New Beacon Books, Britain’s first black bookshop and the only remaining independent Black publisher in the UK, has been saved from closure thanks to a crowdfunding campaign. 

In a statement published on 8 January 2022, the directors announced the end of the fundraising, saying, “New Beacon Books wishes to announce the end of the crowdfunding initiative launched on 30 December 2021. An impressive £81,122 was raised by the community for the New Beacon Development Fund (NBDF) to help New Beacon Books survive.”

Based in Finsbury Park, north London, the 56-year-old New Beacon Books had revealed in December that it would be forced to close its physical store because of financial pressures caused by the pandemic lockdowns, competition from online retailers, and increased overheads.

Campaigners, led by academic and actor Francesca Gilbert, launched a Crowdfunder to raise cash to keep the shop open. The set target of £35,000 was achieved within 48 hours, in what the directors described as an “incredible feat”.

The money raised will pay rent, rates, utilities and other expenses and hire a part-time member of staff to support existing management and volunteers. They also have new plans for community events and educational initiatives, as well as restoring New Beacon Books’ publishing platform.

New Beacon Books’ director Michael La Rose said the shop may also have to find alternative premises that will “allow it to expand its publishing and public affairs programmes and bookselling.”

New Beacon Books was established in 1966 and has been pivotal to the growth of the Black Education Movement and promoting Black writers.