Award-winning independent Shropshire retailer Booka Bookshop is preparing to celebrate Bookshop Day with a host of unmissable activities and offers this month.

The annual national event is organised by the Booksellers Association and this year takes place on Saturday 12 October, with the theme for 2024 being Bookshops Making a Difference.

Booka Bookshop, which is recognised as one of the leading independent booksellers in the UK, is promising a busy programme at its stores in both Oswestry and Bridgnorth.

Customers at the bookshop in Bridgnorth’s historic High Street will be invited to enjoy a birthday cupcake to help staff celebrate the store’s first birthday, while those at the Oswestry bookshop and café will be able to mark its 15th anniversary. Both adults and youngsters can help colour a Happy Birthday Booka poster and add their own messages or book recommendations to share their ‘Passion for Books’.

Meanwhile book lovers at both venues will be able to enjoy a 10 percent discount on all purchases made in store, excluding the Oswestry café.

All book purchases will come with a free exclusive ‘Passion for Books’ bookmark, while special limited edition ‘Bookshop Day’ tote bags, designed by artist, author and illustrator Angela Harding, will be available to buy in store.

There will also be the chance to win a kids’ bag of books, and everyone who signs up to the Booka Bookshop newsletter will be entered into a prize draw to be in with a chance of winning £50 of Booka vouchers - with one prize up for grabs at each location.

Booka’s Christmas catalogues, bursting with brilliant ideas for books and book-related gifts, will also be available to pick up at both sites.

Booka Bookshop was founded by husband-and-wife team Tim and Carrie Morris and opened its doors in Church Street, Oswestry in 2009. Twelve months ago, it added a second branch in the popular Severnside market town of Bridgnorth.

It has won UK & Ireland ‘independent bookshop of the year’ in the Bookseller Industry Awards, in 2015, and has been shortlisted as among the UK Best Small Shops.

Renowned for the quality of its book stock and its strong community focus, it provides an inspirational setting in its two bookshops, hosts a wide and varied range of book clubs in store and author events at various locations, and works closely with schools, libraries and other organisations to promote a passion for books and reading through author visits, workshops and book fairs.

Booka also has a successful online shop which sells to customers locally, nationally and internationally.

Further information about Bookshop Day is available from booksellers.org.uk