The best shop in Richmond, a joy to visit, they beat any chain bookshop any day.

There are many more bookshops - especially branches of chain bookshops - than there were 10 years ago, and yet publishers complain that they are not selling any more books - fewer in many cases.

The Bumper Bookshop is absolutely wonderful - a fantastic selection of wonderful children's books (which you just don't see in chain bookshops) with friendly, knowledgable staff.

The bookshop is in the heart of a charming pedestrian precinct and has been imaginative and energetic in innovating services and literary events to differentiate itself from the chain bookshops and Amazon.

I Map This chain bookshop has a great selection of titles and comfy surroundings in which to browse before you buy.

S Map Spacious three-storey chain bookshop with cafe (coffee Rs18 to Rs44).

Unfortunately, this is one of the real functions of such prizes: they bring books to the attention of lazy journalists who can't be bothered to read a publisher's catalogue or even cast an eye around their local chain bookshop.

Whereas the shop used to sell second-hand and new books side-by-side on the same shelves, it now primarily sells books in print as do other large chain bookshops, but with a considerably larger range of titles on every subject.

We specialise in local interest titles, stocking a wide range of books about towns in our area and the County of Hertfordshire, many of which are not available online or in chain bookshops.