Round Table Books, based in Brixton Village, is one of 77 independent bookshops selected as a finalist in independent bookshop of the year category for the The British Book Awards 2024
The award, sponsored by book wholesaler Gardners, celebrates shops that are at the centre of local communities.
“This year’s cohort is one of the strongest I have seen in my 15 years judging this award,” said judge Tom Tivnan, managing editor of the Bookseller.
Other South London shops selected are Village Books in Dulwich and Backstory in Balham.
Round Table Books, a community interest company, began life as a week-long Coldharbour Lane pop-up to celebrate the children’s publisher Knights Of turning one year.
The response to the pop-up was overwhelming, especially calls for a permanent space. Readers across the world responded to a crowdfunding drive and Round Table Books opened in May 2019.
Gardners’ UK sales manager Ruth Gardner said times have not been easy for independent bookshops, “but it’s amazing to see so many thriving. The year’s list is a tough one again with every entry being a worthy winner.”
Regional and country winners of the Independent Bookshop of the Year award will be announced on Tuesday 12 March. The overall winner will be revealed at the British Book Awards ceremony in London on 13 May.
Round Table also runs a book club. The next event will see Vanessa Walters introduce her just-published novel The Lagos Wife, a gripping crime thriller, at 6.45pm on Monday 4 March.
Round Table Books
73 Granville Arcade
Open
Sunday – Friday 11am–5.30pm
Saturday 9.30am – 5.30pm.
