Invicta bookshop returns to Newbury

The family run business of over 40 years opened its doors to the public once again on Saturday, after two years of operating online and via stalls at the Hungerford Arcade and the Chilton County Garden Centre.
Simon Hall, who owns the business with his twin brother, Tim, aged 59, was pleased with the opening having contacted old regular customers to spread the news.
“Quite a few people came through the doors,” said Mr Hall, who said many of his former customers had been complaining that since Invicta’s old store closed, there was no longer anywhere to buy certain books in Newbury.
“A lot of them said it wasn’t worth coming to Newbury anymore because there wasn’t anywhere for them to go, so they were very pleased.”
Co-owner of Craftsman Newbury Ltd, Betony Tait said it was good to be able to support another long-standing Newbury business.
“Invicta have been in business as long as we have. We said to them if you ever need a home come and see us,” she said.
“They were sadly missed when they went. Hopefully it will continue for many years.”
Invicta was forced to close its Newbury store, formerly in Cromwell Place, after planning permission was granted to convert the 19th Century listed building that it occupied back to residential housing.
“We were disappointed because we had been there for so long,” said Mr Hall. “Finding another premises that size would be too expensive.
“We’ve got a room which is all shelved out. It’s smaller, we just have to be more selective about what we put in there.”
The store stocks a range of second-hand books including a selection of military, aviation and naval texts as well as a range of fiction.
It will share the same opening hours as Craftsman Newbury Ltd: 9am to 5pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 10am to 5pm on Thursday and 10am to 4pm Saturday.