THE Bookery in Crediton is delighted to be one of the British Book Awards, regional finalists for 2022 Independent Bookshop of the Year Award, sponsored by Gardeners.

The Bookery is one of 62 bookshops in the country and one of eight in the South West to have been nominated for the award.

Dee Laljee, manager of the Bookery, said: “It’s a real honour and fantastic recognition of our brilliant team and our community, near and far, who have supported us.

“Our staff are brilliant and we wouldn’t be here without our volunteers and our customers.”

Tom Tivan, The Bookseller’s managing editor said: “The received wisdom in the book trade when the pandemic first hit was that independent booksellers might be the most vulnerable.

“They have proved anything but, as through close ties to their communities, independents have flourished for the last two years.

“This year’s Independent Bookshop of the Year and country finalists reflect a broad diversity across the UK and Ireland with the thread of innovation running through, no matter if they are one of the UK’s most venerable independents or one of its newest.”

The judges will now select the Independent Bookshop Regional and Country winners, who will be announced on Wednesday, March 16.