Brighton's Afrori Books saved from closure with new home

Afrori Books in Kensington Street, Brighton, faced the prospect of closing its doors for good after owner Carolynn Bain was told rent costs would quadruple from April 1.

Carolynn said the increased costs were “simply not affordable” and that the award-winning bookshop had no choice but to move - something she said would cost the business tens of thousands of pounds.

However, after months of searching and with just weeks before the deadline to move, the bookshop has been saved after finding a new home at the Brighthelm Centre on North Road.

“It has been a really difficult time and there have been a lot of tears in the last few months,” Carolynn said. 

“I guess now we are still crying, but they are tears of joy.”

Carolynn Bain is the owner and founder of Afrori Books (Image: Afrori Books)

Opening in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd in the United States, the bookstore has become the UK’s biggest supplier of books by black authors, as well as a space for the community.

Afrori Books also run anti-racist workshops for children in schools across Sussex, as well as several other community events and programs.

Following the news of its potential closure, customers, authors and activists from across the country helped raise £19,000 to help cover the costs of the move.

The bookstore is the UK's biggest supplier of books by black authors (Image: Afrori Books)

“We are more than just a bookshop - we are a safe space for Brighton’s black community,” Carolynn said.

She explained that she wanted to make sure Afrori Books found the right space to move to - one that was a good fit for the company’s community ethos.

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“We said all along that we didn’t just want to go into any space, but we wanted to go to one where we could expand on the community work we really want to do, that was safe for black people and their allies, and where community was front and central,” she said.

“We believe that Brighthelm is that space. They are already doing the work and we have a lot of common ground.

“We are genuinely excited about the coming year.”

The bookshop will make the move on April 24, with a grand re-opening event on May 6.