Pocket Shop exits UK as last two shops close

Bonnier-owned retail chain Pocket Shop's stores in Hammersmith and Birmingham Airport have closed, with Waterstones taking over the lease for the Liverpool Street station branch. 

In a brief statement, Waterstones said:  "Waterstones has taken over the lease for the Pocket Shop location at Liverpool Street Station. All staff at the shop will remain in position." The shop, which opened at the London Underground station in 2016, has six members of staff. 

Pocket Shop, which first launched in Stockholm in 1989 selling paperbacks, opened its first UK branch in Birmingham Airport in July 2016 followed by a shop in Hammersmith.

However the Hammersmith branch closed in mid-July and that of Birmingham Airport on September 30th. Liverpool Street was transferred to Waterstones also at the end of September.

Anna Borné Minberger, Pocket Shop’s c.e.o. confirmed: "As of last week we don’t have any remaining stores in the UK." She told The Bookseller: "Bonnier has chosen other areas where they prefer to invest at this time. For Pocket Shop to continue with only the three shops, without the possibility to invest and expand further, does not make any sense. Unfortunately."

Paperback chain Pocket Shop was founded in 1989 by Mathias Engdahl. Bonnier bought it in 2012, with Minberger succeeding Engdahl as c.e.o. in 2013. There are around 17 Pocket Shop outlets across Sweden and Germany, all based in travel hubs such as airports and major train stations.