Round Table Books launches crowdfunder to move into bigger shop

Independent children’s bookshop Round Table Books is hoping to crowdfund £50,000 to support their move to a bigger shop two steps away from their current location in Brixton Village, South London.

The bookshop – which opened in 2019 – champions inclusive titles and is a Community Interest Company (CIC), with co-director Meera Ghanshamdas spearheading its effort to engage with locals and host literary events. The move is intended to broaden this offering, as the new shop would include a coffee shop, bar and more space to hold in-house literary events.

Initially focussed on Black and Global Majority authors, the bookshop now also celebrates LGBTQ+, neurodiverse, disabled and global south narratives, and those who write at the intersection of those identities and experiences.

Until recently, Ghanshamdas was the only one of the bookshop’s three co-directors to work full time in the bookshop. In the new shop, Aimée Felone and Jasmina Bidé – its two other co-directors – will join her more permanently on the shop floor.

Ghanshamdas said: “We’re a Community Interest Company, everything we do is for our community in Brixton and beyond. And there’s one thing we hear repeatedly: our current shop is bursting at the seams with not only books, but also with the energy, ideas, love and the potential of our community. We need to dedicate ourselves to launching a bigger space, and making sure it is sustainable in this uncertain political and economic climate.”

The bookshop was founded by Felone and her publishing team at Knights Of in 2019, after successfully raising more than £30,000 in crowdfunding to turn its then high-street pop-up into a permanent space.

This time, they hope to raise £50,000 to go towards investing in a custom fit-out of the new space, buying the necessary equipment to set up the coffee shop and bar, and covering initial running costs, especially higher rent and service charges.

The co-directors said: “We are asking for this money so we can invest in a space for all of our community. Where everyone can come in, feel welcome to drop by for children’s story time, hear an upcoming author speak about their new book, or just grab a really great coffee or glass of wine at a competitive price. We know how special the bookshop has become to so many, and we’re so excited to do even more in this new chapter, with our community’s support.”

Donations can be made here.