Worcester welcomes Script Haven - a new bookshop café

Script Haven is now the city’s second independent bookshop – but the new shop by former Worcestershire Poet Laureate, Leena Batchelor, is offering more than just books.

Operating from the former House of Coffee, Script Haven will also offer a “platform” for authors and artists, unique gifts, a café, second-hand book exchange and a community hub.

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Worcester's Carnival Queen, Rhianna Levi, officially opened the shop. (Image: NQ)

"The support and energy from every person who either knew we were opening or came across us today has been incredible - it has been really heartwarming," Ms Batchelor said.

Today (Saturday), the crowd took turns, one by one, to express their creativity through words and read out their own poems and stories before the shop opened.

The shop and cafe was then officially opened by Worcester's Carnival Queen, Rhianna Levi, also a former Worcestershire Poet Laureate.

Inside various books are for sale. (Image: NQ)

Miss Levi said: "This space is really important for everyone but especially for creatives who want to get their work seen.

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"It is in such a prime location in Cathedral Square, and seeing the crowds today, you can see it has drawn a lot of people in."

BUSY: Leena Batchelor making coffee for the queues of people. (Image: NQ)

The shop will also provide a community hub and “safe space”, providing facilities for advice, counselling, education, and creative workshops alongside volunteering opportunities.

Ms Batchelor added: "It is a community hub that will bring people together, which is lacking in the centre of Worcester.

"There are small pockets but nothing right in the centre."

Local handmade items can also be brought from the shop. (Image: NQ)

Ten years ago, Leena stepped into the spoken word scene in Worcester and applied for the Worcestershire Poet Laureate role three years ago.

During a time of pandemic lockdowns, Leena had to find unique ways to get poetry into the lives of people who would not normally engage the genre.

This resulted in a calendar raising funds for the REME Charity, online spoken word events for charities and an exhibition for The Commandery.

There was even a performance piece which was free to schools and youth groups endorsed by the Hollywood Vampires - Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry.