The British Book Awards 2020: Small Press of the Year

Small presses from Hebden Bridge to Cardigan have made it onto the regional shortlists for The British Book Awards’ Small Press of the Year, which returns in 2020 for a second time, and is sponsored by CPI Books.

Veteran publishers Sandstone, Carcanet, Lilliput and Wordwell feature on this year’s shortlists, alongside newer ventures, including a raft of children’s publishers, such as Monkey Blue Press (based in Enniskillen), Little Door Books (Argyll) and Scallywag (London). Brand new 2019 arrival Boldwood Books is also shortlisted for the award, alongside fellow newbie Hera Books, both based in London.

In total, 40 publishers are shortlisted across the English regions, and Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, including past regional winners Charco Press and Parthian Books (see the full shortlist below).

Philip Jones, chair of the judges and editor of The Bookseller, said: “For a second year, this shortlist shows how publishing is thriving across the regions and countries of the United Kingdom and Ireland. The shortlist shows companies every bit as dedicated to their authors as the bigger publishers and with some notable success stories contained in their submissions. It is our pleasure to platform their hard work once again.”

The regional and country winners will be announced on 20th March. The overall winner will be announced at The British Book Awards on 18th May 2020.

Bath-based publisher Wild Things won the inaugural Small Press of the Year award in 2019.

East/South-East
Dedalus Limited
Strangers Press (UEA Publishing Project)
SRL Publishing
UIT Cambridge / Green Books
Boiler House Press (UEA Publishing Project)
September Publishing

Ireland
Tramp Press
Wordwell Group
The Lilliput Press
New Island Books
Monkey Blue Press

London
Boldwood Books
Henningham Family Press
Hera Books
Jacaranda Books Art Music
Penned in the Margins
Tiny Owl Publishing
Out-Spoken Press
Scallywag Press

Midlands
Butterfly Books
Candlestick Press
Otter-Barry Books
The Pound Project

North
Bluemoose Books
Carcanet Press
Comma Press
Dead Ink
Fly on the Wall Press
UCLan Publishing
Smokestack Books
WatAdventure

Scotland
Charco Press
BHP Comics
Little Door Books
Sandstone Press
Scotland Street Press

South-West
From You To Me
Really Decent Books

Wales
Firefly Press
Parthian Books