May 23, 2023

Caffè Nero Launches Nero Book Awards to Celebrate Outstanding Writing and Reading in the UK and Ireland

Today, Caffè Nero has announced a new book award for writers based in the UK and Ireland Delivered by Caffè Nero in partnership with The Booksellers Association, Brunel University London and Right To Dream. The inaugural awards will carry a prize of £50,000 and will be open for entries on 19th June 2023 across four categories: Children’s Fiction, Debut Fiction, Fiction and Non-Fiction.

Recent months have seen new awards appearing across the industry in the wake of longer established awards closing last year, notably the Costa Book Awards and the Blue Peter Book Awards. We are delighted to see that the new Nero Book Awards will have a children’s category and hope that the momentum of the award will build to drive recognition and shine a spotlight on some of the incredible talent in the children’s book industry.

Judges from across the world of books will select shortlists of four in each category, choosing the books they would most want to recommend to others. The Nero Book Awards will be administered by The Booksellers Association, the trade organisation that represents booksellers across the country.

Gerry Ford, Founder and CEO, Caffè Nero, comments: “Caffè Nero was founded in 1997 on the principle of being a warm and welcoming neighbourhood gathering spot, a place to bring people together. Our venues were intended as and have come to be gathering spots where people come to talk, read and discuss issues of the day. Most of our stores are filled with books. Moreover, for the past two decades we have been supporting the arts in a variety of ways… So, with the arts as part of our company culture – these Awards are a natural fit for us.”

Meryl Halls, MD, Booksellers Association, adds: “This is a hugely exciting moment for the world of books. The Nero Book Awards do that rare thing of celebrating books across multiple genres, with an emphasis on commercial books with wide appeal. With its brand values centred around quality, craft and community, plus its strong existing connection to the arts, Caffè Nero is a perfect partner with whom to establish these brand-new Awards. The Nero Book Awards are first and foremost for readers, but their impact will be felt widely – by authors, publishers, agents, book retailers, libraries and festivals – as they create discussion around nominated books and drive consumer engagement with bookshops and libraries. We at The Booksellers Association, and on behalf of our bookshop members, welcome the opportunities these Awards offer the world of books, by celebrating and showcasing the writing talent in the UK and Ireland.”

The shortlist of 16 books will be announced in late 2023 before four Category winners – one of which will be selected as the overall “Book of the Year”, The Nero Gold Prize – are revealed in early 2024. The Awards prize fund totals £50,000, with the four Category Award winners receiving £5,000 each and the winner of the Book of the Year receiving an additional £30,000.