Former bookshop in Bridgwater to go under the hammer

The vacant shop, located at 25 St John Street, will go under the hammer on Tuesday (December 5) with Auction House South West.

The building previously housed Bookworm Read and Return, a bookshop that closed on Christmas Eve in 2020 after 50 years of trading – including 16 under the same owners, Mike and Julie Hill.

Julie ran the shop until she was diagnosed with brain cancer in December 2019, which she sadly died from in November the following year.

The property has a guide price of £85,000 to £95,000 (plus fees).

It is one of 23 properties that are available to buy at the auction, which will be livestreamed on the auction house's website.

Mike Hill when the Bookworm shop was still in business.

The property listing says: “Offering to auction, one commercial unit situated in the heart of Bridgwater with excellent access to both the M5 and M4 and the nearby centres of Bristol, Taunton and Weston-super-Mare.

“The property comprises of a commercial unit on the ground floor with storage room and staircase providing access to the upper floors where there is a reception room and a shower room on the first floor together with a loft room on the second floor.”

It can be found between Daily Needs, a convenience store selling Indian, Filipino, Thai, Caribbean and African goods, and several houses.

Other nearby businesses include a branch of William Hill, the Power Cuts hair salon, Welcome Kitchen takeaway and Deniz Kebab House.