The Travel Bookshop: Notting Hill store that inspired Hollywood film to close

It was the basis for a successful Hollywood film but after more than three decades in business, one of Britain’s most recognisable book stores is set to close its doors.

Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant star in Notting Hill Photo: REX FEATURES

By Andrew Hough, and Matthew Holehouse

The Telegraph ,  24 Aug 2011

The Travel Bookshop was the inspiration for the 1999 romantic comedy Notting Hill, in which its bumbling owner, Hugh Grant, met and fell in love with a famous film actress played by Julia Roberts.

But despite becoming one of London’s most popular tourist attractions, it emerged on Tuesday that its real-life owners will shortly cease trading after 32 years in business.

Now a group of writers have offered to work for free in a last-ditch bid to save the cult store, located in Notting Hill, west London, from closing its doors in a fortnight after it was heavily hit by the recession.

The group, led by Olivia Cole, a 30 year-old poet and literary editor of GQ magazine, believe a shop with a volunteer staff of authors could become a better cultural draw card for tourists and visitors who appreciate its “specialist tradition”.

Last night Alec Baldwin, the Hollywood actor who played Roberts' boyfriend in the film, leant his support to the campaign, posting on Twitter, the micro blogging website: “sad news 4 everyone's favourite bookshop from Notting Hill. Save the Travel Book Shop!!!”
Full story at The Telegraph.
And at The Guardian.