New Independent Bookshop Launches on the High Road

Everybody Reads opened on election day

The front and the interior of the new book shop in Chiswick

July 14, 2024

A new independent bookshop has opened in Chiswick this month with its first day of trading on the day of the General Election.

Everybody Reads is based at 6 Chiswick High Road, close to the junction with Goldhawk Road, and the former premises of Warhammer and Doctor Scooter. The store branding has been up since May prompting a high degree of interest from residents in the area.

Owned by Carol and David Kosse, the former head of International Film at Netflix, the new shop aims to build a strong sense of community, foster a love of reading, and promote literacy in Chiswick, Hammersmith and beyond. It describes itself as ‘a place to pause, breathe, browse, learn, discover, connect, giggle and grow’ and says it will stock a carefully curated selection of new books, cards and stationery for all ages.

The store offers a range of services and discounts just for schools, including the Free Books for Schools Programme in which a school can receive free books without further obligation.

Carol says she has always enjoyed reading and bookshops and has a strong interest in the subject of education in which she has a Masters degree. These interests have been enhanced in the process of raising three children.

Previously she launched and ran a business which used board games as a platform to teach life skills to children. She has also volunteered extensively with a number of local charities for the last 30 years including St Mungos and Streetlink (homelessness); Spear - an initiative of Resurgo Trust (NEET employment); West London and Earl's Court Free School Primaries and The Knowledge Schools Foundation Trust (education); The Doorstep Library (reading/literacy).

During a temporary move to America five years ago, she worked at a community bookstore on an island where most other businesses closed during the winter giving her first-hand experience of how vital booksellers are to a community and that is what got her hooked on the idea of opening one herself.

When she moved back to London, she started part time working at another independent bookshop. When deciding to open Everybody Reads, the location was chosen because of the lack of booksellers in the area nearer her home in Hammersmith, what she describes as 'Chisersmith' and the potential of the retail area near Goldhawk Road. She believes a bookshop will attract footfall to the area boosting trade for the neighbouring businesses.

The manager of the shop, Matthew Stevenson, was managing Battersea Bookshop when he joined having help that shop launch in 2022. Prior to that, he managed Oxfam Bloomsbury, the flagship bookshop known for its comprehensive selection of antiquarian, art, academic, fiction, and children's books. He has also held senior roles at retail bookshops within Tate Britain and Tate Modern.

Carol added, “As a start-up, we are passionate about creating a welcoming space where readers of all ages, interests and reading abilities can come together to explore, be inspired, find what they love, and connect with others. Our passion also extends past the doors of the shop as we partner with local schools and other institutions that share our literacy goals.

“We opened our doors for the first time on 4th July but didn’t publicise a ‘grand opening’ so we really weren’t expecting crowds, especially since it was election day. We were surprised, and absolutely delighted, not just by the number of people that noticed us and came in but by their warm welcomes and overwhelming excitement over having an indie bookstore this end of the high street.”

Matthew said, “I am thrilled to be a part of this new business, offering a truly independent local bookshop to the residents of Chiswick and Hammersmith. We are here to be a force for good in the local community, communicate the importance of literacy and share the joy of reading”.