The Best Independent Bookshops In the UK and Ireland
The British Book Awards, or Nibbies, have revealed the shortlist for the 2018 Independent Bookshop of the Year. Comprising eight different regions, an outstanding bookstore from each has been voted the best in its area, and will go forward to the final shortlist where one will be crowned the best independent bookshop of the year. Whether you’re in London’s east end, county Kildare in Ireland or up in the winding streets of Edinburgh, a space of literary sanctuary is never far away.
1. Pages of Hackney – London
Bookstore
2. Five Leaves Bookshop – Midlands
Bookstore
Five Leaves Bookshop is based in Nottingham town centre, and is known for its radical and literary roots, specialising in social history, politics, landscape and cityscape, fiction, international writing, poetry, LGBT and counterculture. As well as running its own mini literary festival Bread and Roses, Five Leaves puts on weekly events with regular speakers and readers. Visit Five Leaves for all your independent press needs.
3. DRAKE The Bookshop – North
Bookstore
DRAKE The Bookshop is a family-run business in Stockton-On-Tees, which was founded two and a half years ago. Their focus has been on creating a community hub in Stockton for reading, writing and all things books, particularly for schoolchildren and young bookworms. As such, they regularly hold reading groups for young readers, and play a role in both Stockton Book Festival and Stockton Children’s Book of the Year. Their unique selling point is perhaps their use of creative methods to bring stories to life: they even conducted a live Twitter Q&A with Simon Mayo for a Teen Reader book group.
5. The Book Hive – East
Bookstore
6. Westbourne Bookshop – South-West
Bookstore
Westbourne Bookshop has been trading in Westbourne, Bournemouth since 1994. The shop is owned by the Angel family, who also run Gullivers Bookshop in Wimborne Minster, and after receiving a James Patterson Grant, Westbourne was renovated into the beautiful, wood-filled space it is today. Westbourne Bookshop is a “busy general bookstore with a popular children’s section and an inviting, friendly atmosphere, helpful staff and a dog called Poppy.”
7. Woodbine Books – Ireland
Bookstore
Woodbine Books is located in the picturesque town of Kilcullen, Co. Kildare. A small independent bookshop, it stocks a diverse range of classics, bestsellers and inde titles along with greeting cards, journals, book accessories and coffee. Since it opened in September 2016, Woodbine Books has focused on becoming a community hub, and according to the shop, they pride themselves on offering personal recommendations to customers, tracking down hard-to-find books and going that extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction.
8. The Edinburgh Bookshop – Scotland
Bookstore
The Edinburgh Bookshop is an award winning independent bookshop, which has been serving many different communities within Edinburgh’s bustling literary scene, since 2007. Though modest in size, the shop offers a wide range of around 6000 books, and houses an all-important sofa, a corner for storytelling and permanent supply of stickers and dog biscuits. According to the bookshop, the small team runs on the joy and inspiration of books, and cups of tea. Go here for refreshing and original book recommendations.
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Find out more, and join the conversation at www.thebookseller.com/british-book-awards
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