A ROSS-on-Wye based bookseller has been shortlisted for the Book Retailer of the Year Award in the annual British Book Awards

Local independent bookseller chain Rossiter Books has been shortlisted alongside other book retailers including Waterstones and World of Books.

The awards, known as the Nibbies, showcase the talented people and teams behind some of the biggest books of the year.

Awards are given in a range of categories, and the Book Retailer of the Year award is sponsored by Penguin Random House.

As the National Year of Reading gets into full swing, eight retailers have been shortlisted. Featuring three internet operators, two intermediaries, two big bookselling brands and fast-growing independent Rossiter Books, they illustrate the variety of channels in modern retail.

This shortlist will be completed by two more retailers: the winners of the Independent Bookshop of the Year and Children’s Bookseller of the Year.

Rossiter Books have been trading for 16 years. Its first decade was spent with three shops along the England / Wales border, but it has doubled in size in the past four years, with a seventh shop opening soon in Ledbury. Andy and Victoria Rossiter and their teams fuse the character and community of indie bookselling with the commercial and tech strengths of a group retailer.

Rossiter Books in Ross opened in 2010. The shop offers a carefully chosen range of books and works closely with The Friends of St Mary’s Church to bring a fantastic variety of author events to the town.

Andy Rossiter, co-owner of Rossiter Books, said: “Making it onto the award shortlist is testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone in our team.

“Our aim has always been to build a chain of quality independent bookshops on local high streets sitting at the centre of the community. We are delighted to have been shortlisted.”