Independent bookshop The Chicken and Frog has announced it will close after 14 years, dealing a blow to Brentwood town centre. The shop will shut in January, with owner Natasha Radford citing "ever increasing overheads and the ever decreasing footfall" as the reasons.
Owner cites rising costs and falling footfall
In a Facebook post, Radford claimed the Government "along with their predecessors don't seem to be overly concerned about small businesses." She added: "To stay on top of the recent rates and energy hikes I would need to sell an additional sixteen books a day every day for three hundred and sixty five days of the year."
"It is bleak. And I'm not doing it."
The former teacher told the BBC that the town's footfall has decreased so much that some days she goes a whole day without making a sale.
Community impact and tributes
The shop's closure will mean the loss of more than just its bookshelves, with its workshops and sensory space also set to disappear. However, parents have been reassured that school services will remain largely unchanged, with one-to-one SEND tuition continuing either in pupils' homes or at a new local venue.
Mum Stephanie, who takes her neurodivergent child to The Chicken and Frog, described its closure as "truly heart breaking", adding that it is an "incredible haven" of "knowledge, support and community".
The closure announcement sparked an outpouring of heartfelt tributes on Facebook. One person wrote: "So sorry to hear this as you've been such an asset to Brentwood and agree that unfortunately the government is doing nothing to help businesses. We will have nothing left at this rate and it's very sad to see the decline."
Another added: "Heartbroken to hear this. You've been such an amazing part of the high street and the community. I've loved bringing all of my children in and gifting your lovely wooden book tokens to all their friends. Your help over the years has been invaluable… not sure I could name another shop where the owners had read every one of their books and could recommend a book each of my kids would love!"
Fans of the beloved store continue to support it via Bookshop.org.
