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Daunt Books is in talks to open a shop in Muswell Hill, The Bookseller can confirm.
The new north London branch is understood to be opening on the site of former independent bookstore Muswell Hill Books, previously owned by Ivan Beal, who also owned the now closed Fagin's Toyshop nearby. A neighbourhood group had been planning to fundraise for a community shop on the site but was reportedly told "Daunt's were moving in".
Rose Cole, general manager of Daunt Books, confirmed: "We have had discussions with the landlord but nothing has been signed so I'm afraid there is very little I can say at this stage."
Muswell Hill is home to several independent bookshops, including House of Books and the Children's Bookshop, located directly opposite the old Muswell Hill Bookshop site. A long-standing "gentleman's agreement" between the Muswell Hill Bookshop and The Children's Bookshop meant the former refrained from stocking titles for those aged under 16.
The Muswell Hill Bookshop closed in October last year following the owner's retirement, after trading for nearly 50 years.
There are currently five branches of Daunt Books in London, in Marylebone, Holland Park, Belsize Park, Cheapside, and Hampstead. There is also one branch in Oxford, and the company also owns The Owl Bookshop in London's Kentish Town, The Marlow Bookshop in Marlow, and Hart's Books in Saffron Walden.