Horror bookshop in fight to stay open amid cost rises

Image caption, The Haunted Bookshop has been running for two years

ByMarcus Boothe and Sonia MumtazBristol

An independent bookshop says a drop in footfall and cost-of-living pressures mean the business is now "impossible to manage alone".

The Haunted Bookshop opened in Bristol two years ago for "anyone who has ever felt a little different" and specialises in horror, fantasy, folklore and the occult.

Owner, Monika Killer, said her business has fallen behind on essential bills. Killer has started a crowd fundraiser, which has so far seen more than 450 supporters pledge over £7,500 to save the shop.

Customer Sarina Maloy said the space gives people a chance to connect, and "it would be a severe loss if the shop shuts down".

Killer said the bookshop also provides a support network for a wide range of city artists and small businesses, a community that has "always been at the heart of everything we do".

"We've created a place where people who often feel like they don't belong can find friendship, acceptance, and a sense of home," she said.

Leigh-Ann Charlotte works at the bookshop as a tarot reader, but was originally a loyal customer.

She said it is a great space for anyone who likes anything different, like witchcraft.

Image caption, A crowd fundraiser has so far raised over £7,500 towards rescuing the shop

Another regular at the shop, Mia Gailey, said it was a second home for people who do not fit in elsewhere.

"If it wasn't for this place, I wouldn't have had some of the greatest friendships and experiences I've ever had," she said.

"Watching these connections form has been the greatest privilege of running this shop, and I want nothing more than to see this community continue to grow and thrive," Killer added.