Collins and Quinn judge inaugural Caffè Nero Awards as 'significant' number of entries pour in

Caffè Nero has today announced the judging panels and dates for the inaugural Nero Book Awards with novelists Sara Collins and Anthony Quinn among the judges and a “significant” number of entries already received. 

The prizes, featuring four categories and open to writers based in the UK and Ireland, were launched in May. They are underwritten and delivered by family-owned coffee house group Caffè Nero in partnership with Right To Dream, The Booksellers Association (BA) and Brunel University London.

Writers, broadcasters and booksellers have been revealed as the judges for the inaugural awards. For debut fiction, the panel features novelist and screenwiter Sara Collins along with Hattie Crisell, journalist and podcaster and Tom Robinson, owner of Gloucester Road Books in Bristol.

Novelist Anthony Quinn will be whittling down the fiction entries, joined by journalist, author and speaker Ella Dove and David Coates, sales and events manager at Blackwell’s Manchester.

For the children’s, Urmi Merchant, director of London-based indie shop Pickled Pepper Books, will help decide the winner along with author Dave Rudden and Nick Sheridan, journalist, presenter and writer.

For the non-fiction prize, the panel brings together academic and broadcaster Ben Garrod, writer Sarfraz Manzoor and Helen Stanton, owner of Forum Books in Corbridge.

Submissions for the 2023 iteration, managed by the BA, opened in June for books first published in the UK or Ireland between 1st December 2022 and 30th November 2023. While the administration process remains confidential, the BA has reported “a significant number of entries in each category, submitted by a wide range of publishers and imprints”.

The announcement dates have also been revealed: four books will be shortlisted by the judges in each of the award categories and announced on 21st November 2023.

The winners from each category will be announced on 16th January 2024 and those books will go forward for consideration for the 2023 Nero Gold Prize to be announced at a ceremony in London in February 2024. The date will be announced later this autumn. 

Gerry Ford, founder and c.e.o. of Caffè Nero, added: “The Nero Book Awards hold a special place at Caffè Nero as part of our history of sponsoring and encouraging the arts. These awards recognise the best writers in the UK and Ireland and highlight fantastic books to read throughout the year.

“I’m delighted by the calibre of our judges in the Awards’ inaugural year. The response from publishers and authors to these awards has been tremendous with a huge number of entries. The quality of our judging panels matches that. Everyone at Caffè Nero is so excited to have engaged such talent from across the industry, and as we look to recognise and reward quality writing, I can’t wait to hear what they think of this year’s books.” 

Amanda Johnson, awards director, added: “We’re delighted at the response we’ve had from across the publishing industry in our inaugural year. The support means the world and demonstrates that the awards are a welcome addition to the book prize landscape. We can’t wait to see what year one is going to bring and look forward to seeing our brilliant judges’ selections later this autumn.”   

Run as a not-for-profit organisation, the prizes “celebrate the craft of great writing and the joy of reading, while also pointing readers of all ages and interests in the direction of outstanding books,” organisers said. 

For more details, visit nerobookawards.com.