March 2019 — On Friday 22 March it was announced that Newham Bookshop is the London winner of the British Book Awards Independent Bookshop of the Year. Thanks to your help and support, we were chosen from a shortlist of seven London independent booksellers. Announcing the decision in The Bookseller, Tom Tivnan, managing editor of The Bookseller and chair of the Independent Bookshop of the Year judges, said: “In 2018, we had the wonderful news that indie bookshop numbers increased for the second year in a row, the first time that has happened in decades. We’ve seen that renaissance in the sector reflected in the sheer depth and breadth of submissions to this award. 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.”
For London, he said: “Newham Bookshop in Upton Park, the London category winner, marked 40 years trading in 2018. The huge affection for the shop became apparent in a fundraising campaign to support its move to new premises last year, while manager Vivian Archer received the Outstanding Contribution to Bookselling Award at the Books Are My Bag Awards.”
May 2019 — We are delighted to congratulate Golden Hare Books of Edinburgh for winning the Independent Bookshop of the Year, but we are very pleased to be the regional winner for London. We cover a wide range of subjects at Newham Bookshop, as demonstrated by our section titles, some of which have been refreshed following our move into 743 Barking Road.
We’ve been shown some of your comments which contributed to our becoming the London regional winner of Independent Bookshop of the Year. We’d love to share them with you – click here to read them.
While we are waiting to put up new signage, we are pleased to display two banners for the time being. Do you like them? Email or tweet your comments.
April 2019 — Local historian, author and friend of Newham Bookshop, Peter Williams has published a book on the history of West Ham and its Fire Brigade. This illustrated book weaves together local history with an account of the fire service in West Ham from 1800 to 1965.
