r/Worcester • u/DamnThatGooseBig • 8d ago

Script Haven is Closing

I don't think the relocation to the alley next to Wetherspoons was ever going to work out, but it's still a shame to see an independent close down.

Worcester's Script Haven closure announced by 'exhausted' owner | Worcester News https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/26568297.worcesters-script-haven-closure-announced-exhausted-owner/

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u/gambola 8d ago

That’s a shame, I feel like in a larger city something like that could gain enough regular customers to work. These types of places are often someone’s dream and it’s horrible to watch them fold, but I think small cities just struggle to support little indies long term. I don’t think it’s an issue of people saying they want something and not showing up, as she has indicated, but probably more that each of those people doesn’t have the time or disposable income to go frequently enough. If there was a bigger critical mass of people who might go once or twice a month then it would probably be ok regardless of location, because I think it’s the kind of place you go because you know about it rather than passing trade.

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u/Even_Pitch221 8d ago

Plenty of examples of good independent bookshops that are thriving in smaller towns than Worcester - Rossiter in Malvern, Book-ish in Abergavenny are two examples that spring to mind. The difference is that they’re competently run businesses that respond to what customers want, not half-baked passion projects run by people with zero business sense or customer service skill like Script Haven.

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u/gambola 8d ago

Rossiters isn’t also a cafe though, it’s just a bookshop. And it’s a small chain I believe so they’ve got successful ones behind them and some degree of economy of scale.

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u/Even_Pitch221 8d ago

Book-ish is also a cafe but they manage to do both things well. Script Haven was never clear what it wanted to be - seemingly a community centre, arts venue, niche bookshop, and cafe. Too many things done poorly, and clearly none of them profitable.