Independent Bookshop of the Year
WINNER GOLDEN HARE BOOKS
The nine shops on this shortlist show the robust health of independent bookselling at the moment, and all are winners of sorts, having been recognised as the best in various regions of the UK and Ireland. Only one can take the overall title of Independent Bookshop of the Year though and it is Scotland’s winner, effervescent Edinburgh indie Golden Hare Books, that triumphs. In a city not short on either bookshops or distinctive independent
retailers, Golden Hare stands out for the beauty of its boutique-style store, its sharp growth in sales, and its eagerness to try new things in the pursuit of customers. As well as extensive events, the shop has a book subscription service, collaborations with local businesses such as a Wine and Cheese Book Club with a nearby wine bar, and LitFix reading clinics with booksellers. There’s a Golden Hare Friends membership scheme too, and a nicely produced monthly Bibliophile podcast. On the shelves, the store has a small but superbly curated range of
around 3,000 books, with a slant towards translated fiction, female authors and diverse children’s books—as well as Golden Hare’s own début book, published in mid-2018. Its team knows its Stockbridge community inside out, and the affection in which the shop is held was shown when Waterstones announced plans to open an unbranded bookshop in the area. Following protestations from customers and authors, the chain backed out of the opening, earning Golden Hare a welcome shot of PR. “There’s an incredible energy and passion there—they must never
sleep,” said the judges of Golden Hare’s team. “They try lots of new things but they do the bookselling basics superbly, too… Edinburgh is lucky to have them.”
Sharp sales growth in a flat market and a competitive city for bookselling
Experimentation with new initiatives, including gift schemes and a podcast
Superb customer service and handselling from an expert team
SHORTLIST
BOOK-ISH in Crickhowell (Wales winner). Grew sales by a third thanks to events including a literary festival
CHARLIE BYRNE’S BOOKSHOP in Galway (Ireland winner). Labyrinthine bookshop and hub of the cultural scene
DRAKE–THE BOOKSHOP in Stockton-on-Tees (North of England winner). Bookshop with a passion for inclusion and reading for pleasure
FIVE LEAVES BOOKSHOP in Nottingham (Midlands winner). Last year’s winner, it had its best sales yet and ran events such as Feminist Book Fortnight
GULLIVERS BOOKSHOP in Wimborne Minster (South-west England winner). A much-loved part of its town for half a century now
NEWHAM BOOKSHOP in Lambeth (London winner). Celebrated 40 years of making a difference to its community in 2018
NICHE COMICS & BOOKSHOP in Huntingdon (East of England winner). Tiny but remarkable specialist set up by two brothers on the autistic spectrum
SEVENOAKS BOOKSHOP in Kent (South-east England winner). Marked its 70th birthday with a year of big events
Gardners has been involved as an integral link in the book
supply chain for more than 30 years as one of Europe’s leading wholesalers of books and entertainment products.
Eight more bookshops honoured as winners of the regional rounds of the award
WITH THANKS TO: GARDNERS
THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS WINNERS 2019
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