THE GROVE Bookshop in Ilkley has been shortlisted in the British Book Awards.

The Ilkley shop is one of seven shortlisted in the North of England.

The British Book Awards, or Nibbies, have revealed the regional shortlists for the 2020 Independent Bookshop of the Year.

A record 49 bookshops from nine regions are competing to be named the country’s best indie retailer for books. The shops will compete to win their region first, before vying for the overall prize, to be given out at the British Book Awards ceremony, at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on May 18.

Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller’s managing editor, said: “There has been a resurgence in the last few years for the indie books sector with a growing number of stores and an increased market share. You can see why people are looking more towards indies by the brilliant shops on our regional shortlists.

“The High Street in general may be struggling but indie bookshops are thriving in this challenging environment because of the expertise of staff — which can beat an Amazon algorithm any day — but also that they are true hubs of their communities.”

The shops shortlisted in the North of England are Drake - The Bookshop, Stockton-on- Tees, Forum Books, Corbridge, The Little Ripon Bookshop, Ripon, Sam Read Bookseller, Grasmere, The Book Corner, Halifax, The Grove Bookshop | Ilkley, White Rose Book Café, Thirsk.

The Grove has been selling books in Ilkley for more than 40 years and is also the official bookseller for the annual Ilkley Literature Festival in October.

It stocks titles in a wide range of subjects including fiction, politics, current affairs and the environment, as well as Yorkshire and local interest books.

It has a world travel department, with a range of maps, guides, coffee-table books and globes, and a music department with CDs, sheet music and accessories.

It holds regular events including signings by authors, readings, afternoon teas and quizzes.