The three British Bookshops and Stationers branches in Brighton and Hove have been bought by WH Smith.
At least two of the shops are likely to continue trading under their existing name, especially as two of them are within a few hundred yards of a branch of WH Smith.
The three stores are in London Road, Brighton, Western Road, Brighton, and George Street, Hove.
WH Smith has a shop in George Street and another in Churchill Square, Brighton, across the road from the British Bookshops branch in Western Road.
It is unclear at the moment whether the shop in London Road will continue to trade under the British Bookshops name or as a branch of Smiths.
About 30 Brighton and Hove staff are expected to be included in the transfer.
The head office of British Bookshops – formerly Sussex Stationers – in Crowhurst Road, Hollingbury, is still in the hands of the administrators.
British Bookshops went into administration – to seek protection from its creditors – last month.
The firm brought in to run the chain, Zolfo Cooper, sold 22 branches to WH Smith for £1 million.
A further 29 branches remain unsold. All have stayed trading.
Simon Appell, a partner at Zolfo Cooper, said: “We would like to thank all staff across the business for their continued professionalism during this difficult period.”
