Independent bookshop set to open in Worthing town centre

Tilly Fitzgerald is the owner of Tilly Loves Books, and its Instagram community of more than 200,000 followers.

She is opening Tilly's Bookshop in the former Winkworth estate agents premises – an historic, grade II-listed, Warwick Street building.

Sharing the news on Instagram, Tilly wrote: "As soon as we saw this beautiful listed building, we just instantly saw the bookshop in her – from the original stone wall on one side (the listed bit!) that's going to be a gorgeous feature, to the high ceilings and hardwood floors, she just fitted with all the ideas in our minds as to what the bookshop will look like.

"As we get closer to signing the final contracts and getting the keys, I just wanted to share a little before with you all so you can follow along with the transformation.”

Worthing Town Centre Business Improvement District teased the arrival of a ‘new exciting independent business’ on social media before followers quickly identified the new tenant.

In a separate Instagram video, Tilly thanked people for the overwhelming response.

She said: "I just wanted to say the biggest, biggest thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the amazing support and excitement about the bookshop.

"I am so, so grateful. All the local businesses who've reached out, that's so lovely and I cannot wait to hopefully support each other. Everyone who's been following me for a while and your support and excitement about it, authors, just everybody, thank you, thank you, thank you.

"We cannot wait to get in there, very, very stressed and excited at the same time, so as soon as we have an opening day obviously we will let you know."

Tilly also addressed questions about jobs at the new shop, saying it was unlikely there would be any vacancies, for the first six months to a year, while the business became established.

"I do not think we'll be able to hire anyone for probably the first six months to a year until we kind of find our footing," she said.

"So obviously as and when we do have bookseller roles come up I will share them on social media here... but for now it's just going to be me pretty much, so wish me luck."

The announcement has been warmly welcomed by residents, with one social media user commenting: "So excited for the independent bookstore going in that space. Tilly will do an incredible job for the local book clubs community."

Another wrote: "A book shop, just what Worthing needs."

Several people also reminisced about the building's past, recalling its years as Leal's delicatessen before it later became home to Winkworth estate agents.

An opening date for the book shop has yet to be announced.