By Kira Kolosova
Notting Hill, with its
authentic aesthetics, provides its visitors with an opportunity to escape the
noise of the city and delve into the world of quiet antiques shops, nostalgic
vintage stores and cafes. However, despite the fact that the residents of
Notting Hill try to protect themselves from cruel industrial changes, the
development of new technology threatens one of the gems of the area: the
bookshops.
The hearts of many
women tremble remembering Hugh Grant in the 37 years old Travel Bookshop in the
Notting Hill movie, so it is not a surprise that the store's closure due to
financial reasons caused heart attacks. Fortunately, the shop was saved by a
new owner and is still there under the name Notting Hill Bookshop with even
bigger choice of books when just travel brochures. However, the concerns are
still present. "In the 90s people used to buy more books", says Bree Wider, the
seller in the famous bookshop. "Lots of tourists and fans of the movie visit
the store, but they just take pictures and do not buy books".
The buyer for Book
& Comic Exchange store, Frank Yonko, agrees that demand for books has
decreased and blames the Internet. "Even when people actually want to buy
books, they often buy them online" says Frank. He also thinks the problem is in
the area itself. "When 25 years ago our business originally started here,
Notting Hill was a very cultural place, with lots of musicians, artists living
here. It was very Bohemian, and people read a lot. But it is not like that
anymore", believes Frank. Fortunately, the shop still has its regular customers
thanks to an enormous selection of rare comic and vintage books collected since
the Post War times.
However, there are
bookshops that manage to keep up with the technological advances, often by
adding something extra to the usual experience of purchasing books. First
opened in 1983, the Books for Cooks is still going strong. "Everyday at 12
o'clock we serve lunch in our kitchen where we test recipes form the books and
put successful ones in the special books on the counter", says the sales
assistant Mariana Toress, pointing at the lovely kitchen and small tables at
the end of the store.
Lutyens
and Rubenstein Bookshop, which opened nearly 5 years ago, even noticed an
increase in customers as the time went on. Tara Spinks, the assistant manager,
believes that "people in Notting Hill still read a lot. They take Kindles on
holidays but most of them still prefer to have a book in their hands". The sign
above the stairs to the lower floor promises "more books, coffee and other
necessities", with a large table surrounded by books creating a cozy
atmosphere. So maybe the key to success hides in hot beverages and our love for
tasty things? Tara assures that "very few people buy coffee". But it is still
nice to have an option, isn't it?
The Notting Hill Bookshop
13 Blenheim Crescent
Notting Hill
London,
W11 2EE
020 7229 5260
http://www.thenottinghillbookshop.co.uk/
Books & Comics Exchange
14 Pembridge Road
Notting Hill
London
W11 3HL
Tel: 020 7229 8420
http://www.mgeshops.com/book-comic-exchange/
Books for Cooks
4 Blenheim Crescent
Notting Hill
London
W11 1NN
Tel: 020-7221-1992
http://www.booksforcooks.com/
Lutyens & Rubinstein Bookshop
21 Kensington Park Road
Notting Hill
London
W11 2EU
Tel: 020 7229 1010
http://www.lutyensrubinstein.co.uk/
