A bookshop specialising in witchcraft, fantasy and horror titles has opened in Bristol time for Halloween after receiving a loan from a specialist regional fund.
Owner Monika Killer secured the £25,000 Start Up Loan through non-profit company SWIG Finance to help open The Haunted Bookshop in Stokes Croft. 
The shop also includes a café – with spiced pumpkin lattes on the menu – which will host book club meetings and poetry readings.
The loan from SWIG Finance, which supports businesses that cannot secure sufficient funds from their bank, helped Monika, pictured, buy stock and pay for initial marketing ahead of the shop’s launch last month.
She said owning a bookshop had been a lifelong dream and as soon as she applied for the loan her SWIG advisor Suzy Lowe had been “incredibly helpful and made the whole process a breeze”.
Monika added: “She made me believe in myself and my idea and was really encouraging throughout.
“The business plan was really helpful and is now the basis for my new business. I’m so excited to open my shop.”
Suzy Lowe added: “Monika is offering people in Bristol a new and unique experience through The Haunted Bookshop, and the quirky identity she has created will fit perfectly into Bristol’s vibrant and eclectic business landscape.
“Helping entrepreneurs achieve their dreams is what the Start Up Loans Scheme is all about, and I am delighted to have played a part in helping Monika realise her dream.”
In its 2023/24 financial year, SWIG Finance lent £14m to more than 500 businesses, helping to create and secure 700-plus jobs and generate £71.5m in social impact.
Image by Jon Criag @JonCraig_Photos
