New chapter for Crouch End book store

Charlotte Newton A NEW chapter has begun on the north London literary scene with the opening of a budget book shop in Crouch End. The House of Books opened in Crouch End Broadway in one of the buildings left vacant by Myers Furnishing. It sells books that

Charlotte Newton

A NEW chapter has begun on the north London literary scene with the opening of a budget book shop in Crouch End.

The House of Books opened in Crouch End Broadway in one of the buildings left vacant by Myers Furnishing.

It sells books that have been over-stocked by publishers.

So avid readers can buy Charles Dickens's Bleak House for �2 or the Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith for a mere �3 when it is priced at �6.99 on the back cover.

There is also a large selection of children's books for youngsters who are still mourning the loss of Word Play, after it closed in May.

Adam Bloom, 44, owns the shop with three friends.

Mr Bloom, who lives with his wife and three daughters in Woodland Gardens, Muswell Hill, said: "We felt Crouch End was the right place to open a new bookshop because it is a busy shopping area with the right profile of well-read people with a little disposable income.

"We have another shop in Chiswick and I'd been looking at leasing a property in Crouch End for years but it was too expensive.

The downturn in the market has meant there is flexibility and landlords are more realistic about their rents."

Residents and councillors who feared the writing was on the wall for shopping in Crouch End have welcomed the latest addition to the Broadway.

Dr Robin Boyd, of Womersley Road, Crouch End said: "Any new bookshop is a good idea.

"Crouch End has too many coffee shops and estate agents. A little bit of culture is a good thing. People watch too much television these days and they don't read enough."

Yoga teacher Tess Bull, of Mount Pleasant Villas, Stroud Green, said: "It's great - I'm always glad to have another bookshop.

"We've been suffering since Word Play closed and this is a nice spacious shop.

"The books seem very cheap. I bought six yoga books for my students because they're such a bargain."

Lib Dem Crouch End Cllr Dave Winskill said: "It's great news that at least one of the prominent empty shops in Crouch End has now been taken on and is trading.

"Having an extra book shop in Crouch End will do a great deal to attract people into the area and I'm sure the centre will benefit overall.