During March to June, thousands of nominations came in for small, family-run shops, pubs, bars and cafes around the UK through local shopping platform, ShopAppy.

The Book Nook was up against small family businesses around the UK, but the sheer range of nominations, and their quality, saw it named ShopAppy Favourite Family Business of the Year 2022.

Sarah Frame, owner of The Book Nook, commented: “I am beyond thrilled. The fact that my wee tiny shop in our wee tiny town has won is incredible and it won’t just be me celebrating but everyone in Stewarton.

“Despite being forced to shut for a number of months due to the pandemic, everyone in the town rallied around us and we are eternally grateful for that. It’s great to see a whole community embrace books, adults and children alike, and each day that we’re open puts a smile on our face.”

Dr Jackie Mulligan, expert on the government’s high streets task force and founder of the local shopping platform, Shopappy, added: “We received thousands of nominations for family-run businesses around the UK and each one of them should be applauded for the value they bring to their local communities.

“The Book Nook nominations really showcased what a wide range of positive impacts a small business can have on its community. Despite being in a town of just over 7,000 people, the quality of the nominations was unsurpassed.

“Here you have a small family business that is the beating pulse of an entire community and that is why they have been named ShopAppy Favourite Family Business of the Year 2022.”