New 'golden age' for independent bookshops as four in Yorkshire named among the best in the UK

The British Book Awards 2023 looks to celebrate those local stores that serve their communities with a "bespoke bookselling".

Now in a mighty shortlist of 59 shops across the UK there are four favourites in Yorkshire in the running to be crowned Independent Bookshop of the Year.

They include Harrogate's Imagined Things, Kemp's General Store & Bookshop in Malton, The Book Corner in Halifax and Wave of Nostalgia in Haworth.

As the nation emerges from the pandemic, and in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, organisers said, booksellers have grown closer to their communities and have come out "stronger than ever".

Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller managing editor and chair of the Independent Bookshop of the Year judges, said: “If there is one thing that has been driven home by these finalists it is that independent bookshops have been one of the winners of the pandemic.

"Indies have come through what could have been a hugely devastating time for the sector in their strongest position in decades. We have seen this generally in the increased numbers of indies throughout the UK and Ireland.

"But we also see it more specifically in these finalists with the shops’ innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity—all done in the service of local communities. We have entered a new golden age for independent bookshops.”

The awards, sponsored by wholesaler Gardners, cover nine areas of the UK, with the Yorkshire shops among eight in the North competing first to be crowned regional champion, before an overall winner in May.

Ruth Gardner, Gardners’ UK sales manager, said: “Over the last few years, booksellers have proven themselves in the face of adversity - adapting, evolving and progressing to new heights. We know it hasn’t been an easy ride, but it’s amazing to see them thriving. The list is a tough one, with every entry being a worthy winner.”