A popular Crickhowell book store is celebrating after being named Bookshop of the Year for Wales in the British Book Awards 2022.
Book-ish is a Welsh Independent book store situated on Crickhowell High Street, owned by Emma and Andrew Corfield-Walters.
After being confirmed as the winner of the Independent Bookshop of the Year in Wales, the book store will now join nine other regional winners from across the UK vying to win the overall Independent Bookshop of the Year award.
Book-ish is the official bookshop of Green Man Festival, and co-owner Emma Corfield-Walters is co-founder of Crickhowell Literary Festival.
Deeply rooted in its community, the shop runs regular author events and signings, a community book club, quiz nights, games nights and a writer’s evening which is a social, supportive space where any-stage writers can meet each other to share their work.
The bookshop is no stranger to the awards having won Independent Bookshop of the Year in 2020 and owner Emma Corfield-Walters is delighted to be on the shortlist again.
Commenting on the news, Emma said: “Being a country finalist means a great deal, for me, for my amazing team and for our community both locally and online. It’s real recognition in our industry for what we do and how we do it. I’m so proud to be part of such a creative, collaborative and innovative industry
“The past year has been somewhat of a rollercoaster with restrictions, supplier issues and uncertainty but from that has come a huge amount of innovation and creativity across the board. We have some wonderful booksellers in Wales and everything they have achieved has been an inspiration.”
The award is all the more amazing given that Emma only managed to secure the future of the bookshop last Christmas, purchasing the property in Crickhowell after an unexpected sale by the landlord.
With support from the local community to help them buy the bookshop, Emma was able to raise over £25,000 through fundraising to buy the property and preserve the bookshop on Crickhowell’s High Street.
Emma added: “The community support has been staggering and support closer to home, from family, friends and our team kept me going.
“Whats next? Hopefully a period of calm, I want to enjoy what we’ve built, spend more time bookselling and connecting with our customers in the shop and at events.”
Sponsored by Gardners and supported by the Booksellers Association, the Independent Bookshop of the Year awards celebrates nine inspiring bookshops, selected from a list of 63 finalists, which have continued to support their local communities during the past two turbulent years.
“This was undoubtedly the most competitive year we have ever had for Independent Bookshop of the Year, and these nine shops should feel justly proud for claiming their regional and country crowns when their fellow indies have also been flourishing,” said Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller’s managing editor.
The nine regional and country winners are now in contention for the overall Independent Bookshop of the Year Award, which will be announced at the official British Book Awards 2022 winner ceremony to be held at Grosvenor House in London on Monday May 23. The overall Independent Bookshop of the Year winner will also compete to be crowned Book Retailer of the Year.