Bookshop of the Year winners unveiled as 'golden age of bookselling' celebrated

The British Book Awards has revealed the regional and country winners for the 2022 Independent Bookshop of the Year Award, featuring returning winners including The Haslemere Bookshop and London’s Burley Fisher. 

Sponsored by Gardners and supported by the Booksellers Association, the award celebrates nine inspiring bookshops, selected from a list of 63 finalists, which have continued to support their local communities during the past two turbulent years.

“This was undoubtedly the most competitive year we have ever had for Independent Bookshop of the Year, and these nine shops should feel justly proud for claiming their regional and country crowns when their fellow indies have also been flourishing," said Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller’s managing editor.

"Although there are different models here, from longtime family-run shops to a community-run not-for-profit, the common thread is constant innovation and unwavering support for local communities. It may be counterintuitive to say, but we just may be in the golden age of independent bookselling. The last 10 or 15 years have been the most testing of times for indies as they have battled against online competition, supermarket deep discounting, rising business rates and, of course recently, a global pandemic.

"But they have met the challenges; indies are thriving and the number of shops is rising. Perhaps it is because they combine the old with the new: that almost unique insider knowledge and deep love of books which they can impart to readers, along with a digital savviness as indies use everything from crowdfunding to TikTok to reach customers and improve their businesses.”

In South East England, 2016 winner The Haslemere Bookshop, run by Cathy and Ian Rowley, has won the regional award, while The Bookery has emerged victorious from a list of mostly first-time finalists in South West England. The Crediton bookshop was praised for its huge programme of events and community out-reach activities.

In Wales, the winner Book-ish is seeking to reclaim the overall Independent Bookshop of the Year crown, having won the accolade in 2020. It is the official bookshop of Green Man Festival, and co-owner Emma Corfield-Walters is co-founder of Crickhowell Literary Festival. Retford’s Lewis Carroll-inspired Midlands winner, Wonderland Bookshop, is a first-time regional and country finalist. It specialises in children’s literature and is keen to increase inclusivity in its store with designated dyslexia-friendly and LGBTQ+ shelves.

The Island of Ireland winner O’Mahony’s is one of Ireland’s oldest family-run independent bookshops, establishing itself in 1902. Managing director Frank O’Mahony, whose grandfather J P O’Mahony started the business 120 years ago, now looks after five stores, with its flagship bookshop based in Limerick. The Edinburgh Bookshop is the Scotland winner for a fourth time, adding to its 2014 Children’s Bookseller of the Year trophy.

East of England champions Bookbugs and Dragon Tales was one of 11 bookshops launched in 2019 that reached the regional and country finalist stage, and is one of two winners to specialise in children’s literature. The newcomer, based in the heart of Norwich, impressed the judges with its hands-on activities and events for young book lovers.

In Haggerston, Burley Fisher Books is crowned London winner for the second time, having won the accolade last year. Four-time North England winner Forum Books fought off strong competition in an area featuring seven other previous finalists. Expanding in 2021, the bookseller opened two new stores in Alnwick and Whitley Bay, adding to its original Corbridge shop.

The nine regional and country winners are now in contention for the overall Independent Bookshop of the Year Award, announced at the British Book Awards winner ceremony to be held at Grosvenor House in London on Monday 23rd May 2022. The overall Independent Bookshop of the Year winner will also compete to be crowned Book Retailer of the Year.

The Country and Regional winners in full:
East of England
Bookbugs and Dragon Tales, Norwich
Island of Ireland
O’Mahony’s, Limerick
London
Burley Fisher Books, Haggerston
Midlands
Wonderland Bookshop, Retford
North England
Forum Books, Corbridge
Scotland
The Edinburgh Bookshop, Edinburgh
South East England
The Haslemere Bookshop, Haslemere
South West England
The Bookery, Crediton
Wales
Book-ish, Crickhowell