Save our bookshop in Old Town Hastings

Hello everyone,

Happy New Year to you all. This is something that I hoped that I would never have to do, but unfortunately with how everything is at the moment, we need to ask for your help.

 

We love being here in the Old Town, and believe that bookshops are an important part of the high street.

 

The last two years have been difficult for everyone, and unfortunately many businesses have been hit hard, including us. We had to take out a bounceback loan in 2020 to help us through the year. The government gave us loans, but that only just covered the rent, and the loss of business with the lack of overseas tourists too, have really hit us. In December 2020 we had to close a week before Christmas - our busiest week of the year - and the money from the Government hardly covered our bills.

 

The worst thing is, that we have to put all the grants we received under income, so we have to pay tax on that amount, and the money we received last year they want the tax from this year instead of leaving it until next tax year, as it should be.

 

This means however much we make here, it always just covers our bills and it will be years until we are able to pay back the loan.

 

We need to raise about £9000 to help us pay our loan off and stay open, otherwise this will probably be our last year, and we will just try and sell everything off and then close.

 

If us independent shops disappear then what will be left? Cafes and restaurants? Everything will just be moved to online and the streets will be dead.

 

If you love coming into a bookshop and having a browse, and actually see the book before buying it, then please help us out with a small donation to ensure we can stay open. I know times are tight but if you can just give something that would be amazing.

 

best wishes,

Neal and all the Hare and Hawthorn team xx