Caffè Nero launches new set of book awards to celebrate the best writing from the UK and Ireland
Caffè Nero has announced the launch of the Nero Book Awards: a new set of multi-category awards celebrating the craft of great writing and the joy of reading.
With a mission to point readers of all ages and interests in the direction of the best books of the year, the Awards aim to recognise outstanding writing and readability. Established as a not-for-profit organisation, the Nero Book Awards will be run and underwritten by the independent, family-owned coffee house group, Caffè Nero.
The Awards will recognise books of the year across four categories including Children’s Fiction. The other categories are Debut Fiction, Fiction and Non-Fiction. Judges will select shortlists of four in each category, choosing the books they would most want to recommend to others.
The Nero Book Awards will celebrate books by writers based in the UK and Ireland. They will be administered by The Booksellers Association, the trade organisation that represents booksellers across the country.
Gerry Ford, Founder and CEO, Caffè Nero, says, ‘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. Over the years we have partnered with Tate Modern, Tate Britain, National Portrait Gallery, British Museum, The National Gallery, V&A and the Royal Academy of Arts. In the music industry we are also known as keen supporters of the “talented but yet to make it”; we are the place that supports and helps outstanding up-and-coming singer songwriters. 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 inaugural Awards will open for entries on 19th June 2023.
Shortlisted books, category winners, and an overall winner will be selected by judges – from booksellers and authors to media commentators and influencers. 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. Further details will be announced in due course.
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.
A website and social media channels are now live.
