Few would have predicted that a local independent book store like West End Lane books could survive the double whammy blows of Waterstones and Amazon.In fact, WHB has not only prospered, it has flourished into the kind of cultural meeting place that is a book retailer's marketing dream.
This is due to a great deal of hard work by the owners who host all manner of evening readings and "meet the author" style events.There is also a notice board where select adverts can be placed by locals, which adds to the community feel.


The shop itself has a very wide-ranging selection and is particularly strong on new fiction.It is a pleasure to browse there-the interior is kept beautifully clean and polished and half the staff seem to be aspirant authors themselves.This can lead to loud and rather artily self -conscious debates across the shop floor, which can seem a bit precious sometimes.
No matter, it is all great atmosphere, and very mood -inducive.

One of the shops cleverest tricks is to have a constantly changing thematic and topical window display.They can move at the speed of lightning-Harry Potter on Halloween was replaced within only a few hours by sombre religious matter for All Souls Day.Now and then they will throw in a wittily irreverant addition such as, in this case, "Dead Man Walking". After 7-11 the window was full of books on terrorism and-surely no coincidence?-a guide book to London's best bus routes!
The shop stays open until an amazing 9 pm these days-and it is rarely less than half -empty.
A great local eccentric.