THE growing reputation of The Woodstock Bookshop's poetry festival has led to it being shortlisted for a top industry award for a third time.

Mum-of-six Rachel Phipps launched the new book store in 2008, shortly before the recession began to bite.

But it soon attracted a loyal customer base who continue to support the shop in Oxford Street.

Mrs Phipps said she was delighted to be among 42 shops across the country shortlisted for the British Book Awards’ Independent Bookshop of the Year category.

Bookshops from eight regions, including the south east, have a chance to become regional winners, with their names announced on Wednesday, March 15, at the London Book Fair.

The regional winners will then vie for the overall Independent Bookshop of the Year crown at the British Book Awards ceremony, to be held at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Monday, May 8.

Mrs Phipps, whose shop is in the south east section, said: "We feel very honoured to be shortlisted for the third time but I'm not expecting to win.

"I think the poetry festival, which we have now run for five years, has given us a real boost.

"It has acquired a very good reputation among poets and we have been lucky to have Tony Harrison come and read, and Carol Ann Duffy – Alice Oswald has been here twice.

"This year the festival will run from November 10 to November 12 and we are looking forward to welcoming George Szirtes and David Harsent."

Mrs Phipps, who lives in Dean, West Oxfordshire, said that although Blenheim Palace attracted tourists to the town the loyal customer base was made up of residents.

She added: "People are very loyal – sometimes they find the books they want on Amazon and then ask me to source them instead – not from Amazon of course.

"High streets generally are struggling but I do think there is a place on the high street for independent booksellers.

"Another reason we are well supported is we run book groups at the local primary school and we also run a poetry group and organise readings.

"We also work closely with the group running the Wootton-by-Woodstock talks and sell books at the talks."

Competition sponsors Gardners Books will present the overall winner with a cheque for £5,000 prize, to be invested in the day-to-day running of the shop or potential improvements.

The shortlist is revealed at a time when indie bookshop numbers are in decline, with many facing increased rates.

According to the latest Booksellers Association statistics, released in 2015, there are 894 nationwide.

Tom Tivnan, features editor of The Bookseller magazine, said: "We have really been astounded this year by the sheer breadth, depth and quality of the entries.

"Whittling them down to the shortlists has been an extremely difficult process.

"It’s still tough out there for indies, but these shops are showing how resourceful, creative and passionate booksellers can not only survive, but thrive in today’s market."