British Book Awards 2025: Three independent Shropshire bookshops named finalists for coveted title

The British Book Awards 2025 Independent Bookshop of the Year Award, sponsored by book wholesaler Gardners, celebrates stores that reach beyond the literary landscape and bring books to the heart of local communities.

And this year, from a record number of submissions, 72 independent bookshops have been listed as finalists in the Independent Bookshop of the Year category from nine different regions and countries. 

Flying the flag for Oswestry is Booka Bookshop, in Church Street, which has been a staple in the community since it opened in October 2009. 

The business is no stranger to top accolades either, having taken home a number of awards over the years including UK & Ireland Independent Bookshop of the Year by the Bookseller Industry Awards. 

Burway Books, in Church Stretton, Shropshire Hills, is also in the running for the coveted award. This long-standing independent business has been introducing the community to new reads and bestselling books for more than five decades. 

The last Shropshire store named a finalist for Independent Bookshop of the Year is Poetry Pharmacy in High Street, Bishop’s Castle. The bookshop took home the title next year and is looking to start a winning streak. 

Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller managing editor, said: “The last year has been a drab time for the High Street with declining footfall and rising prices, but what has been underscored by our regional and country finalists is that independent bookshops are beacons of hope amid the gloom. 

“I have been judging this award for a decade and a half and I have never seen such depth of quality and energy in the submissions, from the most venerable stores.

“British and Irish indies continue to thrive, despite the overall climate, with entrepreneurship and creativity. 

“These finalists are wonderfully unique and idiosyncratic, but there is a link in that all of them are not confined by the four walls of their shops – they are out in their communities organising festivals, visiting schools, bringing authors to town. 

“Sure, they sell a lot of books but that is just the start: independent bookshops are Britain and Ireland’s local cultural lynchpins.”

The regional and country winners of the Independent Bookshop of the Year award will be announced on March 11, whilst the overall winner will be revealed during The British Book Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House London on May 12.