection.set('count', unicode_type(len(collection)))
     return etree.tostring(collection, encoding='utf-8', xml_declaration=True,
             pretty_print=True)
 
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ def update_custom_recipes(script_ids):
     bdir = os.path.dirname(custom_recipes.file_path)
     for id_, title, script in script_ids:
 
-        id_ = str(int(id_))
+        id_ = unicode_type(int(id_))
         existing = custom_recipes.get(id_, None)
 
         if existing is None:
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ def add_custom_recipes(script_map):
     bdir = os.path.dirname(custom_recipes.file_path)
     with custom_recipes:
         for title, script in iteritems(script_map):
-            fid = str(id_)
+            fid = unicode_type(id_)
 
             fname = custom_recipe_filename(fid, title)
             if isinstance(script, unicode_type):
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ def add_custom_recipes(script_map):
 
 def remove_custom_recipe(id_):
     from calibre.web.feeds.recipes import custom_recipes
-    id_ = str(int(id_))
+    id_ = unicode_type(int(id_))
     existing = custom_recipes.get(id_, None)
     if existing is not None:
         bdir = os.path.dirname(custom_recipes.file_path)
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ def remove_custom_recipe(id_):
 
 def get_custom_recipe(id_):
     from calibre.web.feeds.recipes import custom_recipes
-    id_ = str(int(id_))
+    id_ = unicode_type(int(id_))
     existing = custom_recipes.get(id_, None)
     if existing is not None:
         bdir = os.path.dirname(custom_recipes.file_path)
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ class SchedulerConfig(object):
         elif typ == 'day/time':
             text = '%d:%d:%d'%schedule
         elif typ in ('days_of_week', 'days_of_month'):
-            dw = ','.join(map(str, map(int, schedule[0])))
+            dw = ','.join(map(unicode_type, map(int, schedule[0])))
             text = '%s:%d:%d'%(dw, schedule[1], schedule[2])
         else:
             raise ValueError('Unknown schedule type: %r'%typ)
diff --git a/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/model.py b/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/model.py
index 458aa347ed..3bc75b33e5 100644
--- a/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/model.py
+++ b/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/model.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python2
 # vim:fileencoding=UTF-8:ts=4:sw=4:sta:et:sts=4:ai
-from __future__ import with_statement
+from __future__ import with_statement, unicode_literals
 
 __license__   = 'GPL v3'
 __copyright__ = '2009, Kovid Goyal <kovid@kovidgoyal.net>'
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ class NewsItem(NewsTreeItem):
                     try:
                         with zipfile.ZipFile(self.zf, 'r') as zf:
                             p.loadFromData(zf.read(self.favicons[icon]))
-                    except:
+                    except Exception:
                         pass
                 if not p.isNull():
                     self.icon = (QIcon(p))
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ class RecipeModel(QAbstractItemModel, AdaptSQP):
             remove_custom_recipe(id_)
         self.custom_recipe_collection = get_custom_recipe_collection()
 
-    def do_refresh(self, restrict_to_urns=set([])):
+    def do_refresh(self, restrict_to_urns=frozenset()):
         self.custom_recipe_collection = get_custom_recipe_collection()
         zf = P('builtin_recipes.zip', allow_user_override=False)
 
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ class RecipeModel(QAbstractItemModel, AdaptSQP):
         scheduled = factory(NewsCategory, new_root, _('Scheduled'))
         custom = factory(NewsCategory, new_root, _('Custom'))
         lang_map = {}
-        self.all_urns = set([])
+        self.all_urns = set()
         self.showing_count = 0
         self.builtin_count = 0
         for x in self.custom_recipe_collection: