Daunt Books Departs from Fulham Road This Weekend

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Local MP Greg Hands calls closure 'a real loss to the community'

Daunt Books in Fulham Road is closing down this Sunday, 16 February, due to drop in customers and 'extremely high' rent and rates.

The bookshop has been a favourite destination for local people for the last 12 year, and Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands is amongst those lamenting its loss, tweeting @GregHands: " A pity that Daunt Books on Fulham Road is closing this Sunday. A real loss to the community, I have shopped there many times.

"The (small) chain carries on elsewhere, and is indeed opening a new branch in Oxford at the same time."

Brett Wolstencroft, 56, co-founded the company at its flagship Marylebone shop in 1990 with James Daunt, now the managing director of Waterstones. They opened the Daunt Books in Fulham Road, at that point the fourth in their chain, in 2008 – replacing The Pan Bookshop.

As well as selling books it hosted regular very popular book signings including appearances by Pippa Middleton, sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, and comedian and actor David Walliams.

Last month he said: "Chelsea was one of our best shops in terms of loyal customers and excellent staff. We have been a cultural glue in the community."

However, he added that the store would soon close due to crippling rates and the fact that the area in Chelsea around the store had become like a 'seaside town'.

He added: "There’s not as many local residents living here 365 days a week. The area is less busy than it used to be, that’s simply a fact. We’ve noticed it elsewhere on the street.”

"As footfalls have decreased, so have our profits. The local change has been a gradual shift. We have some very loyal customers but we’re not growing by getting many new ones. It’s exceptionally sad."

Rose Cole, manager of Daunt Books Chelsea, said: "It is with great sadness that Daunt Books announces the forthcoming closure in February of our Fulham Road branch.

"Despite the success of the shop and the continued loyalty of our customers, we find ourselves unable to meet the extremely high rent and rates demanded of us. This brings to an end the long heritage of bookselling on the site, having first been home to The Pan Bookshop.

"We would like to thank our many loyal customers, as well as our exceptional team of booksellers."

She added that all six booksellers working at the store will be employed in other shops.

The closure of leaves our area with just  Nomad Books, which has been at 781 Fulham Road, which hosts regular book clubs for adults, teens and children and for those who like to shop for seondhand books there is the incomparable treasure trove Hurlingham Books at 91 Fulham High Street, close to Putney Bridge Station.

Ray Cole was inspired by his love of books to open the shop in 1968. And he says, if he doesn't have what you are looking for in the shop, it is likely to be found in the shop's local warehouse which holds over one million books.

February 14, 2020

 

 

 

February 14, 2020