The Whitbread is one of the longest-running and most prestigious book awards in the UK.  Since its launch in 1971, its structure has evolved; but it has never diverted from its original ethos of identifying and celebrating some of the most enjoyable books published in the UK each year across a number of different genres.

There are six awards in total - five category awards (Novel, First Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's) and, from these, one overall winner - the Whitbread Book of the Year.  The total prize fund for the Awards is £50,000: each of the category award winners receives £5,000, and the overall winner receives a further £25,000.

A panel of three judges in each category selects a shortlist and winner (in the Children's category the judging panel increases to five with the inclusion of two young judges).  The Whitbread Book of the Year is selected by a panel of nine judges, including one representative from each of the category panels.

You can find out more about our judges and the judging process by clicking here.  If you would like to find out details of the winners from last year (and the winners dating back to the first Whitbread Book Awards in 1971!) you can click on Previous Winners above. Finally, if you think your book might be eligible for next year's awards you can check our criteria here.

As a leading UK leisure company, Whitbread is in the business of providing enjoyment to millions of customers - and enjoyment, of books and of reading, is at the heart of the philosophy of the Whitbread Book Awards.

This year, we're delighted to continue our partnerships with the National Reading Campaign, CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals), amazon.co.uk and the Booksellers Association - with whom we'll again be exploring new ways of promoting the enjoyment of reading.  You can find out more about our partners by clicking on the enjoy!reading link in the menu list above.

There are all sorts of interesting facts associated with the Whitbread Book Awards.  Did you know the only book prize Roald Dahl ever won was the Whitbread Children's Novel Award in 1983, for The Witches?  You can find out more interesting facts from the Whitbread Book Awards by clicking on Did you know that...? above.

Finally, if you've got any comments about our website or questions about the Awards, please feel free to email us through the Contact Us link above.

6/11/2001
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