South Bristol bookshop named best in the South West

A bookshop in south Bristol has been named as the best in the South West and will now compete for the national title against eight other shops from across the UK and Ireland.

The Independent Bookshop of the Year aims to celebrate stores that support their local communities with bespoke bookselling and tailored initiatives.

Storysmith on North Street has been named the South West regional winner for 2023, with its co-owner telling Bristol24/7 that the accolade is “a reflection of how Bristol has become one of the best cities in the country for bookshops”.

Storysmith shop dog Roy in his natural habitat – photo: Storysmith

Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller managing editor and chair of the Independent Bookshop of the Year judges, said: “Independent bookselling has come out of the other side of the pandemic at its healthiest point in decades; as a result our regional and country finalists for this year might be our strongest ever.

“The through line is innovation as all of the winners having experimented with new ways to expand their businesses to get books into more readers’ hands.

“Sometimes this is using new technologies, sometimes it is just plain old hard bookselling graft – but whatever tools they are using it is backed by the algorithm-beating personal touch.”

The 2023 Independent Bookshop of the Year regional and country winners are:

• East England: Niche Comics Bookshop; Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
• Ireland: Halfway up the Stairs; Greystones, Co. Wicklow
• London: Nomad Books, Fulham
• Midlands: The Rabbit Hole; Brigg, Lincolnshire
• North England: Forum Books; Corbridge, Northumberland
• Scotland: The Edinburgh Bookshop, Edinburgh
• South East England: Mostly Books; Abingdon, Oxfordshire
• South West England: Storysmith, Bristol
• Wales: Griffin Books, Penarth

The Bedminster bookshop’s subscription service also comes with a bag of Triple Co. coffee – photo: Storysmith

Storysmith co-owner Dan Ross said: “Being named a regional winner at the British Book Awards is a huge and lovely surprise, and we are inordinately, embarrassingly proud of our magnificent booksellers.

“Obviously we’ve known all along that they are the best in the business, but to now have this industry validation is extremely gratifying.

“Equally importantly, it’s a reflection of how Bristol has become one of the best cities in the country for bookshops, and of how our customers have responded with such generosity and adventurous curiosity around what we offer.

“We know that there will be many more Bristol bookshops nominated for this award in the coming years, and with independent retailers so deeply embedded in their communities, it really is an absurdly good time for readers all across the city.”

The nine regional and country winners are now in contention for the overall Independent Bookshop of the Year Award, which will be announced at The British Book Awards ceremony in London in May.

Main photo: Storysmith

Read next:

• Bristol’s bookshop bonanza
• Three Bristol bookshops shortlisted for Independent Bookshop of the Year 2023
• ‘We need independent bookshops more than ever’
• The literary events enhancing Bristol’s indie bookshop scene

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