FROM BOOKSHOPS in the heart of the country’s largest cities, to towns in the heart of the British countryside, independent bookshops continue to bring bold, innovative and inspired bookselling to communities, driving creative industries and local economies.
Selected by the judges from 76 finalists announced last month, the award, sponsored by book wholesaler Gardners, celebrates those bookshops that continue to draw book lovers to towns and cities across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The overall winner, announced on Monday, May 11, receives a cheque for £5,000 from Gardners, and will go on to compete for Book Retailer of the Year.
Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller deputy editor, said: “Our record year of submissions speaks to the fine fettle independent bookshops are in despite the myriad challenges small businesses face.
“In an incredibly competitive year, these nine winners are the best of best: kings and queens of local high streets, pillars of communities and – crucially in this National Year of Reading – champions of helping others discover the joy of books.
“It is a broad tent of shops that run the gamut from one of the oldest continually-run stores (there has been a bookshop at Winchester’s P&G Wells’ premises for just under 300 years) to relative newcomers like London’s Backstory.
“Our regional and country winners sell into niches – Edinburgh’s romance focused Book Lovers, nature specialist FOLDE Dorset’s – or are whip-smart generalists (Carrickfergus’ The Secret Bookshelf, Penarth’s Griffin Books).
“But the through-line of them all is energy, innovation, entrepreneurship and having the skills to be both digitally savvy and customer-focused.”
The shops are in the running to win Independent Bookshop of the Year, which will be announced when The British Book Awards ceremony returns to central London on Monday, May 11, 2026. The Independent Bookshop of the Year winner will also join the shortlist for Book Retailer of the Year.
Griffin Books in Penarth is the Wales winner for the fourth time in six years—testament to its consistent success and constant renewal. There was a big step forward in 2025 when a unit became available next door, creating a new space dedicated to children and teens while freeing up room in the main shop for more adult titles and non-book items. Bolstered by events, subscriptions, schools activity and much more, sales rose by nearly a third in 2025.
Meanwhile, The Secret Bookshelf in Carrickfergus in County Antrim is the Island of Ireland winner for the second time in three years. Children’s books were a particular focus in 2025, with an overhaul of its children’s room to better meet the needs of those with autism, plus extensive work with schools. Events stepped up a level too, and the team ran their own book festival while supporting others. Sales grew by nearly a third as a result.
The oldest bookshop amongst the list, the South East England winner P&G Wells is arguably Britain’s oldest bookshop, having traded from its site in Winchester since the 18th century. It’s made very good use of that heritage, including via the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen, who lived just down the street. Today, the bookshop organises a busy schedule of events and takes part in festivals and school partnerships.
A passion for alternative curation bonds the Midlands and East England winners, with Brigg’s The Rabbit Hole and Norwich’s The Book Hive boasting an eclectic collection of books. Situated in the heart of Norwich, The Book Hive is well-known for foregoing traditional sections, instead favouring mixes of the booksellers’ picks which allows for a
unique browsing experience and the kind of serendipitous discovering that more traditional layouts — or algorithms — cannot replicate. Meanwhile, The Rabbit Hole boasts an array of curiosities amongst its extensive range of books, including a selection of pre-loved vinyl and CDs upstairs.
Book Lovers Bookshop in Edinburgh, the Scotland category winner, is the UK’s first bricks-and-mortar romance store. Crowdfunded and only a year-and-a-half old, it already has a high profile thanks to very good and diverse stock selection and a special community feel. Visitors browsing the shop’s well stocked shelves will find a multitude of romance genres to choose from, and they have a busy events programme varying from in-person to online.
The South-West England regional winner, FOLDE Dorset, is an award-winning bookshop and gallery located in the hilltop town of Shaftesbury. With a central focus on nature and landscape, they are happily and unapologetically niche. Land, sea and self are the themes that underpin FOLDE; from swimming in salty waters to striding across hills, adventures in nature are right at the heart of what they do. Befitting its social and sustainable purposes, it’s a net-zero business in scope 1 and 2 terms, and one of the first bookshops to secure B Corp status.
London’s winner Backstory opened its doors in Balham in 2023. It has since grown into a social and cultural meeting point as much as a shop and packs a lot into a small space, including nearly 50 events in 2025. It has become increasingly powerful digitally as well, having set itself the ambitious target of becoming the biggest independent bookshop on the internet. In North England, Farsley’s Truman Books is among the breed of bookshops that launched during the COVID crisis but has never looked back. Its energetic team averaged an event a week in 2025, ran their own Lit Fest and launched community initiatives like the ‘Truman’s Book Club Social’ and ‘Farsley Big Read’. Schools partnerships and storytimes have added to the mix, and it’s been a big champion of diverse voices.
Ruth Gardner, Gardners’ UK sales manager, said: “Independent bookshops are the heart of our literary communities, inspiring readers, championing new voices, and keeping the magic of books alive.
“Their passion and dedication to making reading more accessible and meaningful for all should be celebrated. We’re proud to recognise their remarkable impact and warmly congratulate this year’s Independent
“Bookshop of the Year Regional and Country Winners in this highly regarded award.”
Meryl Halls, managing director of Booksellers Association, said: “As we celebrate the National Year of Reading in the UK, the role independent bookshops play in championing authors, inspiring reading for pleasure and bringing communities together has never been more important and relevant.
“From unrivalled curation to unparalleled welcoming spaces for readers of all ages, they sit at the heart of their local communities and our national culture. It’s fantastic to see revealed this year’s regional and country winners – whose passion, creativity and commitment reflect the very best of the immeasurable value independent bookshops bring across the UK and Ireland.”
The winner of Independent Bookshop of the Year will be revealed during The British Book Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House London on Monday, May 11, 2026.
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