An independent bookstore in the heart of Southend - which was closed and put up for sale last summer - has come under new management with big plans for the future.

Books-on-Sea, in Alexandra Street, Southend, was purchased by new owner Philip McNaughton, 46, in December last year.

It came just months after previous owner Veronika Loessl said the premises had become too hard to run on her own.

Mr McNaughton, who works as a freelance marketer while also a stay-at-home dad in Station Road, Leigh, was originally looking to open a bookstore in his hometown but was unable to find a suitable location.

After discovering that Books-on-Sea was up for sale he admitted he considered turning opportunity down as it was too far away from where he lived.

However, he said it was “love at first sight” as soon as he he walked in.

He said: “I had it in mind to open a new bookshop, I wasn’t particularly interested in second-hand books.

“But I walked in and Veronika had done such an amazing job of finishing it. It had this old fashioned, quirky, peaceful atmosphere which I immediately loved.

“There is a Waterstones around the corner but I want to do a hybrid of new and second-hand books. When I brought the business and the stock I thought ‘I’m going to sell off all the books and be completely new and indie.’

“But as I bought the bookstore and spoke to customers the second-hand world has sucked me in. What people like about it is finding things you can’t find on Amazon or Waterstones.”

The store is now open every week between Wednesday and Saturday with Faith Dolphin, who has worked at the store since 2019, staying on.

Mr McNaughton hopes to diversify the business too. Having married in a book shop he plans to hire out the store for use of dinner parties, literary and cultural events and even plays. He is confident his business can stick around for the long-run too

He added: “There’s definitely a market for it in Southend. I think Southend and Alexandra Street are on the up, it can hopefully become a cool shopping area like The Lanes in Brighton.

“It’s not easy, I say it’s a ‘get poor slow’ scheme, but I don’t need it to make loads of money.

“For me its about providing a space and a shop that is sorely needed.”