'Best Christmas present ever' as Book-ish owners buy their premises

The owners of Welsh independent bookshop Book-ish are celebrating after completing the purchase of their premises with help from a crowdfunder backed by the trade.

Emma and Andrew Corfield-Walters, who run Book-ish in the village of Crickhowell, became the owners of their property on 23rd December, in a turn of events Emma Corfield-Walters described as "the best Christmas present ever". 

Earlier this year, the couple launched a GoFundMe page in an effort to buy the property after its owner decided to sell. However, owing to the pandemic, the store was struggling with funds and appealed for help. Bookshop owners, publishers and well-known authors pledged their support to the indie, raising £15,000 in less than a week. The crowfdunder went on to raise £27,830 — well above its revised target of £25,000. 

"I think it’s every bookshop owner's dream to own their own shop and have that security and thanks to almost 1,000 people who supported us on our crowdfunder and privately through the shop that dream has come true," said Emma Corfield-Walters. 

She added: "A proper Christmas miracle as it was looking pretty bleak not to long ago. I’m really looking forward to planning our future in Crickhowell." 

The couple opened the independent bookshop at 23 High Street in Crickhowell in 2010, before relocating to its current premises at number 18 in 2017. The bookshop occupies two floors, a cafe, a bar and an events space. In 2020, it won Independent Bookshop of the Year at the British Book Awards.