(L): Owner of Griffin Books, Mel Griffin and (R) Hollie Aldridge at Griffin Books, who has helped organise past events at the store THE British Book Awards have announced a Penarth bookstore as the winner of the Welsh Independent Bookshop of the Year award. In Wales, the Independent Bookshop of the Year goes to Penarth s Griffin Books who hit national news praised for their flexible approach during lockdowns including remote working. Griffin Books of Penarth, opened in 2014. The judges praised owner Mel Griffin and her team’s adaptability, with its flexible approach during lockdowns including remote working, diversifying its distribution when book supply became difficult and, during the Welsh October firebreak, negotiating with a neighbouring essential shop to become a collection point in order to maintain its high street presence.
Nibbies 2021: Bookstore, Small Press Regional and Country Winners
Eight retailers and nine small presses now are in the running for the British Book Awards’ top winners’ list, coming in May.
At Mr. B’s Emporium in Bath, winner of the 2021 British Book Awards’ honor for bookstore in Southwest England. Image: Mr. B’s
British Book Awards’ Ceremony: May 13
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Publishing Perspectives readers will remember, the shortlists issued last month for the 2021 British Book Awards‘ honors in small retailers and presses ran to 44 publishers and 48 bookstores.
Today (March 17), the regional and country winners are being announced, with a digital event for “the Nibbies” still set for May 13 when an overall winner among these stores and presses will be named.
Penarth bookstore shortlisted for award - take a look at some famous faces that have visited A POPULAR bookstore in Penarth has been selected among 48 finalists for Best Independent Bookshop in the 2021 British Book Awards – and they have had some famous faces visit over the years. Griffin Books, in Windsor Arcade, are up against three other bookshops in Wales – Bookish in Crickhowell, Chepstow Books in Chepstow, and Cover to Cover in Swansea. The 2021 regional and country winners will be announced on 17th March; the overall winner will be revealed during the online British Book Awards ceremony which this year will take place on 13th May.
Claire Grint, of Cogito Books in Hexham, which has been shortlisted alongside Forum Books of Corbridge. TWO of the district’s independent book shops have been shortlisted for a prestigious national award. They will fly the flag for the Tyne Valley alongside six other book shops from other parts of the North-East, in the British Book Awards Independent Bookshop of the Year competition. Cogito Books, on St Mary’s Chare in Hexham, and Forum Books, in Corbridge’s Market Place, are among those to receive recognition. The shops will compete to win their region first, before vying for the overall prize.