Individual Bookseller of the Year
Individual Bookseller of the Year Winner and Shortlist
All the best bookshops are made by the people on the floor. These eight managers, experienced booksellers and newcomers all do exceptional things for their shops, and it is clear that selling books is not just a job but a passion and vocation. Six of the eight haven’t appeared at The British Book Awards before – a sign of the amazing depth of bookselling talent in the UK and Ireland.
Winner
Chrissy Ryan
BookBar
Books, music, coffee, wine, date nights… does retail get any more sociable than this? With her BookBar concept, Chrissy Ryan has hit on a unique and compelling formula that is reimagining what bookshops can do for people.
“Like your most well-read friend’s living room” is how she describes the concept, which is as much about bringing people together as it is about selling books. “Reading is a social act, not just a solitary one.”
Ryan does it all, from setting the strategies and leading her team to hosting the book clubs and making the coffee. Last year brought a step change when she added a second store in Chelsea to the original BookBar that opened in Islington five years ago. Both have well-cultivated ranges for their well-heeled locales.
But what really sets the two BookBars apart are their events – not just author visits but unconventional get-togethers such as book-and-wine tastings and Read Dating nights with the Bored of Dating Apps initiative. Other collaborations included a book supper club, in-store carol concert and festival events. “They’re not afraid to try something new and reimagine what a literary space can be in a modern city,” said one partner. Ryan is building a properly inclusive space in which all are welcome.
Authors and publishers are at least as thankful to Ryan as BookBar’s customers. One publicist called her “a serious joy and inspiration to work with”. The judges added: “Chrissy is clearly a total powerhouse who demonstrates vision, passion, inventiveness and commercial savvy in equal measure. BookBar has a distinctive culture, great collaborations and a strong brand identity. She really makes bookselling fun.”
The Shortlist
Leah Caffrey
House of Books & Friends
After nine months away, Leah Caffrey returned to House of Books & Friends in Manchester as principal bookseller in 2025. She embodies the Community Interest Company’s sense of purpose and mission to combat loneliness by bringing people together. As well as hand-selling her favourite books, she has improved events, promotions and social media, supported independent publishers and been a mentor to fellow booksellers.
Kristin Griffin
Bàrd Books
Kristin Griffin knows her customers at Bàrd Books in east London inside out, with an instinct for stock and recommendations that will fly. She is a brilliant host and moderator of the store’s many events and launched a monthly night to champion debut writers; “Kristin’s a true community builder and an outstanding bookseller in every sense,” said one of them. In a place that’s a bookshop-cum-café, she is an ace barista too.
Evelyn Heis
Max Minerva's Bookshop
Evelyn Heis, assistant manager and events coordinator at Max Minerva’s Bookshop in Bristol, made translated fiction the focus of her work in 2025. Her displays, book clubs and author events have opened customers’ minds to fiction from around the world and built great sales for little-known titles. Heis has also established new partnerships with small presses and the International Booker Prize. “Her passion for books and stories is extraordinary,” said one visiting author.
Jack Kennedy
Waterstones St Andrews
Lead bookseller at Waterstones in St Andrews, Jack Kennedy is a great example of a can-do worker who embraces all the opportunities he is given, like hosting more than 200 authors at events, supporting schools and libraries, running social media and, on the hottest day of 2025, donning the Gruffalo costume for a shop tour. He was a great supporter of Waterstones’ other Scottish stores too, and since the year-end he has left St Andrews to work his magic at Waterstones’ London Victoria store.
Eleanor McKnight
Maldon Books
Having joined Maldon Books at 18 only four years ago, Eleanor McKnight has the skill for recommendations of someone far more experienced. As well as day-to-day shop and events management, she has hand-sold many personal favourites and launched Book of the Month and Blind Date with a Book promos. “Eleanor is passionate and knowledgeable about all things books and she always has the best recommendations,” said one shop regular.
Chrissy Ryan
BookBar
Chrissy Ryan is the entrepreneur behind BookBar, an independent in Islington and Chelsea that is as much about celebrating reading and socialising as it is about selling books. She runs two truly unique spaces combining books, coffee and wine alongside a massive programme of events, which are clearly adored by locals, authors and publishers alike. “BookBar is an idyllic little bolthole in which I can escape life,” said one regular.
Caroline Sullivan
Tales for Tadpoles
Since founding Tales for Tadpoles 11 years ago, Caroline Sullivan has built it into a hub of reading in Ireland and a contender for the 2026 Children’s Bookseller of the Year. As the sole operator who takes every decision and sees every sale, she has made customer service the shop’s biggest strength. Children and parents value her recommendations, subscription services, storytimes and workshops. “As soon as I arrive I feel like I’m home,” said one regular.
Helen Tamblyn-Saville
Wonderland Bookshop
Helen Tamblyn-Saville, owner and manager of the Wonderland Bookshop in Retford, is shortlisted for the fifth time in a row. She has been a force of nature in children’s books since taking on the flagging shop six years ago, creating a warm and inclusive environment and a destination for people far beyond her town. Intelligent buying, hand-selling, events and outreach are just some of her strengths, and she even found time to finish an MA in children’s literature.
