We’re not exactly drowning in independent bookshops in Birmingham. Yet, those we do have are incredibly passionate about the written word. Not least of all, The Heath Bookshop in King’s Heath is now competing against 71 others across the country to be named ‘Independent Bookshop of the Year’ at The British Book Awards 2025.
“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,” said Tom Tivnan, managing editor at The Bookseller. “I have never seen such depth of quality and energy in the submissions, from the newcomers to most venerable stores.”
What sets all these “wonderfully unique and idiosyncratic” finalists apart from your average booksellers, including The Heath Bookshop, is that they are “not confined by the four walls of their shops.” Whether organising festivals, visiting schools, and bringing authors to town, they all do a lot more than just sell books. But only one can be crowned ‘Independent Bookshop of the Year’.
Birmingham’s The Heath Bookshop can put a strong case forward to be this year’s winner. It stocks a huge supply of cutting-edge fiction and non-fiction, hosts countless author events, and even launched its very own literature and music festival in 2024. Plus, it’s the only bookshop for miles doing anything like this – with the next closest nominated bookshop most likely Kibworth Books near Leicester.
Also nominated for ‘Independent Bookshop of the Year’, which are sort of near Birmingham, is Booka Bookshop in Oswestry and Burway Books in Church Stretton. All finalists will first have to win their region before contending for the overall prize, however, which will be announced at The British Book Awards ceremony on May 12, 2025.
Midlands finalists for Independent Bookshop of the Year:
- Booka Bookshop (Oswestry)
- Burway Books (Church Stretton)
- Kibworth Books (Kibworth)
- The Poetry Pharmacy (Bishop’s Castle)
- The Heath Bookshop (King’s Heath, Birmingham)
- The Rabbit Hole (Brigg)
- Wonderland Bookshop (Retford)