PAST WINNER: 2025
Carolynn Bain of Afrori Books, Brighton became the Individual Bookseller of the Year for the second time in three years, after a phenomenal weight of work for her community, authors, diversity and freedom of speech. At the core of her work is support for Black authors, delivered through great range, service, sold-out events, book groups and collaborations with writers and publishers.
CHRISSY RYAN BOOKBAR
THE SHORTLIST
Leah Caffrey HOUSE OF BOOKS & FRIENDS
Kristin Griffin BÀRD BOOKS
Evelyn Heis
MAX MINERVA'S BOOKSHOP
Jack Kennedy WATERSTONES
Eleanor McKnight MALDON BOOKS
Caroline Sullivan
TALES FOR TADPOLES
Helen Tamblyn-Saville WONDERLAND
TRADE AWARDS
Individual Bookseller of the Year
Books, music, coffee, wine, date nights… does retail get any more sociable than this? With her BookBar concept, Chrissy Ryan has hit on a unique and compelling formula that is reimagining what bookshops can do for people. “Like your most well-read friend’s living room” is how she describes the concept, which is as much about bringing people together as it is about selling books. “Reading is a social act, not just a solitary one.” Ryan does it all, from setting the strategies and leading her team to hosting the book clubs
and making the coffee. Last year brought a step change when she added a second store in Chelsea to the original BookBar that opened in Islington five years ago. What really sets the two BookBars apart are their events – not just author visits but
unconventional get-togethers such as book-and-wine tastings and Read Dating nights with the Bored of Dating Apps initiative. “They’re not afraid to try something new and reimagine what a literary space can be in a modern city,” said one partner. Authors and publishers are at least as thankful to Ryan as BookBar’s customers. One
publicist called her “a serious joy and inspiration to work with”. The judges added: “Chrissy is clearly a total powerhouse who demonstrates vision, passion, inventiveness and commercial savvy in equal measure… She really makes bookselling fun.”
55
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
