Independent bookshop closing after rise in bills
Summary
The Chicken and Frog, an independent bookshop in Brentwood, will close in January after 14 years. Owner Natasha Radford cited rising bills and business rates, along with low town-centre footfall. The shop also hosted workshops and offered a sensory space for families and neurodivergent children.Key Facts
- The bookshop is on Crown Street in Brentwood.
- Owner Natasha Radford said she sometimes went a full day without making a sale.
- Radford said the shop had thin profit margins and did not receive the discounts available to larger retailers.
- She said electricity bills had tripled since the shop opened.
- The shop’s annual business rates rose from £2,868 in 2024 to £8,435 this year.
- The business ran workshops and provided a sensory space for children and families.
- A Treasury spokesperson said the autumn Budget raised the threshold for paying business rates from a rateable value of £12,000 to £18,000.
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