A bookshop in Balham won London’s Independent Book Shop of the Year Award on Tuesday, after judging by a panel at the British Book Awards.
The winner, Backstory, is unique as it offers a space to socialise and connect – with a glass of wine in hand – while being surrounded by books.
Tom Rowley, Backstory’s founder, said: “We’re gobsmacked to be named London’s independent bookshop of the year just three years after opening.
“It is a huge achievement for all of our customers and for our team of brilliant booksellers, now named London’s finest: my business partner Denise, Darby, Isobel, Zoë and Francis.”
Rowley said they were going to celebrate over a ‘curry of the century’ – it was evident how much the award means to him and the importance he placed on the effort of the whole team in the store’s success.
The founder also focused on the Balham community too, recognising the positive influence of local people on an independent store, and thanking them with 10% off all purchases until Sunday evening and even free fizz over the weekend!
Rowley said: “All I wanted to do in opening Backstory was to create a space that, if it wasn’t mine, I would want to hang out in anyway.
“That’s why we focused on making it a place people want to linger in, not just pop in to buy something: we’ve got lovely comfy armchairs, the best coffee in Balham and premium wine and beer.
“Readers come in on their own to spend an hour or two with a good book and leave having made a new friend, often someone who has lived a few doors away from them for years but who they have never met until now.”
And, evidently, this vision of comfort and longer visits has worked, given the judging was based heavily on comments from customers, publishing partners and the authors themselves – those who can comment on the experience itself.
Backstory have 11 events between now and May 19 with authors ranging from John Lanchester, writer of Capital, to Sophie Gilbert who will celebrate her paperback release of Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned A Generation of Women Against Themselves.
Many of these events are already sold out, but Backstory hold at least one event a week to keep customers busy and up-to-date on potential new reads.
Backstory has managed to marry reading, friendship and romance – all in one room.
Rowley said: “We’re a very popular venue for first dates: you should hear some of the things we hear!
“It’s also very sweet when regulars come in for their date nights: couples will be sitting in quiet companionship, each of them engrossed in their own reads.”
Featured Image: courtesy of Backstory
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