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A month ago, the Bookseller revealed the 76 British and Irish bookstores nominated for Independent Bookshop of the Year. Ahead of the overall winner being crowned in May, the top shops for each of the nine regions has been announced. More than just places to pick up your next read, the finalists are all considered pillars of the community and have demonstrated resilience and determination against the ongoing struggles faced by British high streets.
There are six winners in England. For London, Backstory in Balham was named the best while FOLDE in Dorset picked up first prize for southwest England and P&G Wells in Winchester was the victor in the southeast. Up north, Truman Books in Farsley (near Leeds) won for it’s ‘energetic team’ and weekly events; to the east, Norwich’s The Book Hive claimed victory and in the Midlands, The Rabbit Hole in the small town of Brigg rose to the top.
Scotland’s winner, Book Lovers Bookshop in Edinburgh, was the UK’s very first bricks-and-mortar romance store when it opened in 2024. Enemies to lovers, friends to lover, workplace fling, fake relationship – whatever romance trope you want, Book Lovers will have it. It’s crowdfunded and hosts regular community events that have previously sold out in minutes. One visiting author told the Bookseller that the shop has created a space that ‘feels inclusive, welcoming and joyful’.
Over in Wales, Griffin Books in the seaside town of Penarth has claimed the top spot for the fourth time in six years. The Bookseller said that it’s ongoing success is partly down to ‘constant renewal’. In 2025, it was able to purchase a unit next door and create a new space dedicated to kids and teens, which freed up from in the main shop for even more adult titles and non-book items.
Bookshops in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland competed in the same category, but it was a Northern Irish store that came out on top. The Secret Bookshelf in Carrickfergus (11 miles from Belfast) won for the second time in three years thanks to an overhaul of its kids room to better accomodate for those with autism and the introduction of a book festival.
Now, each regional winner is in the running to be named the overall Independent Bookshop of the Year at a ceremony in May and receive a prize of £5,000.
The best indie bookshop in each region, according to The Bookseller
- London: Backstory, Balham
- Scotland: Book Lovers Bookshop, Edinburgh
- Southwest England: FOLDE, Dorset
- Wales: Griffin Books, Penarth
- Southeast England: P&G Wells, Winchester
- East England: The Book Hive, Norwich
- Midlands: The Rabbit Hole, Brigg
- North England: Truman Books, Farsley
- Island of Ireland: The Secret Bookshelf, Carrickfergus
ICYMI: The beautiful, history-filled city that has been named the best place to live in Britain in 2026.
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