Heygates Bookshop, Bognor Regis, England
Heygates Bookshop was founded in 1968 at 67 High St by long-established fruiterers, greengrocers, and florists, the Heygate family. In 2016 the business passed to honorary nephew, Jason who was looking for something new having been made redundant from local government. Despite being diagnosed as Dyslexic at school Jason loved a new challenge. As the business had started to show its age, he set to work on new shelving, branding and even taking card payments! It was a slow and sometimes soul-destroying process, but eventually things started to pay off.
Whilst the shop was cosy we needed a bigger (and drier!) location so were delighted when the option to move to the town’s Grade II Listed Railway Station presented itself. We closed in May 2021 and reopened that July with more space, chairs, a courtyard and endless potential. We have not looked back, with more customers who all like the extra space and bigger ranges across all subjects, including book-related gifts. We have recently installed a coffee machine by popular demand. We have been able to host several book signings by local authors, a poetry reading and a now-annual Magic of Books Day, the aim being to show how words in books can conjure up the most magical images and experiences.
The once in a lifetime move of 200,000 + books presented the perfect opportunity to rebrand the shop, using the new location for its main inspiration and set the shop on its next chapter.
Contact:
Station Square, Station Rd, Bognor Regis PO21 1BA
Website: heygatesbooks.com
Telephone: 01243 860 079
Email: heygatesbooks@gmail.com
Instagram: @heygatesbooks
Facebook: Heygates-Bookshop-100063466121399
