There’s nothing quite like witnessing a bookshop thrive. Round Table Books CIC has been providing a space for all since opening in Brixton Village six years ago, but they’ve outgrown their current site (read: thrived a bit too hard), and have ambitions to further their aim of finding reads for all.
As such, they’re looking to move and have set up a Crowdfunder as a means to find a larger home, one that can accommodate more events and offer more space to their ever-growing devoted community. Their goal is £50,000, and you can donate here to help them on their way.
Credit: @roundtablebooks, via IG
With a desire to remain in Brixton Village, which they describe as the heart of Lambeth, they will continue to, in their words, be “a vibrant community hub selling BOTH children and adult books celebrating Global Majority, LGBTQIA+, Global South, Neurodivergent and Disability experiences”, but they’re aiming to do so from a new shop with added space and facilities. At the time of writing, the crowdfunder sits just shy of £18,000 and is open for donations until January 2, 2026.
Round Table Books CIC and its aim
As you might be able to tell from a glance inside their store, books are spilling out of every corner. Their mission is to find a book for anyone, so the extra space is key to offering books that speak to everyone in the community.
And once you’ve found your read, their new space would also offer a place to stay for a coffee or cocktail and chat with those who are also smitten with the written word – a ‘third’ space, as Round Table call it, where anyone can feel included to share their love for books and others, no matter their background.
Credit: @roundtablebooks, via IG
Just this year, Round Table Books has hosted several names at events, including Cynthia Erivo speaking with Ncuti Gatwa in King’s Cross, Hafzah Faizal speaking on her book, A Steeping of Blood, and Sara Ahmed on her work, NO IS NOT A LONELY UTTERANCE: The Art and Activism of Complaining. Several more authors, including Bernardine Evaristo and Caleb Azumah Nelson, have appeared on the shop’s socials to champion the crowdfunder, with the former dubbing Round Table one of the best bookshops in the country.
The frequency of events alongside authors, social media posts with those in the publishing industry, and the running of ‘literary salons’ (plus much more) is a testament to the sheer number of ideas that pop out at you when engaging with the shop, be it in person or while looking at their Instagram page. All of this is down to how vital their three co-directors make the space feel, which, in turn, applies to how important a move to a bigger space is to them.
Credit: @roundtablebooks, via IG
Speaking to Secret London about the crowdfunder for their new site, Round Table’s co-directors, Jasmina Bidé, Aimée Felone, and Meera Ghanshamdas, said: “Our current shop is bursting at the seams with not only books, but also with the energy, ideas, love and the potential of our community. We need to dedicate ourselves to launching a bigger space, and making sure it is sustainable in this uncertain political and economic climate.
“We are asking for this money so we can invest in a space for us all. Where everyone can come in, feel welcome to drop by for children’s story time, hear an upcoming author speak about their new book, or just grab a really great coffee or glass of wine at a competitive price. We know how special the bookshop has become to so many, and we’re so excited to do even more in this new chapter, with our community’s support.”
What could we expect from a new Round Table Books site?
Round Table Books CIC has broken down exactly where the £50,000 goal would be spent, sharing a detailed plan on what the move would entail on the crowdfunder’s page. In essence, the new site will allow them to put more ambitious ideas into practice, which starts with a larger space for workshops, exhibitions, children’s storytime hours, and much more.
Should Round Table reach its target, £25,000 would go towards making the shop operational and keeping it ticking over – that’s things like creating the shelf display, making the space for talks & events, and building the bar for high-quality coffee and tipples. £10,000 would then go towards the machinery, such as the espresso machine, fridges to ensure the wine never runs out or goes cold, and freezers. Then the remaining £15,000 would be about breaking even with the associated business costs over the first three months of opening, including paying staff and rent.
While building a tangible and enticing image of what could come next for Round Table, their crowdfunding post gives an insight into the costs and time dedicated to creating a unique space in the capital – and for those that are able to, it’s something worth supporting.
You can find Round Table Books CIC at Brixton Village, 73 Granville Arcade, Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PS (nearest station is Brixton), and you can find out more about them on their website.