Amnesty Makes Shock Decision to Close Local Store

Charity's book shop chain originated in the Hammersmith area

Staff at the Amnesty Bookshop. Picture: Facebook

June 16, 2025

Staff at the Amnesty Book Shop at 175 King Street in Hammersmith have been told that the local branch is to close shortly.

Management at Amnesty International informed the manager of the store and volunteer staff that the decision was taken because the store was deemed to be not financially viable. This is despite the only paid member of staff being the manager.

The charity says that there will be a consultation period running through to July during which the store will remain open.

The shop was opened over 30 years ago but the shop’s origins in Hammersmith go back to the 1980s when a stall was set up in the Hammersmith and City underground station by Dick Langton & Christine Pain. Bookselling on behalf of the charity had three different locations in the area before settling on the current site.

From that single station stall, Amnesty expanded into a nationwide network of bookshops, with further shops in cities like Bristol, Brighton, Edinburgh, Norwich, Newcastle, Cambridge, Great Malvern, York, and Kentish Town

One of the volunteers said of the King Street store, “It has always been seen as a small but important community hub to its many loyal customers. Yet the powers that be at Amnesty are getting rid of it in the blink of an eye….. yet another blow to community cohesion.”

A petition has been set up which has already gathered over 1,700 signatures.

We have asked Amnesty International for further explanation about its decision to close the store.

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Amnesty Makes Shock Decision to Close Local Store

Charity's book shop chain originated in the Hammersmith area

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