AN INDEPENDENT bookshop in East Dorset has been named best in the South West.
Gullivers Bookshop in Wimborne has been awarded independent bookshop of the year 2019 for the region in The British Book Awards.
The shop is among nine regional winners whittled down from 48 contenders now vying for the overall Independent Bookshop of the Year accolade.
Last year’s overall winner was Five Leaves Bookshop in Nottingham which is in contention for a second year.
Gullivers Bookshop has been based in Wimborne for 50 years and is staffed by three generations of the same family.
It is behind the Wimborne Literary Festival and even saved Wimborne record shop, Square Records, from closure.
Tom Tivnan, chair of the Independent Bookshop of the Year judges, said: “These are nine worthy winners, from regional shortlists of startling strength, all of which represent the best in British bookselling but, perhaps more importantly, are hubs of their communities.”
The winner will be announced at a ceremony on May 13 and will receive a £5,000 cheque from sponsor Gardners.
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