Fears over Charing Cross Road

Booksellers on London's Charing Cross Road fear that the world-famous street will be devoid of small bookshops within three years.

Waterstone's decision to close its two linked outlets on the road, and the recent closures of the Silver Moon Women's Bookshop and Any Amount of Books, have reduced the number of bookshops on the street from 20 to 16.

"The rent reviews are pushing prices up so high that a lot of specialist shops aren't going to survive," Rob Palmer, Foyles shop manager, said. "The street will soon be famous for its high number of fast food shops rather than bookshops."

A fierce campaign in 1998 and 1999 forced the Soho Housing Association, which owns most of the premises on the parade where the bulk of the small shops are sited, to reduce rent rises. But many of the small shops are approaching fresh rent reviews and may decide to close rather than renew contracts. Borders, Blackwell's and some independents such as Sportspages appear to be safe. But art book chain Zwemmers is in the midst of a rent review over its nearby Lichfield Street shop.

"The writing is on the wall," said Ian Shipley of fine art bookseller Shipley. Maxim Jakubowski of crime store Murder One agreed: "If Waterstone's can't afford a premises on the street, it doesn't bode well for the rest of us."

joel.rickett@bookseller.co.uk