A local independent bookseller has been recognised as one of the best across the UK and Ireland.

Claire Grint, of Hexham’s Cogito Books, was one of just 29 people to be named a 2020 'Bookshop Hero', celebrating the cream of the crop in the bookselling industry.

Bookshop Heroes of the Year was launched this year with the Booksellers Association (BA) and sponsorship by HarperCollins, in order to expand the remit of the Individual Bookseller of the Year Nibbie, last awarded in 2019, and the Booksellers Association Bookshop Heroes Independent Bookshop Week campaign, to recognise the true scope of shop-floor talent.

It comes amid a second national lockdown and increased coronavirus-related restrictions in the devolved countries and Ireland.

“I was incredibly touched to be nominated a Bookshop Hero,” said Claire. “We’ve been overwhelmed by how much people value Cogito Books and the service that we strive to offer.

“It’s a pleasure to source books for our customers and despite the many challenges this year has thrown at us, being able to get people books, that make all of this slightly more bearable, has very much felt the right thing to do, and I speak for the team on that, Hilary and Jenny too.We just can’t thank our customers enough for helping us keep a good bookshop running in Hexham.

“We’ve tried to provide a service as close to normal as we possibly can, despite the increasing restrictions; customers and books are at the heart of everything we do and we’ve tried to maintain that in everything that we’ve done this year.”

Cogito Books, on St Mary’s Chare, was established by Claire’s father, Alan, and her step-mother Julia in May 2001. Claire later took on the running of the store, further building its reputation for championing budding, local authors.

During lockdown, the team have been on hand via phone, providing book suggestions and offered a hand-delivery, postal or collection service. Book groups have also continued via Zoom.

BA managing director, Meryl Halls, was full of praise for Claire.

She said: “We are really delighted to be part of this extremely timely and celebratory occasion, shining a light on some of the best of our bookselling colleagues.

“Of course, with any list like this, those on the list are representative of, and stand for, a multitude of their peers, all of whom are working hard, putting their bookshops on the map, handselling great books, connecting with their communities, getting kids reading, encouraging authors, innovating with lockdown bookselling and being incredible advocates for their trade and their profession.

“The booksellers who are the 2020 Bookshop Heroes are the best of the very best – they deserve all the accolades and they are true heroes in our current landscape, constantly reinventing their shops, coping with adversity, continually providing the gift of reading to book-lovers.

“We are incredibly proud of our members, at this point more than ever before.”

Tom Tivnan, the Bookseller managing editor, added: “A really heartwarming thing has been the nominations pouring in from customers, who were deeply appreciative of the work these booksellers have put in during the first lockdown and beyond. So, what better time to raise a glass to them? Or, better yet, to order a book or two from them?”