British Book Awards 2026: Independent Edinburgh bookstore crowned as best in Scotland
Book Lovers Bookshop in Edinburgh has been named as Scotland’s Independent Bookshop of the Year 2026 and is now in the running to win a prestigious nationwide prize.
A specialist bookstore in Edinburgh has been named as Scotland’s best independent bookshop.
Focusing on romance fiction, Book Lovers Bookshop was named the country’s Independent Bookshop of the Year at the British Book Awards 2026.
It opened in 2024 following a successful crowdfunding campaign, as well as some savings from owner Caden Armstrong’s own wedding fund, it was the first brick and mortar bookstore of its kind in the UK.
Armstrong, who is originally from the United States, moved to Scotland after graduating from university in Paris to be closer to their partner, who was living in Aberdeen at the time.
Book Lovers Bookshop has built strong community
She opened Book Lovers, which is queer and disabled owned, after growing frustrated with the lack of romance fiction available in most Edinburgh bookshops.
Speaking with The Scotsman ahead of the store first opening a year and a half ago, Caden said: “One of the things that made me want to open up Book Lovers is that when I moved to Edinburgh, I immediately went searching for the romance community here and it's not non-existent, it was invisible.”
The strong community built around their store is one of the reasons why Book Lovers took home the top prize for Scotland at the book awards earlier this month. The shop’s diverse stock selection and welcoming atmosphere also played a role.
Other bookshops nominated for the prize include Argonaut Books, which is also in Edinburgh, Daydreams Bookshop in Milngavie, Far From the Madding Crowd in Linlithgow, Jedburgh’s Heron & Willow, The Book Nook in Stirling, and The Wee Bookshop in Dollar, as well as Ullapool Bookshop.
Book Lovers Bookshop now in the running to be the UK’s Independent Bookshop of the Year 2026
Now having secured its place as top in Scotland, Book Lovers Bookshop could be named as the UK’s Independent Bookshop of the Year in the national competition, with a £5,000 from awards sponsor Gardners up for grabs.
The Edinburgh bookstore is up against eight other locations around the UK. This includes:
- Backstory, Balham, London
- FOLDE, Dorset, South West England
- Griffin Books, Penarth, Wales
- P&G Wells, Winchester, South East England
- The Book Hive, Norwich, East England
- The Rabbit Hole, Brigg, Midlands
- The Secret Bookshelf, Carrickfergus, Ireland
- Truman Books, Farsley, North England
Meryl Halls, the managing director of Booksellers Association, said: “As we celebrate the National Year of Reading in the UK, the role independent bookshops play in championing authors, inspiring reading for pleasure and bringing communities together has never been more important and relevant. From unrivalled curation to unparalleled welcoming spaces for readers of all ages, they sit at the heart of their local communities and our national culture.
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“It’s fantastic to see revealed this year’s regional and country winners – whose passion, creativity and commitment reflect the very best of the immeasurable value independent bookshops bring across the UK and Ireland."
The official winner of Independent Bookshop of the Year will be revealed on Monday, May 11 at the British Book Awards in London.
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