Small business snapshots: Pride in London

Pride in London is the non-profit organisation which runs the annual parade, supporting events and celebrations throughout June. This year's theme is the Pride Jubilee, marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York. We drop in at their pop-up in Covent Garden, where they're selling Pride merch to deck everyone out for the parade on July 6th.

“We’re really excited to have such a fantastic space for our pop-up once again,” says Kieron Yates, head of retail and merchandising at Pride in London. “We’re looking forward to helping kit everyone out for Pride this year – with a great range of clothing, flags, badges and more for every community.”

Neal St is this year's location for the Pride in London shop

“The store serves as an incredibly important space for community groups,” says Yates. “We’re working on a fantastic programme of events curated by a wide variety of organisations, meaning there will be something for everyone.”

Stepping inside Pride in London's Covent Garden HQ

Post-it notes with people's hopes for the next 50 years of Pride progress

Across town we drop in at the Notting Hill Bookshop, which found fame as a key location in the 1999 Richard Curtis film. Since then, it's diversified its offering from stocking mainly travel guides, to selling all genres of books.

The famed frontage of Notting Hill Bookshop

“We’ve always had LGBT people working at the shop, so we always do something for Pride,” says shop manager Olga Lewkowska. “Once you put these books in the window, and give them a special display, they sell. People become more aware of certain titles, they feel involved with the cause, and the visibility is really important. It’s really rewarding to see.”

Olga Lewkowska, manager of Notting Hill Bookshop

Some of the LGBT+ books on display at Notting Hill Bookshop

The House of MinaLima is a graphic design studio and exhibition space in Soho, founded by Eduardo Lima and Miraphora Mina. Their work includes graphic design for the Harry Potter film world. For Pride, MinaLima organised a project called We Accept!, which invites people from all backgrounds and sexualities to write their own letter of acceptance and support for the LGBT+ community. Lima, a proud member of the LGBT+ community, is hosting a We Accept! event on the day of the parade.

MinaLima's window featuring messages of support for the LGBT+ community

Magical realism – the world of Harry Potter meets London's Pride celebrations

Hand written messages of support at MinaLima

Rococo Chocolates on Seven Dials in Covent Garden was flying the Pride flag, and also asking customers to leave messages of love on a themed blackboard.

The founder of Rococo Chocolates has an OBE for "services to chocolate making"

Soho's Brewer Street will be a focal point of London Pride celebrations

Pride in London culminates with the Pride parade on Saturday 6th July.

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