A CORBRIDGE bookshop has been named as a regional finalist in the Independent Bookshop of the Year awards.

The regional finalists for The British Book Awards 2024 Independent Bookshop of the Year were announced today (Thursday, February 22).

Independent bookshops from across the UK continue to thrive with creative, specialist and community-centred activities boosting sales in the face of the cost-of-living crisis.

77 independent bookshops were selected across nine different regions and countries as finalists for this year's Independent Bookshop Awards.

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Forum Books in the Market Place, Corbridge, was the only one selected in Northumberland for the North of England. 

A spokesperson from Forum Books said: “Proudly northern and proudly independent! We’re chuffed to bits to be a regional finalist for the 2024 Independent Bookshop of the Year Award! It means such a lot to us and to our hugely supportive customers, and provides a lovely moment to celebrate what we love to do.”

The bookshops will compete to win their region first, which will be announced on March 12, before contending for the overall prize, announced at The British Book Awards winner ceremony at Grosvenor House on May 13.

The 2024 North England finalists for The British Book Awards 2024 Independent Bookshop of the Year are:

  • Forum Books, Corbridge
  • Sam Read Bookseller, Grasmere
  • The West Kirby Bookshop, Wirral
  • House of Books & Friends, Manchester
  • Drake – The Bookshop, Stockton-On-Tees
  • Kemps General Store Ltd, Malton
  • Truman Books Ltd, Leeds
  • Pritchards Bookshop, Liverpool
  • Wave of Nostalgia, Haworth
  • Verey Books, Penrith