A MANNINGTREE bookshop owner says she is "honoured" to have been included in a new literary guide celebrating independent businesses across the country.

Manningtree Arts on the High Street is one of five bookstores in Essex to have made it into the “ultimate slow-travel guide for book-lovers” called the Bookshop Tours of Britain which comes out this Thursday.

First published in 2020, the book is now in its fourth edition and features twenty bookshop tours, including the scenic route from Scottish Highlands and back via Whitby, for readers which involves independent book shops.

Butterfly and Bee in Clacton, Mandy’s Book Snug in Southend, Read on Sea in Leigh and The Book Nook in Tollesbury were the other county’s other book stores to be added.

Owner - Zoe Biles of Manningtree ArtsOwner - Zoe Biles of Manningtree Arts (Image: Alexander Ward) Zoe Biles, 30, the owner of Manningtree Arts, said: “It is such an honour to be included in Louise Boland's Bookshop Tours of Britain, especially as we proudly stock the book and have loved watching customers pick up the pages and find joy in the tours and shops she highlights.

“This gorgeous slow travel guide is such a beautiful reminder of how much joy can be found the independent bookshops keeping towns and communities connected.

Manningtree Arts, opened last year.

 Zoe added: “It has been, honestly, one of the most profound joys of my life opening Manningtree Arts.

“Everyday I get to witness just how powerful our community is.

"We run weekly events, everything from poetry to storytelling, music to comedy, and every day I get to watch as creativity, coffee and a good book continues to bring people together, in a time where it's so easy to feel isolated and lonely."

Zoe also said that as “a high street full of brilliant independent businesses” Manningtree’s mention in the new book “proves more than ever” the town is worth visiting.

She added: “We don't have the book in stock right now - we sold our last copy about a week ago sadly, but will have some copies in our next order.”

To find out more about Louise Boland’s Bookshop Tours of Britain visit Fairlightbooks.co.uk