Bookshops warn of enterprise charges wrestle

Independent bookshops have become the latest High Street firms to warn they will struggle to stay open as business rates soar.

Fleur Sinclair, president of the Booksellers Association, which represents more than 3,500 shops, warned that shops are unable to invest, recruit or even donate to local causes due to the increases.

More than 400 bookshops will see average annual increases of £4,563 in rates from April as a result of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget decisions – meaning that an average shop in England needs to sell at least 1,141 extra books per year to stay afloat, the Booksellers Association said.

Concern: Independent bookshops have become the latest High Street firms to warn they will struggle to stay open as business rates soar

Sinclair says the sector is unfairly taxed in comparison to online giants such as Amazon.