Bumper number of bookshops compete to be Independent Bookshop of the Year as the sector continues its “incredible revival”
The British Book Awards, or Nibbies, have revealed the regional shortlists for the 2019 Independent Bookshop of the Year, sponsored by Gardners Books: 48 bookshops from nine regions are competing to win their local area first, before vying for the overall prize, to be given out at the British Book Awards ceremony in London on 13th May.
Burley Fisher Books in Haggerston - shortlisted in the London category
Tom Tivnan, award judge and The Bookseller’s managing editor, said: “There have been welcome statistics recently about the indie bookselling sector’s incredible revival and the sheer strength and depth of this year’ submissions certainly reflects that. Indie bookshops in the UK and Ireland are responding smartly to the changing marketplace, are passionate about bringing books to more readers and are lynchpins of local communities.”
Last month, the Booksellers Association (BA) reported a second year of growth in its independent bookshop membership, with 15 new shops joining the trade body in 2018, a rise described by Nic Bottomley, BA president, as “even more robust than I thought”.
The Independent Bookshop of the Year Award welcomes a host of first time shortlistees, including Huntingdon’s Niche Comics & Bookshop, Shropshire’s Burway Books, Fort Williams’ The Highland Bookshop and, from London, Burley Fisher Books and Phlox Books.
A landmark six stores have the chance for consecutive regional wins: Norwich’s The Book Hive, Ireland’s Woodbine Books, Stockton-on-Tees’ DRAKE - The Bookshop, Scotland’s Edinburgh Bookshop, Colchester’s Red Lion Books and Nottingham’s Five Leaves Bookshop, last year’s overall Independent Bookshop of the Year.
The judging panel will choose one winner per region, which will be revealed in March. The overall winner, announced at Grosvenor House in London on 13th May, will receive a cheque for £5,000 from wholesalers Gardners Books.
Find out more, and join the conversation via: www.thebookseller.com/british-book-awards | twitter.com/thebookseller | www.facebook.com/TheBooksellerMagazine
The 2019 Shortlists
Ireland
• The Maynooth Bookshop
• Woodbine Books
• The Blessington Bookstore
• Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop
Scotland
• The Highland Bookshop
• The Edinburgh Bookshop
• Lighthouse Bookshop
• Golden Hare Books
• Far From The Madding Crowd
• The Bookmark
Wales
• Chepstow Books & Gifts
• Bookish
• Cover To Cover
• Griffin Books
Midlands
• Five Leaves Bookshop
• Burway Books
• Button & Bear Children’s Bookshop
East
• Walkers Books
• Rogan’s Books
• The Book Hive
• Niche Comics & Bookshop
• Woodbridge Emporium
• Harris & Harris Books
South West
• Falmouth Bookseller
• Hunting Raven Books
• St Ives Bookseller
• Gullivers Bookshop
• Crediton Community Bookshop
• Edge of the World Bookshop
South East
• Coles Books
• Sevenoaks Bookshop
• Mostly Books
• October Books
• Red Lion Books
• The Wallingford Bookshop
North
• Linghams
• Forum Books
• White Rose BookCafe
• The Little Ripon Bookshop
• Drake - The Bookshop
• The Book Corner Halifax
London
• Gay’s the Word
• Ink@84 Books
• Phlox Books
• Moon Lane Books
• Burley Fisher Books
• The Kew Bookshop
• Newham Bookshop
For all media enquires please contact Daniel Kramb and Annabel Robinson at FMcM Associates on 0207 405 7422 or, danielk@fmcm.co.uk, annabelr@fmcm.co.uk
