Black Gull Flies South
ROD WEBB attended the much -delayed official opening of a new bookshop in St Leonards, and to honour its contrast with the ‘here today gone tomorrow’ nature of modern life, has delayed writing about it for over a month. The Black Gull is still there.
A new bookshop arrived unobtrusively in St Leonards last year and perched on the corner of North Street and London Road. It slowly built up some loyal customers by word of mouth. Looking at their website you can see that customers are impressed with what they find. A typical comment is: “One of the most brilliant places I have ever been.” Except that’s for the Black Gull Bookshop in London.
If you look really hard you might come across thebookguide (an excellent guide to bookshops) with the following comment about the bookshop in St Leonards: “Very well stocked with a full range of books, attractive premises, sensible prices and especially strong on art.”
But on Saturday 5 August, the Black Gull finally had its official opening, shyly pretending it was actually a private viewing for artist Susie Freeman, whose work you can see displayed in the window – as well as in the Victoria & Albert Museum among many collections. At the same time it proclaimed itself to the world with its very own shop signage and the opening of its online bookstore.
The Black Gull himself, Chris Overfield, turned out to have many friends and admirers, and the ‘private view’ was bursting with people, some having travelled miles to be at the party. And what a party! One of those affairs where the guests want to go on all night, but the host realises he hasn’t got the stamina he used to have.
Amongst the throng, I was able to talk to quite a few people to capture their reaction. One early comment from someone who “wanted to think further” was simply: “I’m staggered.” Praise indeed. Another commented: “It’s fantastic. Its selection of books is so exciting and intriguing.” Someone who works for Chris talked about how much she had learned working there: “I have great conversations and Chris is a top geezer to work for …”
All very positive. Toby, Chris’ son, was surprised that so many people had turned out in support: “We’re touched that the locals have taken to us so much … we’re really bloody chuffed.”
Another guest was equally blown away by the town as he was the bookshop, commenting that St Leonards was “absolutely lovely” and suggesting that its location, including being by the sea, attracts “a different kind of person” who is “more open minded” and “more interesting”. Another suggested that the Black Gull will help change the community and attract even more interesting people to the town – on the basis that books play their part in education. Although there is some truth in this, I suppose it is the combination of existing and future independent shops, as well as the latent creative energy of the town that helps the community grow – let’s hope for the better.
And to remind me that this was a private view, I was also given a guided tour of the window display by Chris’ partner Amanda while taking a breath of fresh air, away from the heaving throng.
The only person I was barely able to speak to was Chris Overfield himself – and who has flown away on holiday.
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