Wokingham's last bookshop to close

The last general bookshop in Wokingham is to close tomorrow (18th February) due to a decline in sales combined with increasingly high rates and rent.

Founded by Lynda and Brian Low in April 1991, Bookends bookshop in Peach Street, Wokingham will close tomorrow after nearly 26 years of trading, leaving the town without a bookshop "for miles".

Speaking to The Bookseller, Lynda Low said the pair had taken the decision for a “combination” of reasons including a gradual decline in footfall, high rates, high rent and a decline in book sales.

“Footfall on the high street is going down and down and down and people are not buying as many books, and our rents and rates are going up all the time", Low said. “It’s a huge shame. It's not a decision we’re taking lightly but bricks and mortar is just not the place to be anymore. It’s a very sad day for me. We’ve tried everything we can. We’ve put a lot of our money into this but there’s only a certain amount of time that you can do that.”

With the closure of Bookends, Wokingham will be left without a general bookshop, with nearest general bookshop "for miles" being Waterstones in Reading, Low said.

The town will still be served by a Christian bookshop called Quench.