The regional and country winners of The British Book Awards 2026 Small Press of the Year have been revealed, with the winners “continuing to punch above their weight, grow sales and win prizes”.
The winners of the regional and country awards, sponsored by TJ Books, were selected from 63 finalists announced last month. This year recognises a number of independent presses committed to driving diversity within publishing, including establishing writers from working-class backgrounds, celebrating Latin American literature and furthering accessibility to children’s books.
Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller and chair of the judges for The British Book Awards, said: “Small presses in the UK and Ireland continue to punch above their weight, growing sales, winning prizes and building new routes to readers. What draws these publishers together is the dedication to their writers, the determination to find readers for them and the delight in their successes. Battling increased costs and a bumpy economy, in the National Year of Reading, their work is more necessary than ever.”
In London, there were two standout winners named, Bedford Square Publishers and Flying Eye Books. Bedford Square was founded in 2022, and has been recognised for its ambitious and nimble approach to publishing fiction and non-fiction. The East London-based publisher Flying Eye was established in 2013, and is celebrated for its award-winning children’s list, defined by meticulous design and excellence in illustrated storytelling.
VERVE Books is the regional winner for East England. Since launching in 2018, the independent press has built a tightly curated list of page-turning, diverse and original writing, championing bold new voices alongside prize-winning authors.
Townhouse was named as the Island of Ireland winner, which since launching in 2022 “has quickly built a reputation for innovative, high-quality books with a global outlook and agile, independent spirit”.
Meanwhile, the Herefordshire-based Otter-Barry Books has triumphed in the Midlands. It was founded in 2015 by Janetta Otter-Barry, and champions culturally diverse illustrated titles alongside a vibrant poetry list.
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