Having only opened its doors in September 2022, this is first time that The Heath Bookshop has won the prestigious Independent Bookshop of the Year Award, sponsored by Gardners. The shop fought off strong competition from eight other regional and country winners, selected from a bumper list of 72 finalists from across the UK and Ireland.
 
Co-owners Catherine Gale and Claire Dawes met at the Booksellers Association's 'How to Start and Run a Bookshop' training four years ago, and they have succeeded with flying colours. In the four years since, the Brummie bookshop has burst onto the Midlands cultural scene, launching their very own Literature and Music Festival in April 2024 and facilitating over 130 author events in the last three years, including hosting Rick Astley at The Alexandra Theatre to over 900 people. With an independent coffee shop next door, the bookshop continues to create a cultural hub in the heart of King's Heath, with progressive and inclusive stock curation running alongside community projects.
 
The first Birmingham based bookshop to win the Independent Bookshop of the Year Award, the Midlands reign triumphant at the Nibbies this year, with Leicester based small press Sweet Cherry Publishing winning the Small Press of the Year Award.

 
Ruth Gardner, Gardners’ UK Sales Manager, said: 'Congratulations from all of us at Gardners on winning this year’s Independent Bookseller of the Year! Your passion, dedication, and unwavering support for readers and authors alike have made your bookshop a true cornerstone of the community. This recognition is so well deserved!'
 
Meryl Halls, Managing Director of Booksellers Association, said: 'The Heath Bookshop exemplifies all that is wonderful, innovative and dynamic about Independent Bookshops in 2025. They expertly curate and execute author events that span bestselling names, debut talent and underrepresented voices, work tirelessly within their community to help those less fortunate including refugees and asylum seekers, and stylishly serve to their customers a plethora of additional activity from a book subscription service, regular film screenings and a literature and music festival funded by Arts Council England. At the Booksellers Association we always say that Independent Bookshops offer unique and indispensable economic, cultural and community value on a local and national scale and The Heath Bookshop is absolute proof of this.'
 
The British Book Awards affirm, connect and energise all who have a hand in creating books and all who read them, by showcasing the authors and illustrators who have stirred our hearts and imaginations, and the industry behind the scenes who have brought them to readers.

Other winners included:

Book Retailer of the Year: Waterstones
Individual Bookseller of the Year: Carolynn Bain Afrori Books
Children's Bookseller of the Year: Wonderland Bookshop
 

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REGIONAL AND COUNTRY WINNERS

East England
Maldon Books | Essex

Island of Ireland
Bridge Books | Dromore

London
Queen’s Park Books | Queen’s Park

Midlands
The Heath Bookshop | King’s Heath, Birmingham

North England
Simply Books | Bramhall

Scotland
Book Nook | Stewarton

South-East England
Medina Books | Cowes, Isle of Wight

South-West England
Storysmith | Bristol

Wales
Griffin Books | Penarth