Phillip’s in Mallow is unveiled as Ireland’s top independent bookshop
THE award winning Phillip’s Bookshop in Mallow has added yet another accolade to its name after being crowned with the title of Ireland’s Independent Bookshop of the Year in the prestigious 2020 British Book Awards.
Now in their 30th year the literary awards, affectionately known as the ‘Nibbies’, celebrate the best books, publishers and bookshops across the British Isles and Ireland.
After several rounds of submissions, Phillip’s was selected by competition judges as the overall regional Irish winner their category.
Along with eight other outlets across England, Scotland and Wales they have qualified as category finalists, with the overall Best Independent Bookshop in Britain and Ireland set to be announced in June.
A family run business, Phillip’s
was established in November 1989 by Philip and Catherine O’Flynn in a modest 400sq ft premises on Chapel Lane, selling general books and cards.
Two years later Phillip’s moved to a larger premises on Mallow’s Main Street, which proved to be a major turning point for the growing business, which remained the only bookshop in the area for a number of years.
Fast forward to 2008 and the O’Flynns’ daughter June moved back home from her travels and agreed to join the business, which coincided with it moving to its much larger premises at Bank Place.
This also gave the shop an opportunity to expand its offering to include school uniforms, new stationary lines, puppets and games. Last April Phillip’s again relocated to the 5,000 sq ft former Dunnes Stores building at 22 West End, which had been vacant for the previous 12-years.
Speaking to The Corkman June said that Phillip’s takes customer service very seriously and prides itself on having knowledgeable, friendly and helpful staff.
She said the past few months had been a “whirlwind”, with the shop celebrating its 30th anniversary early last November with a massive party on the premises and scooping the ‘Best Customer Service’ award at the North Cork Business and Tourism Awards later on in the same month.
The latest news has come as the icing on the cake for the business
“We are over the moon to have won the Irish regional award and are very proud to be one of the nominated British and Irish finalists in the competition,” said June.